07 May Is there a time limit to be eligible for veteran tax benefit?

Q. I saw your story last week about the veteran’s tax exemption and I can’t believe I’ve never heard of it before now. Are there any time limits to be eligible? I was on active duty in the Army from 1957 to 1959.
— Still working

A. Thank you for your service.

To recap, New Jersey allows veterans who served on active duty to take an additional $6,000 deduction on their New Jersey personal income tax return, and your active duty service time must include active duty beyond boot camp.

The first time you claim the veterans deduction, you must complete a “Veterans Income Tax Exemption Form” plus offer proof of service.

The Division of Taxation said there is no time limit for the benefit.

“You are eligible for a $6,000 exemption on your New Jersey Income Tax return if you are a military veteran who was honorably discharged or released under honorable circumstances from active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States on or any time before the last day of the tax year,” it said.

That’s not a small amount of money, so we recommend you meet with a tax preparer to see if it makes sense to amend any of your previous tax returns.

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This story was originally published in May 2024.

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