Does Washington have a state income tax?

Washington has no state income tax. All income sources are tax-free at the state level.

Do disabled veterans pay vehicle registration fees in Washington?

Qualifying disabled veterans pay nothing on one vehicle. Under RCW 46.18.235, disabled American veteran and former prisoner of war license plates are issued for one personal-use vehicle without the payment of any vehicle license fees, license plate fees, or excise taxes. The statute covers veterans with a certified service-connected disability, loss of use of both hands or one foot, former POWs with a POW medal, veterans blinded in both eyes by military service, and veterans receiving compensation at the 100 percent rate expected to last more than one year; the Department of Licensing asks for a VA eligibility letter verifying a 100% rating expected to last more than one year. Veterans may instead keep regular plates and still receive the same fee and excise tax exemption.

Do disabled veterans get free state park camping in Washington?

Yes. Washington State Parks issues a free Lifetime Disabled Veteran Pass to Washington residents who are veterans with a 30% or greater combined service-connected disability rating. It provides free day-use parking (no Discover Pass required), boat launch, trailer dump, and free camping or moorage at Washington state parks, plus free day-use parking and all other Discover Pass privileges on WDFW and DNR lands. Extra-vehicle, overnight unattended vehicle, and dockside utility hook-up fees are not covered, and per WDVA, reservation and change fees ($8 online, $10 by phone) apply as of October 1, 2025.

Updated August 2026

Washington Veteran Benefits 2026

Q: Do disabled veterans get discounted hunting and fishing licenses in Washington?

Yes. Under RCW 77.32.480, a Washington resident veteran with a qualifying discharge and a 30 percent or more service-connected disability (or a resident veteran 65 or older with any service-connected disability) is issued a combination fishing license at a reduced statutory rate of $6.90 and all hunting licenses at the youth-license rate. On WDFW's fee schedule effective January 1, 2026, the reduced combination fishing license sells for $12.89 with surcharges (standard resident $74.37) and a reduced deer license for $29.82 (standard $61.70). Nonresident disabled veterans meeting the same criteria pay nondisabled Washington-resident prices for combination fishing and hunting licenses.

The Evergreen State — from Puget Sound to Rainier — keeps faith with its veterans.

Washington pairs no income tax with a lifetime parks pass at 30% and fee-free plates at 100%. Verified against the Revised Code of Washington and agencies, claim by claim.

Washington Highlights

No state income tax
Income-based property tax relief for disabled veterans (40%+ or total disability)
No vehicle license, plate, or excise fees on one vehicle for qualifying disabled veterans
Free lifetime state parks pass (camping, moorage & day-use) at 30%+ disability
Reduced-fee hunting & fishing licenses at 30%+ disability
College tuition waivers: institution-optional for veterans, guaranteed for dependents of 100% disabled or fallen veterans
Washington Veterans Affairs agency services

Snow-capped Mount Rainier reflected in a small alpine lake in the Tatoosh Range, Washington — Mount Rainier reflected in an alpine lake. NPS photo

Income Tax Treatment

Washington has no state income tax. Washington has no state income tax, so military retirement pay is not taxed.

This means military retirement pay, active duty pay, and all other income sources are free from state income tax. VA disability compensation is also tax-free at the federal level.

Property Tax Exemption for Disabled Veterans in Washington

Type: Graduated by disability rating

Washington has no flat 100%-disabled-veteran exemption. Disabled veterans use the income-tiered Senior/Disabled Person/Disabled Veteran exemption (RCW 84.36.379–.389): the home's assessed value is frozen and all qualifiers are exempt from excess (voter-approved) levies, with lower-income tiers also exempt from part of regular levies. The disability gate is a VA rating of 40%+ OR a total-disability rating (TDIU qualifies). VA disability compensation is excluded from the income test.

