Homestead exemption for veterans with disabilities SB1975

HCA #3 provides that if a taxpayer is the surviving spouse of a veteran whose death was determined to be service-connected and who is certified by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs as a recipient of dependency and indemnity compensation under federal law then the taxpayer’s property is exempt from taxation.

The amendment also expands the definition of "surviving spouse” to include the surviving spouse of a veteran who did not obtain an exemption before death, but who would have qualified for the exemption in the taxable year for which the exemption is sought if he or she had survived, and whose surviving spouse has been a resident of Illinois from the time of the veteran's death through the taxable year for which the exemption is sought.

The amendment provides if a veteran has a combined service connected disability rating of 100% and is deemed to be permanently and totally disabled then they are not required to reapply for the exemption.