Wayne County: Veterans Real Property Tax Exemptions
Wayne County's own guide to New York's three veterans real property tax exemptions - the alternative exemption at 15 percent of assessed value for wartime service, plus 10 percent for combat zones and half the disability rating, the Cold War exemption and the eligible-funds exemption - with the surviving spouse's retention, and the Real Property Tax Service's briefing that the 458-a full exemption would remove roughly $8 million of taxable assessed value across 40 parcels if the county and its towns opt in.
Also called: 458, 458-a, alternative veterans exemption, Cold War exemption, eligible funds, tax exemption, assessor, Lyons, Newark, Sodus, Palmyra, Wolcott, Macedon, Williamson, Ontario.
The county's own page, "Veterans Real Property Tax Exemption": "New York State has three types of Real Property Tax Exemptions for Veterans: 1. Alternative Veterans Exemption - Wartime Era Service = 15% of assessed value; Combat Zone Service = Additional 10% of assessed value; Service-Connected Disability Rating = Additional reduction equal to ½ of the Veteran's disability rating. 2. Cold War Veterans Exemption - Cold War Era Service = 10% or 15% of assessed value; Service-Connected Disability Rating = Additional reduction equal to ½ of the Veteran's disability rating. 3. Eligible Funds Veterans Exemption - Reduces the assessed value of a property that a Veteran purchased using money from certain sources, such as: Prisoner of War Stipend; Mustering-Out Pay; Pension For Military Retirees." And: "When a Veteran passes away, the surviving spouse of the Veteran gets to retain the real property tax exemption on the Veteran's primary residence." The page links tax.ny.gov's veterans exemption page; the State entries carry the option levels and the 2025 additions.
The 458-a full exemption. The Finance Committee's June 9, 2026 minutes record the Real Property Tax Service Officer's briefing: "municipalities now have the option to fully exempt qualifying veterans from taxation, including special district taxes such as fire, water, and other special assessments. Counties, towns, villages, and school districts would each need to opt in for the exemption to apply within their respective jurisdictions"; "approximately $8 million in taxable assessed value across 40 parcels could be removed from the tax rolls if the exemption is adopted"; eligibility runs to veterans "deemed totally disabled" with VA documentation. The committee took the matter for information, expecting assessors and veterans organizations to raise it.
Thresholds
Thresholds for Wayne County: Veterans Real Property Tax Exemptions
Gate
Rule
Half the disability rating reduces assessed value further
The alternative and Cold War exemptions add a reduction of half the service-connected rating; the full exemption needs total disability.
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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.