Property Tax Exemption for Disabled Veterans - Claim Form

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This document is a claim form (D.V.S.S.E.) for a property tax exemption on the dwelling of a disabled veteran or their surviving spouse/civil union or domestic partner in New Jersey, as per N.J.S.A. 54:4-3.30 et seq. The form should be filed with the municipal tax assessor. An amendment effective November 3, 2020, eliminated the wartime service requirement for eligibility. The form was revised in March 2025.

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--- Document: Property Tax Exemption for Disabled Veterans - Claim Form Document ---
 Form   pg. 1 of 2 
CLAIM FOR PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION ON DWELLING OF DISABLED 
VETERAN OR SURVIVING SPOUSE/CIVIL UNION OR DOMESTIC 
PARTNER OF DISABLED VETERAN OR SERVICEPERSON  
(N.J.S.A. 54:4-3.30 et seq. as amended by.P.L.2019, c.413;   N.J.A.C. 18:28-1.1 et seq.) 
IMPORTANT: File this completed claim with your municipal tax assessor. (See General 
Guidelines)  
1.
CLAIMANT NAME
____________________________________________________________________________________
Name(s) of veteran claimant owner (& spouse, as tenants by entirety, or civil union or domestic
partner) or of surviving spouse/civil union or domestic partner permanently residing in
dwelling.
2.
DWELLING LOCATION
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Street Address of claimant owner's principal residence  
    Phone #  
  
Email
__________________________________________________________________________________________
County  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
Municipality
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Block  
  
  
  
Lot  
  
  
  
  
Qualifier
3.
DISABLED VETERAN/SURVIVING SPOUSE/CIVIL UNION OR DOMESTIC PARTNER
OF DISABLED VETERAN OR SERVICEPERSON (Check A, B, or C)
A. ☐Honorably discharged 100% permanently and totally disabled veteran with active duty
service in United States Armed Forces. ATTACH copy DD214. 
B. ☐Surviving spouse/civil union or domestic partner of honorably discharged 100%
permanently and totally disabled veteran with active duty service in United States 
Armed Forces; and I have not remarried/formed a new registered civil union or 
domestic partnership. ATTACH copy DD214.  
C. ☐Surviving spouse/civil union or domestic partner of serviceperson who died on active
duty in the United States Armed Forces; and I have not remarried/formed a new 
registered civil union or domestic partnership. ATTACH copy Military Notification of 
Death.  
IMPORTANT CHANGE**November 3, 2020, an amendment to the State Constitution was 
approved by ballot vote. This amendment implemented Public Law 2019, chapter. 413 which 
provides that N.J. resident honorably discharged disabled veterans, or their surviving spouses no 
longer need to serve during a specific war period or other emergency to receive the property tax 
exemption. This Act amends P.L. 1948, c. 259, and supplements chapter 4 of Title 54 of the Revised 
Statutes. 
This form is prescribed by the Director, Division of Taxation, and may not be altered without the approval of the Director. 
Form: D.V.S.S.E.  
Rev: March 2025


