Kansas has quietly opened up one of the more generous state-level benefits available to severely disabled veterans anywhere in the country: a sales tax exemption on everyday purchases, worth up to $24,000 a year, that took effect July 1.
How the exemption works
Under the new law, veterans who were honorably discharged and are certified by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs as either 100 percent permanently and totally disabled, or as totally disabled and unemployable (TDIU), no longer pay Kansas state sales tax on up to $24,000 in qualifying purchases each year, according to the Kansas Department of Revenue. The exemption does not cover motor vehicles, alcohol, tobacco, or e-cigarettes, but it applies broadly to most other retail purchases.
Eligible veterans are issued a Disabled Veteran Sales Tax Exemption Certificate Card. Presenting the card at checkout lets a retailer record the exemption number and complete the sale tax-free, per Sovos's summary of the new law. Because the exemption is capped per year rather than per purchase, a veteran can spread it across several smaller trips or apply it to one larger expense, whatever fits their household's spending.
Who else qualifies
The exemption doesn't stop with the veteran. Surviving spouses of eligible veterans can also receive the exemption, and purchases made on a disabled veteran's behalf by a spouse or an authorized household member are covered as well. That detail matters for veterans who rely on a family member to handle shopping or home purchases, since the benefit follows the household rather than requiring the veteran to be the one physically at the register.
Why it matters beyond Kansas
State-level tax relief like this adds up fast for a veteran living on a fixed disability income, and Kansas joins a growing list of states expanding property tax and sales tax breaks for disabled veterans this year. It's also a reminder that some of the most valuable veteran benefits aren't announced with much fanfare, they show up as a line in a state revenue department's rules and are easy to miss if you're not looking for them. Veterans who moved to Kansas from a state without a comparable exemption, or who separated from service more recently and haven't yet worked through every benefit tied to a P&T or TDIU rating, are especially likely to be leaving this one on the table.
If you're a 100 percent disabled veteran in Kansas, it's worth confirming your eligibility with the state and applying for your exemption card before your next major purchase. For a fuller rundown of what else is available to veterans in the state, see our Kansas veteran benefits guide, and if you're looking for a goal to train toward, check your eligibility for a free race entry through Operation WarriorFit.