Pittsylvania County Line of Duty Surviving Spouse Exemption

Pittsylvania County takes the statewide exemption for the unremarried surviving spouse of a service member who died in the line of duty. Its form still says “killed in action”, ties the spouse to the same home, and wrongly treats the county’s average home value as a cut-off.

Also called: Gold Star spouse, line of duty, killed in action, surviving spouse property tax, KIA.

For: Survivor.

Where it applies

Written for the jurisdictions listed here.

Pittsylvania County, VACounty

The Commonwealth exempts the home of the unremarried surviving spouse of a member of the armed forces who died in the line of duty, up to the locality's average assessed value of a single-family dwelling. Pittsylvania's application asks for the Department of Defense documentation of the date of death and a utility bill, Virginia resident tax return, or bank statement for the home. The application states three conditions the statute does not have. It covers a member "killed in action"; since January 1, 2025 section 58.1-3219.9 covers any member who died in the line of duty with a Department of Defense Line of Duty determination. It says the spouse "must continue to reside in primary residence"; section 58.1-3219.9(C) says the exemption "applies without any restriction on the spouse's moving to a different principal place of residence". And it says the "assessed value must not exceed the average assessed values" of single-family homes; section 58.1-3219.9(B) exempts a dwelling worth more than the average up to the average and taxes only the excess. A spouse turned away on any of these grounds should apply citing the statute.

Thresholds

Thresholds for Pittsylvania County Line of Duty Surviving Spouse Exemption
Gate	Rule
Line of Duty determination from the Department of Defense	The member of the armed forces died in the line of duty with a Department of Defense determination. The spouse has not remarried and lives in the home. No disability rating is involved.

Sources

Updated

Last updated 2026-10-01.

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Disclaimer

VetTOC is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or the Department of Defense. Information is for reference only and is not an eligibility determination. Verify with VA, the relevant state or territory, or an accredited VSO.