50-State Resource Pack · Free for veterans
Veteran Property Tax Exemption — California
California has run a Disabled Veterans' Exemption for decades — $100,000, or $150,000 for qualifying lower-income households, off the assessed value of your home — and recent legislation moves toward a full exemption for 100% disabled veterans. Verify the current amount with your county assessor before you rely on it.
The rules in California
Who qualifies
Veterans rated by the VA as 100% disabled, service-connected, and total (or qualifying SMC determinations); also available to unmarried surviving spouses. The higher $150,000 tier requires household income below an annually adjusted limit
Benefit
Exemption of $100,000 (or $150,000 in the lower-income tier) of the assessed value of an owner-occupied home — the amounts adjust and legislation (SB 296 / AB 2022) has been expanding eligibility toward a full exemption
How to apply
File claim form BOE-261-G with your county assessor — initial claims generally by February 15
Watch out
This is an exemption of assessed value, not a tax refund; the savings depend on your local rate. Confirm whether the newest expansion applies to your assessment year before budgeting
How it works
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Not yet rated? Start there
Every one of these programs hinges on a VA service-connected rating. If you have not filed a claim, that is the starting point — a free, VA-accredited VSO (DAV, American Legion, VFW) will file it for you at no cost. A higher rating unlocks not just property-tax relief but healthcare, income benefits, and — for business owners — SDVOSB contracting eligibility.
Sources
- CalVet — Property Tax Exemptions — www.calvet.ca.gov/VetServices/Pages/Property-Tax-Exemptions.aspx
- Solano County Assessor — Disabled Veterans Exemption (R&T Code § 205.5) — www.solanocounty.gov/government/assessorrecorder/assessor-division/property-tax-
- California Board of Equalization — Claim for Disabled Veterans' Property Tax Exemption (BOE-261-G) — www.sdarcc.gov/content/dam/arcc/assessor/forms/property-tax-exemption-and-exclus
Free resource — part of the VES 50-state pack for veterans and veteran-owned businesses. Educational information only, not legal or tax advice; programs change, so confirm current rules with your county before relying on them.
Want it filed for you?
We check your county's rules for free and, if you're eligible, prepare a ready-to-sign filing package for your California property — veteran to veteran. Or start with the full eligibility check.