Montana Veteran Benefits (2026 Guide)
A complete guide to state-level benefits for veterans living in Montana, including property tax exemptions, education programs, employment preference, and more. These benefits are in addition to your federal VA benefits.
Official source: Montana veterans affairs agency — applications, forms, and current filing deadlines come from the state directly.
Benefits at a Glance
Montana's wide-open spaces and independent spirit attract veterans who value self-reliance and the outdoors. The state backs up that lifestyle with meaningful benefits: a 50% exemption of military retirement pay for five years, property tax reductions for disabled veterans, and reduced-fee hunting and fishing licenses that let veterans enjoy everything Montana's landscape has to offer.
Getting help in Montana
Accredited claims help
Montana Veteran Affairs Division
Phone: (406) 324-3742
1956 Mt. Majo Street, PO Box 4789, Fort Harrison, MT 59636-4789
Verified September 2026. Call to confirm before you travel.
Local veterans offices
Some Montana counties have a veterans service office, and state law does not require one.
Veteran Services Program (state offices)
Verified September 2026.
Not sure what you qualify for yet? The briefing takes about three minutes and needs no signup.
Start the briefingProperty Tax Exemption
Property tax reduction of 50-100% for 100% disabled veterans
Montana Disabled Veteran (MDV) program: honorably discharged veterans currently rated 100% disabled, or paid at the 100% disabled rate, for a service-connected disability (or their unmarried surviving spouses) get a 100%, 80%, 70% or 50% reduction of the normal property tax rate on the home they own and live in for at least seven months of the year, depending on income and marital status. The income limits are updated each year for inflation. Apply by April 15 with the electronic or paper MDV Form to your local field office; the application stays active while you own and live in the home, but you must meet the income and occupancy requirements every year.
Income Tax Benefits
Military retirement pay 50% exempt for five consecutive years
Montana lets eligible retirees exempt 50% of military retirement income received from DFAS, for five consecutive years after meeting the eligibility requirements. The retiree must have become a Montana resident after June 30, 2023, or have been a resident before receiving the benefits and stayed one. Survivor benefit recipients can exempt up to 50% of those benefits. VA disability compensation is tax-free.
Hunting & Fishing Licenses
Purple Heart recipients fish and hunt game birds on a conservation license; half-price deer and antelope for some combat injuries
Montana residents awarded the Purple Heart may fish and hunt game birds, not including wild turkeys, with only a conservation license and a resident aquatic invasive species prevention pass (MCA 87-2-816). A veteran with certain combat-connected injuries may be entitled to half-priced deer and antelope licenses; up to 50 are issued each year. Active-duty members stationed in Montana who have lived there at least 30 days can buy resident licenses.
Education Benefits
Tuition waiver at Montana University System for honorably discharged veterans
Montana Honorably Discharged Veteran Tuition Waiver: waives tuition (not fees) at Montana University System campuses for resident veterans who have exhausted or expired their VA educational benefits. Montana National Guard Tuition Waiver: covers tuition for Guard members in good standing who completed Initial Entry Training. War orphans also eligible for tuition waivers.
Employment & Hiring Preference
Veterans preference in state employment
Montana grants veterans preference in state employment. Montana Department of Labor and Industry provides dedicated veteran employment services. Montana Veteran Affairs Division offers career counseling and referrals.
Vehicles & DMV
Free disabled veteran license plates
Free "Disabled Veteran" license plates for veterans with service-connected disability.
State Parks
Free camping for disabled veterans
Montana state parks provide free camping for veterans with service-connected disability.
Housing & Veterans Homes
Montana veterans homes in Columbia Falls, Butte and Glendive
The Montana Veterans Home in Columbia Falls provides intermediate and skilled care, domiciliary care, and an Alzheimer's unit for eligible veterans. Montana also has the Southwest Montana Veterans Home in Butte and the Eastern Montana Veterans Home in Glendive.
Veterans in Montana
Montana has one of the highest per-capita veteran populations in the country, with roughly 85,000 veterans in a state of just over 1 million people. Malmstrom Air Force Base in Great Falls is the primary active military installation. The Fort Harrison VA Medical Center near Helena and the Miles City Community Living Center provide healthcare, supplemented by community-based outpatient clinics in Billings, Missoula, Kalispell, and other communities. The Montana Veteran Affairs Division operates a veterans cemetery and runs a state-funded program of nationally accredited veteran service officers.
Frequently Asked Questions About Montana Veteran Benefits
Does Montana offer property tax exemptions for veterans?
Property tax reduction of 50-100% for 100% disabled veterans. Montana Disabled Veteran (MDV) program: honorably discharged veterans currently rated 100% disabled, or paid at the 100% disabled rate, for a service-connected disability (or their unmarried surviving spouses) get a 100%, 80%, 70% or 50% reduction of the normal property tax rate on the home they own and live in for at least seven months of the year, depending on income and marital status. The income limits are updated each year for inflation. Apply by April 15 with the electronic or paper MDV Form to your local field office; the application stays active while you own and live in the home, but you must meet the income and occupancy requirements every year.
Are military retirement benefits taxed in Montana?
Military retirement pay 50% exempt for five consecutive years. Montana lets eligible retirees exempt 50% of military retirement income received from DFAS, for five consecutive years after meeting the eligibility requirements. The retiree must have become a Montana resident after June 30, 2023, or have been a resident before receiving the benefits and stayed one. Survivor benefit recipients can exempt up to 50% of those benefits. VA disability compensation is tax-free.
What education benefits does Montana offer veterans?
Tuition waiver at Montana University System for honorably discharged veterans. Montana Honorably Discharged Veteran Tuition Waiver: waives tuition (not fees) at Montana University System campuses for resident veterans who have exhausted or expired their VA educational benefits. Montana National Guard Tuition Waiver: covers tuition for Guard members in good standing who completed Initial Entry Training. War orphans also eligible for tuition waivers.
Do veterans get free or discounted hunting and fishing licenses in Montana?
Purple Heart recipients fish and hunt game birds on a conservation license; half-price deer and antelope for some combat injuries. Montana residents awarded the Purple Heart may fish and hunt game birds, not including wild turkeys, with only a conservation license and a resident aquatic invasive species prevention pass (MCA 87-2-816). A veteran with certain combat-connected injuries may be entitled to half-priced deer and antelope licenses; up to 50 are issued each year. Active-duty members stationed in Montana who have lived there at least 30 days can buy resident licenses.
Does Montana give veterans hiring preference for state jobs?
Veterans preference in state employment. Montana grants veterans preference in state employment. Montana Department of Labor and Industry provides dedicated veteran employment services. Montana Veteran Affairs Division offers career counseling and referrals.
Are there veterans homes or housing programs in Montana?
Montana veterans homes in Columbia Falls, Butte and Glendive. The Montana Veterans Home in Columbia Falls provides intermediate and skilled care, domiciliary care, and an Alzheimer's unit for eligible veterans. Montana also has the Southwest Montana Veterans Home in Butte and the Eastern Montana Veterans Home in Glendive.
Do veterans get free or discounted state park access in Montana?
Free camping for disabled veterans. Montana state parks provide free camping for veterans with service-connected disability.
Want the full picture?
Montana benefits sit alongside federal compensation, healthcare, education, housing, and employment benefits. The optional briefing walks through what may apply to your specific service.
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