50-State Resource Pack · Free for veterans
Veteran Property Tax Exemption — Delaware
Delaware's Disabled Veterans School Property Tax Credit wipes out the non-vocational school tax on a qualifying veteran's primary residence — with an April 30 county deadline.
The rules in Delaware
Who qualifies
A veteran receiving from the VA 100% disability compensation due to a service-connected, permanent and total disability — based on individual unemployability OR a 100% disability rating. Property must be your principal residence, and you must have been legally domiciled in Delaware for the past 3 consecutive years
Benefit
A credit against 100% of the non-vocational school district property tax on the primary residence. No more than one credit per property per year. In New Castle County, qualifying for the state credit also produces a full county-tax exemption on the total assessed value (excluding light/ditch and stormwater fees) — confirm your county's treatment
How to apply
File the Application for Disabled Veteran School Property Tax Credit with your county — New Castle County Assessment Division, Kent County Levy Court, or Sussex County — with your VA rating determination, Delaware driver's license or state ID, and Social Security card
Deadline
April 30 for the upcoming tax year. Taxes must be paid in full by year-end to keep qualifying. Once approved you do not re-apply each year, but you must notify the county within 60 days of any change in disability rating, and a new application is required if you move to a new principal residence
How it works
Delaware's main statewide program is the Disabled Veterans School Property Tax Credit — a credit against 100% of the non-vocational school-district property tax on your primary residence. School tax is a large share of a Delaware property-tax bill, so this is a substantial benefit.
| Item | Delaware |
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.
- Delaware Department of Finance — Disabled Veterans School Tax Credit: https://finance.delaware.gov/disabled-veterans/
- Delaware Department of Finance — Disabled Veterans School Tax Credit FAQ: https://finance.delaware.gov/disabled-veterans/disabled-veterans-school-tax-credit-faq/
Sources
- Delaware Department of Finance — Disabled Veterans School Tax Credit — finance.delaware.gov/disabled-veterans/
- Delaware Department of Finance — Disabled Veterans School Tax Credit FAQ — finance.delaware.gov/disabled-veterans/disabled-veterans-school-tax-credit-faq/
- New Castle County — 2026 Disability Exemption form (county tax exemptions) — www.newcastlede.gov/DocumentCenter/View/62373/Disability-Exemption-Fillable-Form
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 Delaware property — veteran to veteran. Or start with the full eligibility check.