No. VA disability compensation is fully tax-free under federal law (38 USC §5301).
VA disability compensation is fully tax-free under 38 USC §5301. You don't report it on federal income taxes, and most states don't tax it either. It's also excluded from countable income for SSI, SSDI, SNAP, and Medicaid eligibility purposes.
Detail
- Federal: tax-free. Not reported on Form 1040.
- State: most states don't tax VA disability. The few that do (e.g., partial taxation in some states) typically allow a federal-conformity exclusion.
- Not counted as income for: SSI/SSDI eligibility, SNAP, Medicaid, most low-income housing subsidies, FAFSA financial aid.
- IS counted as income for: VA Pension (offset), some state veteran-aid programs, child support calculations, divorce-court alimony.
- Other tax-free veteran benefits: VA pension (means-tested, also tax-free), GI Bill education benefits, VA grants for adapted housing, dependents' DIC payments to surviving spouses.
- Taxable veteran benefits: military retirement pay (taxable as ordinary income, except CRDP/CRSC offset portions).
Related pages
Other veteran questions
About these answers
These plain-English answers are maintained by Wounded Warriors (Texas 501(c)(3), EIN 86-1336741). We cite VA's official sources where applicable. Always verify the most current rules at va.gov. Free, machine-queryable under CC-BY 4.0.
