Missouri veteran state benefits

Read this first

Missouri rules change, and where Missouri agencies describe a program differently, this page says so. Dollar amounts and income limits are the ones printed on the official pages on October 15, 2026, for the year named. Confirm the current number with the agency before you file. This page covers state benefits only. See the federal side on our VA disability tax page.

1. Property tax: the Property Tax Credit (MO-PTC)

• No general property tax exemption for disabled veterans. Missouri offers a refundable credit instead. The Department of Revenue (DOR) form lists a qualifier for a veteran who is 100% disabled as a result of military service, with a VA letter attached.
• Rating: I found only the 100% qualifier. I found no partial-rating credit. The DOR text for the "unable to engage in substantial gainful activity" case was cut off in my fetch, so I cannot report it.
• Income limits, tax year 2025: owners who lived in the home all year, $30,000 single or $34,000 married filing combined. Renters, $27,200 single or $29,200 combined.
• VA benefits as income: DOR says a veteran 100% disabled entirely as a result of military service does not include veteran payments and benefits as household income on the MO-PTC.
• Maximum credit: $1,100 for owners (or the tax you paid, if less) and $750 for renters.
• Deadline: the 2025 form was due April 15, 2026. DOR says you may file up to three years from the due date.
• Former prisoners of war: DOR's military guide says the Missouri Constitution exempts the homestead of a former POW with a total service-connected disability. DOR does not run it. Ask your county assessor.

Sources: DOR MO-PTS 2025, DOR Reference Guide 4711 (2025), MO-PTC instructions 2025, DOR Military Reference Guide

2. Disabled Veteran license plate

• Who: served in and was honorably discharged from the U.S. Armed Forces, with a statement directly from the VA, no more than one year old, saying the disability is service-connected. DOR's page names no minimum rating percentage.
• Cost: the first set is free. Additional plates pay all registration and personalization fees. A delinquent renewal penalty applies.
• Form: 4601, Application for Missouri Military Personalized License Plates.

Source: DOR Disabled Veteran plate page

3. Parking

The Missouri Disabled Veteran plate does not by itself allow parking in disabled spaces. DOR says it does so only if the plate carries the wheelchair accessibility symbol, which needs a signed physician's statement.

• A Permanent Disabled Placard is free (Form 2769, with physician statement Form 1776). DOR says veterans can submit a VA letter verifying a permanent disability.
• A separate Military Award Placard lets qualified veterans park a vehicle under 6,000 pounds free at certain metered spaces or public college lots. It is tied to specific medals such as the Purple Heart, not to a disability rating. Check with local authorities.

Sources: DOR plate page, DOR permanent placard, DOR Military Reference Guide

4. Hunting and fishing

• Who: an honorably discharged resident or nonresident veteran with a service-related disability of 60% or greater, carrying a certified statement of eligibility from the VA.
• What: may hunt without a permit, but not trap. The exceptions that still need a permit are black bears, deer, elk and turkeys. A migratory bird permit, a Federal Duck Stamp, and a Conservation Order permit still apply where they normally do. These veterans can buy other permits at resident prices.
• Fishing: the Missouri Department of Conservation's permit exemptions page reportedly lists the same group as fishing-exempt. I did not confirm that wording myself, so check with MDC.
• Not covered: nothing on these pages says how a general discharge is treated.

Sources: MDC veteran benefits, MDC permit exemptions

5. State parks

I found no state park benefit specific to disabled veterans. Missouri State Parks lists a $2 per night year-round camping discount for retired, veteran and active-duty military, and the same $2 for people with disabilities (proof can include a VA letter). I found no free entry or free camping for disabled veterans. Missouri also runs one-time events, such as a free Veterans Day camping night and a veterans fishing day. I did not verify whether state parks charge a general entry fee.

Sources: Missouri State Parks: honoring veterans, camping fees

6. State income tax on military retirement and VA pay

• Military retirement: DOR says that for tax year 2021 and later, taxable military pension is subtracted from federal adjusted gross income on Form MO-A, Part 1, Line 10. A Missouri Veterans Commission guide gives a different start date (2016). I did not read the statute, so ask DOR.
• Survivor Benefit Plan annuity: DOR says it does not qualify for the military subtraction but does qualify for the public pension exemption.
• Active duty and Guard/Reserve pay: 100% deductible on current returns (2025 MO-1040 instructions).
• VA disability: I did not find an official Missouri statement on how it is treated for state income tax. Missouri starts from federal income, and VA disability is not in federal income, but I could not confirm that from a Missouri source, so ask DOR.

Sources: DOR pension FAQ, DOR military income deduction, MO-1040 instructions 2025

Where to go

• Missouri Veterans Commission benefits guide for a service officer
• Missouri Department of Revenue for forms, plates and placards
• Missouri Department of Conservation for permits
• Missouri State Parks