Do I need wartime service to get the NJ veteran property tax deduction?

No. New Jersey voters approved a constitutional amendment, effective Dec. 4, 2020, that removed the wartime service requirement for both the $250 deduction and the disabled veteran exemption.

Where do Haddonfield veterans file?

Form V.S.S. goes to the local assessor or tax collector. Form D.V.S.S.E. goes to the municipal tax assessor. Haddonfield's assessor is at 856-429-4700, ext. 227.

Taxes

Veterans in Haddonfield: How the $250 Property Tax Deduction and the Disabled Veteran Exemption Work

Two state programs, two forms, one office at Borough Hall. Here's who qualifies and how to apply.

By Live Haddonfield · November 11, 2026

If you're a veteran who owns a home in Haddonfield, New Jersey has two property tax breaks for you: a $250 annual deduction for honorably discharged veterans with active duty service, and a full exemption on your main home if you're 100% permanently and totally disabled from active duty service. Both are filed with Haddonfield's tax assessor. Veterans Day is a good day to check you're getting what you've earned.

The $250 veteran deduction

Per the NJ Division of Taxation, you may qualify if you are:

An honorably discharged veteran with active duty service in the U.S. Armed Forces.
A legal resident of New Jersey.
The owner of the property.

Reservists and National Guard members qualify only if they were called to active duty. Active duty for training doesn't count.

The timing catches people. You must meet every requirement as of Oct. 1 of the year before the tax year. So if you qualified by Oct. 1, 2026, the deduction applies to 2027 taxes.

A surviving spouse, civil union or domestic partner may also qualify, as long as they haven't remarried. The state lists the documents it needs, including a death certificate and the veteran's DD 214.

How to apply: file Form V.S.S. with your proofs (DD 214, deed, NJ driver's license or voter registration) with the local assessor or tax collector.

The 100% disabled veteran exemption

This one is bigger. It's a full property tax exemption on the house you live in and its lot. To qualify, the state says you must:

Have active duty service and an honorable discharge.
Be a legal resident of New Jersey.
Own and live in the home as your main residence.
Have a VA certification that you are 100% permanently and totally disabled from an active duty service connected disability.

Surviving spouses and partners of qualifying disabled veterans can also qualify. So can surviving spouses of service members who died on active duty.

How to apply: file Form D.V.S.S.E. with the municipal tax assessor. If you buy a home partway through the year, the state's form says the exemption can be prorated from the date you took title.

No wartime service needed anymore

Older neighbors may remember that these programs used to require service in a specific war period. That changed. Per the state's D.V.S.S.E. form, New Jersey voters approved a constitutional amendment, effective Dec. 4, 2020, that dropped the wartime requirement for both programs. If you were turned away years ago for that reason, it's worth asking again.

Who to call in Haddonfield

The borough's Tax Assessor's Office reviews and approves veteran deductions. Tax Assessor Judi Shoemaker can be reached at 856-429-4700, ext. 227, or jshoemaker@haddonfield-nj.gov. Office hours posted on the borough site: Monday and Wednesday 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., Thursday 8:30 a.m. to noon.

Need help proving your service? The state points to the NJ Department of Military and Veterans Affairs at 609-530-6958 and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs at 1-800-827-1000.

If you're denied, Camden County residents can appeal to the County Board of Taxation with Form A-1 on or before April 1 following the denial. Our tax appeal explainer walks through that board. And here's how we marked Veterans Day in town.

Sources

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FAQ

Do I need wartime service to get the NJ veteran property tax deduction?: No. New Jersey voters approved a constitutional amendment, effective Dec. 4, 2020, that removed the wartime service requirement for both the $250 deduction and the disabled veteran exemption.
Where do Haddonfield veterans file?: Form V.S.S. goes to the local assessor or tax collector. Form D.V.S.S.E. goes to the municipal tax assessor. Haddonfield's assessor is at 856-429-4700, ext. 227.
What if my application is denied?: Camden County residents can appeal to the County Board of Taxation with Form A-1 on or before April 1 following the denial.