This form is prescribed by the Director, Division of Taxation, and may not be altered without the approval of the Director.  
Form: D.V.S.S.E.  
Rev: March 2025
  Form pg. 2 of 2 
4.
DISABILITY (Complete A and check B or C)
A. ☐Date V.A. determined veteran 100% permanently and totally disabled________________________.
B. ☐Service-connected disability declared to be a total or 100% permanent disability, and not so evaluated
solely because of hospitalization or surgery and recuperation, sustained through enemy action, or 
accident, or resulting from disease contracted while in such service.  
C. ☐Service-connected disability rated unemployable with payment of 100% and stated to be totally and
permanently disabling.  
5.
OWNERSHIP & OCCUPANCY (Complete A, B, or D  as applicable and C)
A. ☐I (my spouse/civil union partner & I, as tenants by entirety), solely own or hold legal title to the
above dwelling house. 
B. ☐Partial owners: I (as joint tenant/tenant in common) own __________________________%.
Grantee (buyer) ___________________ name per deed.  Deed Date _____________________. 
C. ☐The dwelling house is One-Family and I occupy all of it as my principal residence.  OR The dwelling
house is Multi-Unit and I occupy 
        % as my principal residence. 
D. ☐The claimed property is a ☐ Co-operative  ☐ or Mutual Housing Corporation in which I am a Tenant
Shareholder: 
_____________________________________________________________ 
Corporation Name of Co-operative or Mutual Housing Corporation 
_____________________________________________________________ 
Co-Op/M.H. Corp. Street Address
          Municipality 
 ____________________           ________________    ☐ Co-op          
☐MHC
  Number of Shares for Unit         *Total Number of Shares for Co-Op/MHC
*The total number of shares for the corporation can be obtained from the Co-Op/MHC manager.
6.
CITIZEN & RESIDENT (Complete A or B)
A. ☐As of______________________(insert date - month/day/year), I, the above named veteran claimant
    was a legal or domiciliary resident of New Jersey. 
B. ☐ As of______________________(insert date - month/day/year), I, the above named surviving
spouse/civil union or domestic partner claimant was a legal or domiciliary resident of New Jersey; 
and My deceased veteran or serviceperson spouse/civil union or domestic partner was a resident of 
New Jersey at death.  
 I certify the above declarations are true to the best of my knowledge and belief and understand they will be 
considered as if made under oath and subject to penalties for perjury if falsified.  
Signature of claimant 
Date 
    USE ONLY – Block ____________ Lot ____________ Qualifier ____________      Approved        Disallowed 
   Assessor_____________________________________ Date ________________ 
SIGN


This form is prescribed by the Director, Division of Taxation, and may not be altered without the approval of the Director.
Form: D.V.S.S.E.  
 
Rev: March 2025
Guidelines pg. 1 of 2
GENERAL GUIDELINES 
APPLICATION FILING PERIOD  
File this form with the municipal tax assessor at any time during the tax year. Partial or prorated exemption is permitted 
for the remainder of any taxable year from the date ownership or title to the dwelling house is acquired provided all other 
eligibility requirements are met. For example, where application is filed on June 1st of the tax year for exemption on a 
dwelling house acquired on February 14th of the tax year, the assessed value is to be prorated for taxation purposes so 
that 44/365th's of the total assessment would be taxable and 321/365th's would be exempt.    
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS 
A. Disabled Veteran Claimant (must meet all 5 requirements)
1.
have had active duty service in United States Armed Forces and been honorably discharged;
2.
have a United States Veterans Administration aka U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs certification of service-
connected disability as described under #4 on front of this DVSSE Claim;
3.
wholly or partially own or hold legal title to the dwelling house for which exemption is claimed;
4.
occupy the dwelling house as the principal residence;
5.
be a legal or domiciliary resident of New Jersey.
B. Surviving Spouse/Civil Union or Domestic Partner Claimant (must meet all 6 requirements)
1.
document that the deceased veteran or serviceperson was a legal or domiciliary resident of New Jersey at death
who had active duty service in the United States Armed Forces and who was honorably discharged or who died
on active duty;
2.
document that the deceased veteran had VA certified service-connected disability;
3.
not have remarried/formed a new registered civil union or domestic partnership;
4.
wholly or partially own or hold legal title to the claimed dwelling house; deceased veteran must have met
ownership requirement at time of death;
5.
occupy the dwelling house as the principal residence;
6.
be a legal or domiciliary resident of New Jersey.
**NOTE - Claimants must inform the assessor of any change in status which may affect their continued entitlement to 
the exemption.   
DWELLING HOUSE & CURTILAGE DEFINED - Dwelling house means any one-family building or structure or 
unit in a horizontal property regime or condominium or multiple-family building or structure on that portion occupied by 
the claimant as his legal residence including any outhouses or appurtenances used for the dwelling's fair enjoyment. 
Curtilage means the enclosed space of ground and buildings immediately surrounding the dwelling house and enjoyed 
with it for its more convenient occupation.    
DISABILITY DEFINED - means a service-connected disability as described under #4 on front of this claim and 
certified as such by the United States Veterans Administration aka U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.   
VETERAN DEFINED - means any New Jersey citizen and resident honorably discharged from active duty service in 
the United States Armed Forces. For assistance in documenting veterans' status, contact the NJ Department of 
Military and Veterans Affairs at (609) 530-6958 or (609) 530-6854. The United States Veterans Administration aka 
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs can be reached at 1-800-827-1000.  
SURVIVING SPOUSE/CIVIL UNION OR DOMESTIC PARTNER DEFINED - means the lawful widow or 
widower/civil union or domestic partner of a disabled veteran or serviceperson who has not remarried/formed a new 
registered civil union or domestic partnership.  


