A. The veteran or surviving spouse claiming the exemption under this article shall file with the commissioner of the revenue of the county, city, or town or such other officer as may be designated by the governing body in which the real property is located, on forms to be supplied by the county, city, or town, an affidavit or written statement (i) setting forth the name of the disabled veteran and the name of the spouse, if any, also occupying the real property, (ii) indicating whether the real property is jointly owned by married individuals, and (iii) certifying that the real property is occupied as the veteran’s principal place of residence. The veteran shall also provide documentation from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or its successor agency indicating that the veteran has a 100 percent service-connected, permanent, and total disability. The veteran shall be required to refile the information required by this section only if the veteran’s principal place of residence changes. In the event of a surviving spouse of a veteran claiming the exemption, the surviving spouse shall also provide documentation that the veteran’s death occurred on or after January 1, 2011.

Terms Used In Virginia Code 58.1-3219.6

  • Affidavit: A written statement of facts confirmed by the oath of the party making it, before a notary or officer having authority to administer oaths.
  • City: means an independent incorporated community which became a city as provided by law before noon on July 1, 1971, or which has within defined boundaries a population of 5,000 or more and which has become a city as provided by law. See Virginia Code 1-208
  • Process: includes subpoenas, the summons and complaint in a civil action, and process in statutory actions. See Virginia Code 1-237
  • Real property: Land, and all immovable fixtures erected on, growing on, or affixed to the land.
  • Town: means any existing town or an incorporated community within one or more counties which became a town before noon, July 1, 1971, as provided by law or which has within defined boundaries a population of 1,000 or more and which has become a town as provided by law. See Virginia Code 1-254

B. The veteran or surviving spouse may claim the exemption under this article prior to purchasing the qualifying dwelling by filing the documentation as required by subsection A and valid documentation of the purchase agreement for the qualifying dwelling. The commissioner of the revenue of the county, city, or town, or such other officer as may be designated by the governing body in which the real property is located, shall, within 20 business days following receipt of such documentation, process the application and send the veteran a letter stating whether the application is approved or denied. If the application is approved, the letter shall also include the amount of the tax exemption for the qualifying property the veteran intends to purchase. However, the exemption described in such a letter shall become effective only after the veteran becomes the owner of the property.

2011, cc. 769, 840; 2020, c. 900; 2023, c. 659.