State file · AR
Veteran benefits in Arkansas
Arkansas exempts both active duty pay and military retirement pay from state income tax, and pairs that with full homestead tax relief for 100% disabled veterans, Guard tuition coverage, and two state veterans homes.
Back to the state mapArkansas file
Financial benefits
Active duty pay exemption
Service pay or allowances received by active duty members of the Armed Forces, National Guard, and Reserve units are 100% exempt from Arkansas income tax, effective January 1, 2014.
Military retirement pay exemption
Military retired pay is exempt from Arkansas state income taxes, effective January 1, 2018.
Homestead and personal property tax exemption
Veterans rated 100% permanently and totally disabled, or receiving Special Monthly Compensation, are exempt from state taxes on their homestead and personal property. Un-remarried surviving spouses and dependent children are also eligible.
Gross receipts tax exemption on adapted vehicles
Sales of motor vehicles and adaptive equipment to disabled veterans using VA financial assistance are exempt from the gross receipts tax; blind veterans purchasing a new automobile also qualify, limited to one vehicle every two years.
Military spouse and family tax relief
The Military Spouses Residency Relief Act exempts a spouse's income from Arkansas tax when the service member's home of record is elsewhere, and the Military Family Tax Relief Act of 2003 adds exclusions for principal residence sale gains, Guard and Reserve overnight travel deductions, and qualified military benefits.
Dependency and Indemnity Compensation
DIC is a tax-free benefit for eligible survivors of service members who died in the line of duty or from service-related causes.
Sales tax picture
The statewide rate is 6.5%, with local additions of up to 5.0%; the combined average is roughly 8.60%.
Recreation
Hunting & fishing licenses
Military retirees and veterans rated 100% permanently disabled receive discounted lifetime hunting and fishing licenses, and active duty members stationed in Arkansas pay resident rates.
State park discount
Veterans rated 100% permanently disabled receive a 50% discount at Arkansas state parks.
Education programs
Arkansas National Guard tuition assistance
Covers up to 120 credit hours or completion of a bachelor's degree, whichever comes first, for Arkansas residents who have completed Basic Training, hold no bachelor's degree, and are enrolled in an undergraduate program at an Arkansas public institution.
Military Dependents Scholarship Program (MDS)
Financial aid toward an undergraduate degree or certificate at Arkansas public colleges, universities, or technical schools for spouses and dependent children of service members declared missing in action, killed in action, or held as prisoners of war, and of veterans rated 100% permanently disabled.
High school diplomas for wartime veterans
Diplomas are available to World War II, Korea, and Vietnam veterans who left school for active duty.
In-state tuition
State institutions must classify as in-state: veterans discharged within three years of enrollment after 90 or more days of active duty, veteran dependents, active Armed Forces members, and military spouses.
Interstate Compact for military children
The Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children removes barriers around enrollment, record transfers, placement, and graduation timing.
Veteran housing
Arkansas State Veterans Home at Fayetteville
State-run care for honorably discharged veterans with a documented medical need; Arkansas residents are prioritized, and spouses and surviving spouses are eligible.
Official siteArkansas State Veterans Home at North Little Rock
A second state veterans home operating under the same eligibility rules.
Official siteEmployment & job training
State hiring preference
Honorably discharged veterans receive a 5-point preference on state hiring exams; disabled veterans and certain spouses receive a 10-point preference.
Military leave for state employees
Arkansas state employees receive 15 days of paid military leave per year for annual training, and emergency duty carries leave with pay for up to 30 working days.
USERRA protections
Federal law protects the job rights and benefits of veterans and Reserve component members, including federal employees.
Burials & memorials
National cemeteries in Arkansas
Burial is at no cost for veterans, with about a $300 fee for a spouse or dependent, at Fayetteville National Cemetery, Fort Smith National Cemetery, and Little Rock National Cemetery.
VA resources in Arkansas
Little Rock Regional Benefit Office
The VA regional office serving Arkansas, located in North Little Rock.
Official siteCentral Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System
VA medical care through the John L. McClellan Memorial Hospital in Little Rock and the Eugene J. Towbin Healthcare Center in North Little Rock.
Official siteBefore you apply
- First-time applicants generally need a copy of their DD-214 or discharge paperwork — keep certified copies somewhere safe.
- Most programs require a discharge under other than dishonorable conditions; a dishonorable or bad-conduct discharge may bar eligibility.
- “Active service” has a specific definition for many programs — training periods don’t always count. When in doubt, ask the agency directly.
Arkansas file open
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