VA disability rating / category	What you get
40%+ service-connected or total disability — Income Threshold 1 (lowest income, most relief)	Frozen assessed value; exempt from all excess levies + the additional state property tax; PLUS regular-levy exemption on the greater of $60,000 or 60% of assessed value.Combined disposable income at/below Threshold 1 (greater of $30,000 or 50% of county median).
40%+ service-connected or total disability — Income Threshold 2 (mid income)	Frozen value; exempt from all excess levies + state tax; PLUS regular-levy exemption on the greater of $50,000 or 35% of value, capped at $70,000.Income above Threshold 1 and at/below Threshold 2 (greater of $35,000 or 60% of county median).
40%+ service-connected or total disability — Income Threshold 3 (highest qualifying income)	Frozen value; exempt from all excess levies + state tax (no regular-levy exemption at this tier).Income above Threshold 2 and at/below Threshold 3 (greater of $40,000 or 70% of county median; ~$84k in King County for 2025).

Income limit: Must be at/below county Income Threshold 3 (greater of $40,000 or 70% of county median household income); county-specific, set by DOR table. VA disability compensation and DIC are excluded from disposable income.
Age requirement: None for disabled veterans (age 61+ is the alternative senior path).
Surviving spouse: A surviving spouse/domestic partner age 57+ (or disabled) meeting income/ownership rules may continue the exemption. Separate Widows/Widowers of Veterans assistance program (RCW 84.39) also exists.
Counts being paid at 100% via unemployability (TDIU)? Yes — being paid at the 100% rate via Individual Unemployability (TDIU) qualifies

Recent change: Veteran disability gate lowered to 40%/total disability (operative for 2024 collection, replacing the older 80%/100%-rate standard). HB 1355 (2023) raised income-threshold percentages to 50/60/70% of county median, adjusted every 3 years from Aug 1, 2023. NOTE: DOR's program page and WDVA still display the stale '80% / 100% rate' standard — the RCW (40%/total) controls.

Before you rely on a dollar figure: the exact current amount can change year to year. Confirm with your county assessor or the Washington Department of Veterans Affairs using the source link below.

Source: RCW 84.36.379–.389 (veteran eligibility 84.36.381(3)(a)(ii); tiers 84.36.381(5); freeze (6); income 84.36.383) and a second official source. Verified June 2026 against primary sources.

To apply, contact your county assessor's office or the Washington Department of Veterans Affairs. You will typically need your VA disability rating letter (and often your DD‑214) and proof that the home is your primary residence.

Real estate vs. personal property: this benefit applies to real-estate (home/homestead) property tax. Personal-property taxes — such as the annual tax some states levy on vehicles — are separate and generally still apply, even at a 100% rating, unless your state specifically exempts them.

Check your exemption by rating & state →

Vehicle & Registration Benefits

Free plates and registration on one vehicle (disabled American veteran / former POW): Under RCW 46.18.235, disabled American veteran and former prisoner of war license plates are issued for one personal-use vehicle “without the payment of any vehicle license fees, license plate fees, or excise taxes.” The statute reaches a veteran (as defined in RCW 41.04.007) who provides certification of a service-connected disability; has lost the use of both hands or one foot; is a former POW who received the prisoner of war medal; became blind in both eyes as a result of military service; or is receiving service-connected compensation at the 100 percent rate expected to exist for more than one year. In practice the Department of Licensing asks for a qualifying discharge and a VA eligibility letter verifying a 100% VA disability rating expected to last more than one year — see the DOL disabled American veteran plate page. Prefer not to advertise your status? Subsection (3) lets you take regular-issue or another qualifying plate and keep the same fee-and-excise-tax exemption, and the plates may be transferred to another vehicle you own upon application.

Purple Heart plates: Washington vehicle owners with proof (DD-214) that they were awarded the Purple Heart — or the surviving spouse or domestic partner of a deceased recipient (with the recipient's death certificate and an affidavit of non-remarriage) — get their first set of plates exempt from licensing fees for one vehicle; plates for additional vehicles are at standard rates, and the plates are not available for trailers. Details: DOL Purple Heart plate page.

Gold Star plates: Under RCW 46.18.245, Washington-resident family members of a service member who died in service (or as a result of service) qualify with WDVA certification. A widow, widower, parent (biological, adoptive, step), or adult in loco parentis/foster parent receives the plate for one vehicle free of all vehicle license fees, license plate fees, and motor vehicle excise taxes (additional vehicles: plate fee waived, other fees due); a child or sibling gets the plate fee waived but pays normal registration. An eligible widow or widower may instead choose a standard or other qualifying plate for one vehicle and keep the full fee exemption. Replacement plates are free, and plates transfer between the family member's vehicles. See the DOL Gold Star plate page.

