Maryland offers various benefits for veterans. On this page, you’ll find a concise overview of each of these benefits.
Maryland Veterans Home
The Maryland Veterans Home in Charlotte Hall extends its doors to Maryland resident veterans aged 62 and above, who have been honorably discharged. Additionally, those veterans who are disabled and unable to work are eligible for admission. The cost of care is reduced thanks to per diem payments from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
Maryland Veteran Financial Benefits
Property Tax Exemption
Veterans who have been permanently and totally disabled due to service-connected causes are not subject to property tax on their primary residence.
In the event of the veteran’s passing, this exemption is transferred to their spouse. Moreover, surviving spouses of active-duty military members who died in the line of duty, as well as surviving spouses of totally disabled veterans or spouses receiving Dependency and Indemnity Compensation, may also qualify for this exemption.
Income Tax
A maximum of $15,000 in military pay can be exempt from taxes if earned during overseas service. However, individuals who have earned over $30,000 in military pay are ineligible for this deduction. Beginning with the 2023 tax year, up to $12,500 in retired military pay and Survivor Benefit Plan payments are tax-free. This exemption rises to $20,000 after reaching the age of 55.
Pension Tax Exclusion
If you are aged 65 or older, totally disabled, or if your spouse is totally disabled, you might be eligible for Maryland’s maximum pension exclusion for the calendar year 2022, amounting to $34,300 as detailed in Instruction 13 of the Maryland resident tax booklet. If you meet the criteria, you could potentially deduct a portion of your taxable pension and retirement annuity income from your federal adjusted gross income. This deduction is applicable only if you were 65 or older, totally disabled, or if your spouse was totally disabled.
Vessel Excise Tax
Active-duty military personnel are granted a one-year exemption from the 5% vessel excise tax. This exemption applies solely to vessels acquired out of state and brought into Maryland as a result of a permanent change of station.
Maryland Veteran Employment Benefits
State Employment Veterans Preference
The appointing authority responsible for skilled and professional appointments will grant a credit of 10 points on any selection test to eligible veterans, spouses of eligible veterans with service-connected disabilities, or surviving spouses of deceased eligible veterans.
Moreover, veterans with service-connected disabilities will receive an additional two points of credit.
CDL License
Within 12 months of their discharge, veterans who held commercial driver’s license class A & B qualifications during their service will have the skills test requirements waived by the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration.
Maryland Veteran Recreation Benefits
Free Hunting and Fishing Licenses for Disabled Veterans
Maryland residents certified as former prisoners of war (POWs) or 100% service-connected disabled veterans are eligible for a complimentary lifetime hunting license. This license encompasses the bow stamp, muzzleloader stamp, and furbearer permit. Notably, the Maryland Migratory Game Bird Stamp is not included in this complimentary license.
Similarly, Maryland residents certified as former POWs or 100% service-connected disabled veterans are entitled to a free lifetime fishing license. This license combines both the non-tidal angler’s license and the Chesapeake Bay sport fishing license. However, it does not include the trout stamp.
Active-Duty Hunting & Fishing Licenses
Maryland residents currently on active duty and returning home on leave are exempt from the requirement to purchase a hunting or fishing license.
Non-residents stationed in Maryland have the option to purchase hunting and fishing licenses at the resident rate.
Admission to State Parks
Entrance fees to Maryland state parks are waived for all veterans, whether resident or nonresident, as well as for all active-duty personnel. The waiver applies to the veteran only and does not extend to other individuals in the same vehicle, unless a per-vehicle charge is in place at the time. In such cases, the per-vehicle fee is waived.
Maryland State Veterans Cemetery
Maryland hosts five state veterans cemeteries located in Cheltenham, Crownsville, Flintstone, Hurlock, and Owings Mills. Eligible veterans who are residents of Maryland and have received an honorable discharge, along with their eligible dependents, are provided with burial plots.
These plots are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Veterans incur no expenses for the burial plot, opening/closing services, headstone, or state liner (if utilized). However, eligible dependents may have minimal charges for opening/closing services and direct costs for the state liner (if utilized).
