State file · KS
Veteran benefits in Kansas
Kansas leaves military retirement and survivor benefit payments untaxed, extends in-state tuition to veterans and their families at all 32 public colleges, and offers free hunting and fishing licenses to Guard members and disabled veterans. Here's the landscape, category by category.
Back to the state mapKansas file
Financial benefits
Military retirement pay not taxed
Retirement benefits earned for federal employment or service in the U.S. Armed Forces are a subtraction modification from federal adjusted gross income on the Kansas return, and military survivor benefit plans (SBP, RCSBP, RSFPP) are not taxed in Kansas.
DIC not taxed
Dependency and Indemnity Compensation is a tax-free monetary benefit paid to eligible survivors of service members who died in the line of duty.
Homestead Refund
A rebate of a portion of property taxes paid on a Kansas resident's homestead, with the percentage based on total household income and a maximum refund of $700; homes valued over $350,000 do not qualify. Filers eligible for Kansas Property Tax Relief instead receive 75% of their property tax with no maximum.
Sales tax picture
Statewide sales tax is 6.5%, with local additions of up to about 4.1%; the combined average is roughly 8.05%.
Recreation
Free hunting & fishing licenses
National Guard members and Kansas resident veterans with a 30% or greater disability rating can get free hunting and fishing licenses; active duty personnel stationed in Kansas can purchase all annual state licenses, permits, and stamps at the resident rate.
Discounted state park admission
Kansas Army and Air National Guard members and veterans with a 30% or greater disability rating get discounted admission to state parks.
Education programs
Tuition waiver for dependents of the fallen
Kansas educational institutions provide enrollment without tuition or fees — for up to 10 semesters of undergraduate instruction — to dependents and spouses of Kansas residents who died on or after September 11, 2001 while, and as a result of, serving in the military.
In-state tuition for veterans and families
Effective July 1, 2015, all veterans eligible for federal education benefits and all current members of the Armed Forces are charged in-state rates at all 32 public post-secondary colleges and universities in Kansas, regardless of time spent in the state. Eligible spouses and dependent children also qualify, provided they live in Kansas at the time of enrollment.
Veteran housing
Kansas State Veterans Homes
Kansas operates state veterans homes at Winfield and Fort Dodge for honorably discharged veterans; spouses, surviving spouses, and Gold Star parents may be eligible depending on availability, with monthly costs based on the veteran's need.
Employment & job training
State hiring preference
Veterans with a campaign medal, a service-connected disability, or retirement at O-3 or below — and spouses of 100% disabled veterans — qualify for veterans preference for state jobs, which guarantees an interview and consideration for the position.
State employee military leave & pay differential
Eligible state employees get up to 30 days of paid leave for active duty per 12-month period, and the state makes up any difference between military pay and state salary for activated Guard and Reserve members, up to $1,000 per month.
Activation payment
A one-time $1,000 payment goes to state employees activated for 180 days or more, applied retroactively to activations since September 11, 2001.
USERRA protections
Federal law protects the civilian job rights and benefits of veterans and members of Reserve components returning from duty.
Burials & memorials
Burial eligibility
Burial eligibility covers veterans discharged other than dishonorably who served at least 20 years, and veterans who die on active duty. There is no fee and no Kansas residency requirement.
National cemeteries in Kansas
Kansas hosts Fort Leavenworth National Cemetery, Fort Scott National Cemetery, and Leavenworth National Cemetery, plus soldiers' lots at Baxter Springs and Mound City.
VA resources in Kansas
Wichita Regional Benefits Office
The VA regional office serving Kansas for benefits claims and questions.
Official siteVA Eastern Kansas Health Care System
VA medical care through the Dwight D. Eisenhower VA Medical Center in Leavenworth and the Colmery-O'Neil VA Medical Center in Topeka.
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.
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