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Disclaimer: This information is for general guidance only and may not reflect recent changes. Always verify with the official source linked below. This is not legal, medical, or financial advice.

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Property Tax

3 benefits

Veteran Property Tax Exemption

All Veterans

$6,000 property tax exemption on homestead for wartime veterans.

All veterans who served during a recognized war period receive a $6,000 property tax exemption on their homestead. Surviving unremarried spouses retain the exemption.

Eligibility: Veterans who served during a recognized war period36 MRSA ยง 653Applies to dependents/surviving spouse

Paraplegic Veteran Property Tax Exemption

100%+

$50,000 property tax exemption for paraplegic veterans.

Paraplegic veterans receive an enhanced $50,000 property tax exemption on their homestead.

Eligibility: Paraplegic veterans with VA-rated disability36 MRSA ยง 653

100% Disabled Veteran Property Tax Exemption

100%+

$6,000 base exemption for 100% disabled veterans; additional exemptions may be available through municipality.

Veterans with 100% service-connected disability receive the $6,000 base veteran exemption and may qualify for additional property tax relief through their municipality.

Eligibility: Veterans with 100% service-connected disability36 MRSA ยง 653
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Income Tax

1 benefit

Military Retirement Pay Partial Exemption

All Veterans

Up to $6,000 of military retirement pay exempt from state income tax.

Maine exempts up to $6,000 of military retirement pay from state income tax for recipients under age 65 who qualify under the pension income deduction. Military pensions may also qualify under the broader pension income deduction. Maine income tax rates range from 5.8% to 7.15%.

Eligibility: Military retirees receiving retirement pay (under age 65 qualifying under pension deduction)36 MRSA ยง 5122
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Vehicle / Registration

4 benefits

100% DV Plates + Free Registration

100%+

DV plates with exemption from registration fees for 100% disabled veterans.

Eligibility: Veterans with 100% service-connected disability29-A MRSA 521

Disabled Veteran License Plates

10%+

DV specialty license plates for service-connected disabled veterans.

Eligibility: Veterans with any service-connected disability29-A MRSA 521

Military Specialty Plates

All Veterans

Veteran, Purple Heart, Medal of Honor, POW, Silver Star, Gold Star Family, and branch-specific plates available.

Eligibility: Veterans with honorable discharge or qualifying family members

Vehicle Excise Tax Exemption

100%+

100% permanently disabled veterans exempt from municipal vehicle excise tax on one vehicle.

Veterans with 100% permanent and total service-connected disability are exempt from municipal vehicle excise tax on one vehicle. Purple Heart recipients and former POWs may also receive excise tax exemptions.

Eligibility: Veterans with 100% permanent and total disability, Purple Heart recipients, or former POWs36 MRSA ยง 1483-A
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Education

4 benefits

Veterans Dependents Educational Benefits

100%+

Free tuition at Maine public institutions for dependents of qualifying veterans.

Provides free tuition at University of Maine System and community college institutions for spouses and children of veterans who are 100% permanently disabled, died from service-connected causes, or are POW/MIA. Veteran must have been a Maine resident at time of entry or for 5 years.

Eligibility: Dependents of veterans who are 100% permanently disabled, died from service-connected causes, or are POW/MIA; veteran must have been Maine resident at entry or for 5 years37-B MRSA 505Applies to dependents/surviving spouse

Maine National Guard Tuition Assistance

All Veterans

100% tuition waiver at University of Maine System and Maine Community College System.

Eligibility: Active Maine National Guard members

In-State Tuition for Veterans

All Veterans

Veterans using GI Bill receive in-state tuition regardless of residency.

Eligibility: All veterans using GI Bill or eligible under Section 702

University of Maine System Veterans Services

All Veterans

Dedicated veterans coordinators and priority registration at UMaine campuses.

University of Maine System campuses provide dedicated veterans coordinators and priority registration may be available at some campuses.

Eligibility: All veteran students at University of Maine System
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Employment

4 benefits

State Veteran Hiring Preference

All Veterans

Preference for veterans in Maine state government hiring.

Maine grants hiring preference for veterans in state government positions. Disabled veterans receive additional preference.

Eligibility: Honorably discharged veterans; disabled veterans receive additional preference5 MRSA 7054

Maine CareerCenter Veteran Services

All Veterans

Priority of service and DVOP specialists at Maine CareerCenters statewide.

Veterans receive priority of service at Maine CareerCenters with Disabled Veterans Outreach Program (DVOP) specialists available statewide.

Eligibility: All veterans; priority given to disabled veterans

Professional License Reciprocity

All Veterans

Expedited professional licensing for veterans and military spouses.