This form is prescribed by the Director, Division of Taxation, as required by law, and may not be altered without approval of the 
Director. Form: D.V.S.S.E.       Rev. March 2025
Guidelines pg. 2 of 2 
ACTIVE DUTY SERVICE DEFINED - means active duty military service. 
CITIZEN AND RESIDENT DEFINED - United States Citizenship is not required. Resident for purposes of 
this exemption means an individual who is legally domiciled in New Jersey. Domicile is the place you regard as 
your permanent home - the place you intend to return to after a period of absence. You may have only one legal domicile 
even though you may have more than one place of residence. Seasonal or temporary residence in this State, of 
whatever duration, does not constitute domicile. Absence from the State for a 12 month period is prima facie 
evidence of abandonment of domicile.  
DOCUMENTARY PROOFS REQUIRED 
 Each assessor may require such proofs necessary to establish claimant's exemption entitlement and copies of 
any documents should be attached to DVSSE Claim as part of the application.  
MILITARY RECORDS - Certificate of Honorable Discharge or Release, Form DD214, or Military Notification of 
Death or Certification of United States Veterans Administration aka Department of Veterans Affairs.  
DISABILITY - Veterans Administration Certification of Disability. 
SURVIVING SPOUSE/CIVIL UNION OR DOMESTIC PARTNER - Death Certificate of Decedent, 
marriage license/civil union or domestic partnership registration certificate. 
OWNERSHIP - real property deed; executory contract for property purchase; proprietary lease for cooperatives or mutual 
housing corporations; or Probated Last Will and Testament if by devise, or if intestate or without a will give names 
and 
relationships of decedent's heirs-at-law. The surviving spouse claimant must verify the deceased veteran owned and 
occupied a home in New Jersey at his/her time of death.
RESIDENCY - New Jersey driver's license or motor vehicle registration, voter's registration, N.J. resident tax return etc. 
APPEALS A claimant may appeal any unfavorable determination by the assessor to the County Board 
of Taxation annually on or before April 1 or on or before January 15 for residents of Burlington, Monmouth 
or Gloucester counties only.  
**NOTE- Public Law 2019, chapter 413 became operative when New Jersey voters approved a Constitutional 
Amendment, effective December 4, 2020, to eliminate the wartime service requirement for both the $250 
Veteran Property Tax Deduction and the Disabled Veteran Property Tax Exemption.   
RETROACTIVE REFUNDS - Although statute N.J.S.A.54:4-3.32 states that the governing body of each municipality, 
at its discretion, may return all taxes collected on property which would have been exempt had proper claim in writing 
been made, please remember that the statutory amendments are prospective and retroactive refunds cannot be made prior 
to the date of Public Law 2017, chapter 367 which was January 16, 2018 unless the veteran served during specific 
wartime service periods in specific statutory geographic locations/conflict zones. After P.L.2017,c.367 on January 16, 
2018   up until the passage of P.L.2019, c.413 and receipt of Constitutional approval effective December 4, 2020  veteran  
applicants for the 100% Disabled Veteran Property Tax Exemption were no longer required to have served in specific 
geographic locations/conflict zones  but, were still required to have served during a specific wartime period.  After 
December 3, 2020 wartime service is not required. The Disabled Veteran Property Tax Exemption can begin as soon as all 
eligibility prerequisites are met. Active Duty Military Service, Honorable Discharge, and VA Certification of 100% 
permanent & total disability are still required.