South Dakota disabled veteran benefits: tax, plates, education, and recreation.

South Dakota military retirement pay tax

South Dakota has no state income tax. Military retirement pay is not taxed by the state.

South Dakota disabled veteran license plate

Eligibility: Wartime/armed-conflict service-connected injury plus one of: VA K Award recipient, automobile under Public Law 187, statutory benefit for loss of an extremity, or a veteran’s allotment for total SC disability.

How to apply: Form 1303 + $10 fee (refunded if not qualified), mail or in person to your local DOR office.

Agency: Dept. of Revenue, verified via the VA office in Sioux Falls

Registration, parking, and toll notes

The plate itself does NOT automatically waive registration/renewal fees — those still apply. A separate disabled parking permit is needed generally.

No dedicated disabled-veteran toll program confirmed in South Dakota.

South Dakota property tax benefits

2026 review: Permanent-and-total service-connected disability can exclude up to $200,000 of qualifying owner-occupied home value, not pay that amount in cash. The separate wheelchair-designed-home exemption has different criteria. File PT46C or PT46A with the County Director of Equalization by November 1; current law provides continuation and category-specific late-claim relief.

How to apply in South Dakota: steps, forms and official sources

South Dakota education benefits

Qualifying South Dakota veterans may receive undergraduate public-school tuition after federal education benefits are exhausted or unavailable. Separate survivor, POW/MIA and Guard-family routes require certification; this is not a waiver for every veteran or dependent.

How to apply for South Dakota education benefits

South Dakota recreation benefits

2026 review: Qualifying residents with compensated 40%+ service-connected disability, a VA K Award or POW status can apply for a $10 four-year small-game/fishing license. Other disability routes require GFP verification. A separate lifetime park pass covers different VA/POW/Purple Heart categories and eligible camping discounts; wildlife approval alone is not park eligibility.

Educational disclaimer

VetOps is not VA, a VSO, DMV, DOT, a tax advisor, or a government agency. This guide is educational only, does not provide legal, financial, or tax advice, and does not guarantee benefits or tax outcomes.