Maine provides expedited professional licensing for veterans and military spouses. Military training and experience are accepted toward licensing requirements.

Eligibility: Veterans and military spouses with equivalent professional qualifications10 MRSA 8001-8005

Veteran-Owned Business Procurement Preference

All Veterans

Maine encourages procurement from veteran-owned businesses.

Eligibility: Veteran-owned businesses in Maine
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Hunting & Fishing

2 benefits

Free Hunting and Fishing License

70%+

Free combination hunting and fishing license for veterans with 70%+ disability.

Eligibility: Maine resident veterans with 70%+ service-connected disability12 MRSA 10853-8

Resident License for Active Duty

All Veterans

Active duty military stationed in Maine qualify for resident license rates.

Active duty military stationed in Maine qualify for resident license rates. Military personnel on leave in Maine may also purchase resident licenses.

Eligibility: Active duty military stationed in or visiting Maine
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Healthcare

3 benefits

VA Maine Healthcare System (Togus)

All Veterans

Togus VA Medical Center, the oldest VA facility in the nation, with CBOCs statewide.

The VA Maine Healthcare System is based at Togus, the oldest VA facility in the nation. Multiple Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs) are located throughout the state including Bangor, Calais, Caribou, Lincoln, Portland, Rumford, and Saco.

Eligibility: All eligible veterans enrolled in VA healthcare

Maine Veterans' Homes

All Veterans

State-run skilled nursing, residential, and memory care in six locations across Maine.

Maine Veterans' Homes provide skilled nursing, residential care, and memory care for eligible veterans at six locations: Augusta, Bangor, Caribou, Machias, Scarborough, and South Paris.

Eligibility: Eligible Maine veterans requiring skilled nursing, residential, or memory care

Vet Centers

All Veterans

Readjustment counseling and PTSD services in Bangor, Caribou, Lewiston, Portland, and Sanford.

Vet Centers provide readjustment counseling, PTSD services, and Military Sexual Trauma (MST) counseling. Located in Bangor, Caribou, Lewiston, Portland, and Sanford.

Eligibility: Combat veterans, MST survivors, and other qualifying veterans
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Free Stuff & Parks

4 benefits

Free State Park Admission for Disabled Veterans

10%+

Free day-use admission at Maine state parks for disabled veterans; special access at Baxter State Park.

Eligibility: Disabled veterans

Veteran Designation on Driver's License

All Veterans

Veteran designation available on Maine driver's licenses and ID cards.

Requires DD-214 verification at Maine BMV. Serves as proof of veteran status for discounts and benefits.

Eligibility: All honorably discharged veterans

Maine Veterans Emergency Financial Assistance

All Veterans

Emergency financial assistance for housing, utilities, and other critical needs.

The Maine Bureau of Veterans' Services provides emergency financial assistance to veterans for housing, utilities, and other critical needs.

Eligibility: Maine veterans in financial crisis

Free Maine Turnpike Tolls

100%+

100% disabled veterans eligible for free passage on Maine Turnpike with E-ZPass.

Eligibility: Veterans with 100% service-connected disability
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Other Benefits

5 benefits

Maine Bureau of Veterans' Services Claims Assistance

All Veterans

Free VA claims assistance through state veterans service officers at regional offices.

Maine Bureau of Veterans' Services provides free VA claims assistance through state veterans service officers at regional offices throughout Maine.

Eligibility: All veterans filing VA claims

Maine Veterans' Memorial Cemeteries

All Veterans

Free burial at state veterans cemeteries in Augusta and Caribou.

Maine Veterans' Memorial Cemetery (Augusta) and Northern Maine Veterans' Cemetery (Caribou) provide free burial for eligible veterans and dependents.

Eligibility: Eligible veterans and dependentsApplies to dependents/surviving spouse

Veterans Treatment Courts

All Veterans

Specialized courts connecting veteran offenders with VA services and treatment programs.

Maine has veterans treatment courts in select counties that connect veteran offenders with VA services and treatment programs as an alternative to traditional sentencing.

Eligibility: Veteran offenders in participating Maine counties

Military Leave for State Employees

All Veterans

Up to 17 days of paid military leave per year for state employees.

Eligibility: Maine state employees serving in the military26 MRSA 814

Property Tax Stabilization for Senior Veterans

All Veterans

Veterans age 65+ may qualify for frozen property tax assessments.

Veterans age 65 and older may qualify for property tax stabilization, which freezes their property assessment to prevent increases in property tax bills.

Eligibility: Veterans age 65+