South Dakota

Partial exemption: up to $200,000 of the full and true value of an owner-occupied dwelling is exempt from property tax for veterans rated 100 percent permanent and total (apply with the county Director of Equalization by November 1). A full exemption of the dwelling (house, garage, and up to one acre) applies only to paraplegic veterans or those with loss of use of both lower extremities living in a wheelchair-adapted home.

South Dakota has no state personal income tax, so neither your VA disability compensation nor your military retirement pay is taxed by the state.

South Dakota's Disabled Veteran plate costs $10 a year (no registration fee) for residents with a wartime service-connected loss of use, SMC level K, an adapted vehicle, or a total and permanent rating.

South Dakota gives honorably discharged veterans (and eligible surviving spouses) hiring preference for state, county, local, and school-district jobs, and guarantees an interview to qualified veterans.

Under 38 USC 3679(c) (originally Section 702 of the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act), every public college that accepts Post-9/11 GI Bill or Montgomery GI Bill students must charge in state tuition to covered students using their GI Bill, regardless of state residency. The old requirement to enroll within 3 years of separation was removed by the Isakson and Roe Act effective August 1, 2021, so there is no longer a time limit after discharge. State specific extensions to this rule are noted below where applicable.

South Dakota gives free tuition at state-supported schools to children under 25 of veterans who died during service (the parent must have been a South Dakota resident for at least six months before entering service) and to children and spouses of POWs or service members missing in action (unless equal federal benefits apply). Eligible honorably discharged South Dakota veterans separately earn one month of free undergraduate tuition per month of qualifying service (minimum one month, maximum four academic years, after VA education benefits are exhausted).

Free Disabled Veteran annual hunting and fishing license.

Free annual South Dakota State Park entrance license for qualifying veterans.

South Dakota residents who are 100 percent service-connected disabled, receive VA Special Monthly Compensation level K, are former POWs, or are Purple Heart recipients qualify for a free lifetime state park entrance license, plus a 50% discount on camping and electrical fees for their site or camping cabin.

The South Dakota State Veterans Cemetery (Sioux Falls) provides the plot, interment, and perpetual care at no cost for veterans; a fee applies for dependents.