Sales tax on adapted vehicles: Washington exempts prescribed add-on automotive adaptive equipment — wheelchair lifts, hand controls, ramps, lowered floors, reduced-effort steering and braking, and similar — from retail sales tax, including installation and repair labor, under RCW 82.08.875. It applies to disabled veterans and disabled active-duty members (service connection not required) only when the VA or another federal agency reimburses the purchase and pays the seller directly. The exemption covers the add-on equipment, not the base vehicle or factory-installed equipment, and is currently set to expire July 1, 2028.

Recreation: Parks, Hunting & Fishing

Lifetime Disabled Veteran Pass — 30%+ Washington residents: Washington State Parks issues a free lifetime pass to “Washington state residents who are veterans with a 30% or greater combined service-connected disability rating.” At state parks it provides free day-use parking (no Discover Pass required), boat launch, and trailer dump, plus free camping or moorage (limited to one campsite or moorage site per night); on Department of Fish and Wildlife and Department of Natural Resources lands it provides free day-use parking and all other Discover Pass privileges. Apply free of charge with proof of Washington residency and your VA award letter showing a 30%+ rating — allow 6–8 weeks. Extra-vehicle, overnight-unattended-vehicle, and dockside utility hook-up fees are not covered, nor are roofed accommodations (cabins, yurts), group camps, or Sno-Parks. Source: Washington State Parks — Lifetime Disabled Veteran Pass. Per WDVA, camping itself stays free but as of October 1, 2025 reservation and change fees ($8 online, $10 by phone) apply.

Reduced-fee hunting & fishing — 30%+ resident veterans: Under RCW 77.32.480, a Washington resident with a qualifying discharge (RCW 73.04.005) and a 30 percent or more service-connected disability — or a resident veteran 65 or older with a service-connected disability at any rating — is issued a combination fishing license at a reduced statutory rate of $6.90 and all hunting licenses at the youth-license rate. On WDFW's fee schedule effective January 1, 2026, that means $12.89 with surcharges for the reduced combination fishing license (standard resident $74.37) and, for example, $29.82 for a reduced deer license (standard $61.70) or $56.13 for deer + elk (standard $116.85). Apply by mail with WDFW's reduced-fee application and a copy of your one-page VA disability rating letter — see WDFW's veterans reduced-fee eligibility page.

Nonresident disabled veterans: the same statute directs WDFW to issue a nonresident veteran who meets those criteria a combination fishing license or any hunting license at the same cost charged to a nondisabled Washington resident — e.g., $74.37 for the combination fishing license instead of the $170.00 nonresident price.

Education & Other Washington Benefits

Veteran tuition waiver (institution-optional): Under RCW 28B.15.621(2), Washington's public four-year universities, The Evergreen State College, and the community and technical colleges may waive all or a portion of tuition and fees for an eligible veteran or National Guard member — a Washington domiciliary who served in active federal service (Title 10 or Title 32) in a war or conflict fought on foreign soil or in international waters (or in support of those who did) with a qualifying discharge. This waiver is discretionary, not guaranteed — each institution decides whether and how much to waive, so ask the school's veterans office before enrolling.

Dependent tuition waiver (mandatory, 100%): the same statute, subsection (4), says those institutions shall waive all tuition and fees for the child (age 17–26, Washington domiciliary) and the spouse/domestic partner or surviving spouse/partner of an eligible veteran or Guard member who became totally disabled (100% per the VA) as a result of active federal service, is a federally determined POW or MIA, or died as a result of that service. The waiver is capped at 250 quarter credits (or the semester equivalent), comes with a $500-per-academic-year textbook stipend subject to appropriation, and a surviving spouse has a 10-year window and loses eligibility on remarriage.

VA Healthcare in Washington

Washington has approximately 3 VA medical centers along with community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs) throughout the state. Veterans enrolled in VA healthcare can receive care at any VA facility nationwide.

To find the nearest VA facility, visit VA.gov Facility Locator.