Cold War Veterans Blog

VA Providing Florida Veterans with Disability Verification Letters for First Time

December 31, 2008


For State and Local Tax Exemptions

WASHINGTON – The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced today it has sent out disability verification letters for the first time to more than 265,000 Florida veterans and surviving spouses who may be eligible for state or local tax exemptions.

“We are working with the state of Florida to ensure veterans get the information they need to take advantage of the state’s annual tax relief,” said St. Petersburg VA Regional Office Director Barry Barker.

Some state tax laws provide veterans and their surviving spouses with state, county or local tax relief. VA assists veterans to receive these benefits by providing letters verifying their military service and disability evaluations.

Although people can obtain these verification letters at any time by contacting their nearest VA regional office, VA performed a special computer run to automatically generate these letters for veterans. Florida veterans do not have to make a special request to obtain this verification.

Any veteran who receives VA disability compensation, but does not receive a letter or has any questions about the information contained in the letter should contact their local VA Regional Office by calling VA’s toll-free number, 1-800-827-1000. VA encourages veterans and their families to check the letters carefully and contact VA if they have any concerns.

Florida veterans and survivors are advised to contact their county property tax appraiser’s office on the Internet at http://dor.myflorida.com/dor/property/appraisers.html or tax collectors office at http://dor.myflorida.com/dor/property/taxcollectors.html with any questions about Florida state tax abatement programs. (Note: By clicking on either of these links, you will leave the VA Web site.)

Last year, VA paid nearly $2.9 billion in compensation and pensions to eligible veterans and surviving spouses in the state. In addition to the VA regional office in St. Petersburg, the Department operates seven major medical centers, 43 outpatient clinics, five benefits offices, and 12 Vet Centers on behalf of Florida’s 1.8 million veterans.

For more information on VA benefit programs, go to www.va.gov or call 1-800-827-1000.

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