Kansas Sales Tax Exemption for Disabled Veterans: Who Qualifies and How to Apply

Kansas’s new disabled veteran sales tax exemption took effect July 1, 2026. Eligible residents can use a state-issued exemption card on up to $24,000 in qualifying purchases per calendar year. Here is what veterans and their families need to know.

Who qualifies?

You must be a Kansas resident with a qualifying discharge and a permanent, service-connected disability. VA certification must show a 100% disability or total disability or unemployability (TDIU). The permanence requirement applies to both paths. A 100% rating alone does not establish every requirement.

The Kansas Department of Revenue includes Honorable and General Under Honorable Conditions discharges in its guidance. If your paperwork is unclear, a Kansas Office of Veterans Services representative can help review the requirements.

What does the $24,000 limit mean?

The limit applies to the cost of qualifying purchases, not the amount of tax saved. For example, a qualifying $100 purchase at a hypothetical combined sales tax rate of 9% would save $9. Actual savings depend on the applicable rate and your purchases.

Keep receipts and a running annual total. Purchases above the limit are taxable, and the state may seek unpaid tax on excess purchases.

What can you buy?

KDOR lists clothing, toiletries, appliances, food, and over-the-counter medications as examples. Restaurant purchases can qualify, excluding alcohol. Eligible vehicle repairs, maintenance, parts, and labor can also qualify.

Purchases must be for the personal use of the eligible veteran, spouse, or eligible surviving spouse. The exemption excludes motor vehicle purchases, rentals and leases; alcoholic beverages; tobacco; electronic cigarettes and their consumable materials; and goods or services used to produce income. It does not remove motor fuel excise taxes at the pump.

How to apply

1. Gather your DD Form 214, Member Copy 4, and VA Award Letter or VA Benefit Summary Letter. Have proof of Kansas residency available. KDOR lists possible substitute documents in its FAQ.
2. Complete the official online application, or use paper Form K-97.
3. Wait for approval and your Disabled Veteran Sales Tax Exemption Certificate Card. Sign the card and follow the instructions that arrive with it.

Using your card

Present the signed original card before completing a qualifying purchase. Online retailers may require advance registration of your exemption number or their own verification process. Check with the retailer before ordering.

Only people named on the card may use it. A listed spouse may make qualifying personal purchases; one authorized household member may purchase on behalf of the eligible person. That household member cannot use it for their own personal shopping. Check the expiration date; KDOR says cards require renewal every three years.

What about surviving spouses?

KDOR says an eligible surviving spouse may qualify when the veteran met the requirements and died on or after July 1, 2026. Eligibility ends upon remarriage. Review the state’s surviving-spouse instructions and required documents before applying.

Where to get help

For application and eligibility assistance, contact the Kansas Office of Veterans Services. For tax questions, contact KDOR at 785-368-8222. AVPF can help connect you with resources through our contact page.

Information checked October 25, 2026. This article provides general information; KDOR determines eligibility. This program concerns Kansas sales tax. Property tax and income tax benefits have separate rules.

Official sources

• KDOR: Disabled Veteran Tax Exemption and FAQs
• KDOR Notice 26-01
• Application Form K-97