Totally Disabled Veteran Buying on Oahu? Honolulu Property Tax Exemption Explained

Quick answer: Under City and County of Honolulu rules, a home that is owned and lived in by a veteran who is totally disabled due to injuries received while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces can be exempt from property taxes, except special assessments. Eligibility and filing requirements apply, and the exemption lasts only while the veteran remains totally disabled.

What is the Honolulu property tax exemption for totally disabled veterans?

The exemption comes from the Revised Ordinances of Honolulu, Section 8-10.5. It applies to real property used as a home. If a home qualifies, it is exempt from property taxes, except special assessments. Special assessments are separate charges, so they are not removed. The City and County of Honolulu covers the island of Oahu.

Who qualifies?

According to the City’s application form, the home must be owned and lived in by a veteran who is totally disabled due to injuries received while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. It can also be owned jointly by the veteran and their spouse and lived in by one or both of them. An unmarried widow or widower of such a veteran may also qualify as long as they continue to live in the home. The disability must have been incurred during military service, and a person may claim the exemption for only one home.

Other points from the form: a house where no more than one room is rented to a tenant still qualifies. A home being purchased under a recorded agreement signed before October 1 of the tax year can qualify if the veteran agrees to pay all taxes during the purchase. If part of the home is used for business, only the residential part may qualify. The exemption can continue if the veteran moves to a licensed long-term care facility or adult residential care home in Hawaii, if the owner designates it on the form and the original home is not rented, leased or sold during that time.

How and when do you apply?

You file the City’s application with the Real Property Assessment Division. If you file on or before August 19, the exemption takes effect for the following tax year. If you file on or before February 19, it takes effect for the second half of the current tax year. Bring an official ID, plus a marriage certificate or a death certificate if they apply to you.

You can submit the form in person or by mail at the Downtown office (842 Bethel Street, Basement, Honolulu) or the Kapolei office (1000 Uluʻōhiʻa Street, #206). If you mail it, include a self-addressed stamped envelope if you want a receipted copy.

Application form: https://realproperty.honolulu.gov/media/00zfugyp/totally-disabled-va-exemption-fillable-e-8-105-rev-12_2025-updated.pdf

Honolulu Real Property Assessment: https://realproperty.honolulu.gov

Questions veterans ask about buying on Oahu

Does this remove all of my property taxes? For a qualifying home, the exemption covers property taxes except special assessments. Eligibility and filing requirements apply.

Can I use a VA loan to buy? An eligible service member can use a VA loan, which can mean 0% down. Loan approval, rates and eligibility vary, so talk to a lender. I’ll gladly introduce you to a few different lenders who work with military families, so you can compare.

Do I have to prove my disability again? The form says the exemption lasts only while the veteran remains totally disabled, and proof may be required.

Does it work for any home I buy? It is for a home you own and live in. A person may claim the exemption for only one home, and parts of a property used for business may not qualify.

Learn more: khttps://www.coastalhe.com

Want to talk through buying on Oahu? Message me, and I’ll walk through it with you. No pressure. If you are also waiting on base housing, read: https://www.coastalhe.com/post/waiting-on-base-housing-on-oahu-could-buying-make-sense

Ana-Maria Contis (B)

Coastal Homes & Estates, brokered by eXp Realty

808-800-7821

General information, not tax or legal advice. Please confirm your eligibility and filing steps with the Real Property Assessment Division or a tax professional.

Sources: City and County of Honolulu Real Property Assessment Division, Totally Disabled Veteran exemption application (ROH Sec. 8-10.5, rev. 12/2025). Details change, so confirm before you file.