Tax breaks for disabled vets

[Belsnickel]

So there is a constitutional amendment on the ballot in Virginia, this year, giving disabled vets a tax exemption for their vehicle taxes. Now, every time something comes up like this, like exemption from personal property taxes or benefits to widows/widowers/dependents and things like that, there is always a debate over it.

Now, a lot of people focus on the idea that this is to help disabled vets, a noble cause for sure. My father and mother benefited from some of these tax exemptions for a long time. Of course, this does impact the state and local budgets as it reduces revenues (though not by a ton). That's typically the conversation.

I'm curious about what your states do, and what your opinion on it is. I'll save my own point of view for a while, but it goes in a different direction than the typical debate.

[BmorePat87]

Maryland exempts property taxes on your residence, which is certainly a much bigger chunk of our revenue than what transportation is/would be.

Given the small percentage of those impacted, I lean towards helping veterans get a significant personal relief at a fairly negligible cost to the government.

[Belsnickel]

(09-24-2020, 09:59 AM)BmorePat87 Wrote: Maryland exempts property taxes on your residence, which is certainly a much bigger chunk of our revenue than what transportation is/would be.

Given the small percentage of those impacted, I lean towards helping veterans get a significant personal relief at a fairly negligible cost to the government.

Virginia does that, too. This amendment is expanding the idea to automobile taxes, as well. Virginia also allows the spouse of a deceased disabled veteran to maintain the exemption if they do not remarry and/or move.

[BmorePat87]

(09-24-2020, 10:01 AM)Belsnickel Wrote: Virginia does that, too. This amendment is expanding the idea to automobile taxes, as well. Virginia also allows the spouse of a deceased disabled veteran to maintain the exemption if they do not remarry and/or move.

I definitely support having the widow/er keep the benefit. Serving and sacrificing likely has a significant impact on your family's ability to generate wealth, whether because of decreased opportunities afterwards, increased burden of care, difficulty in maintaining longterm employment with growth because of the transient nature that sometimes comes with serving, or life expectancy. 

[*PhilHos*]

(09-24-2020, 09:17 AM)Belsnickel Wrote: So there is a constitutional amendment on the ballot in Virginia, this year, giving disabled vets a tax exemption for their vehicle taxes. Now, every time something comes up like this, like exemption from personal property taxes or benefits to widows/widowers/dependents and things like that, there is always a debate over it.

Now, a lot of people focus on the idea that this is to help disabled vets, a noble cause for sure. My father and mother benefited from some of these tax exemptions for a long time. Of course, this does impact the state and local budgets as it reduces revenues (though not by a ton). That's typically the conversation.

I'm curious about what your states do, and what your opinion on it is. I'll save my own point of view for a while, but it goes in a different direction than the typical debate.

I don't see as to how you can be against this. These people were disabled through serving their country, correct? At the very least, we owe them tax breaks to get vehicles equipped to help with their disability. I'd go so far as to say the vehicle should be provided by the government at no cost to the vet.

[oncemoreuntothejimbreech]

(09-24-2020, 10:55 AM)PhilHos Wrote: I don't see as to how you can be against this. These people were disabled through serving their country, correct? At the very least, we owe them tax breaks to get vehicles equipped to help with their disability. I'd go so far as to say the vehicle should be provided by the government at no cost to the vet.

I don’t agree with the suggestion in bold. But, I do agree with tax breaks for veterans, not just disabled veterans. If we can give tax breaks on jets and yachts and thoroughbreds and second homes, surely we can give tax breaks to veterans.

[Belsnickel]

(09-24-2020, 10:55 AM)PhilHos Wrote: I don't see as to how you can be against this. These people were disabled through serving their country, correct? At the very least, we owe them tax breaks to get vehicles equipped to help with their disability. I'd go so far as to say the vehicle should be provided by the government at no cost to the vet.

I've let it set long enough to give my opinion, which also means explaining why someone could be against it. Our cities and states did not decide to send these men and women into combat. My father didn't develop leukemia because Fayette County, Pennsylvania (or Harrisonburg, Virginia) sent him to Vietnam; the federal government did that. I think that it is the responsibility of the federal government to provide relief like that to the veterans, disabled or not, and it should not fall to the states and localities.

[Yojimbo]

You know that scene in the movie Armageddon where their final demand for going into space is none of them want to pay taxes, ever again? I’d be fine with that for disabled vets.

For that matter, I’ve never understood why military/federal employees pay federal taxes or state employees pay state taxes, but that’s just more curiosity, probably for accounting purposes thing.

[CKwi88]

(09-24-2020, 07:05 PM)Belsnickel Wrote: I've let it set long enough to give my opinion, which also means explaining why someone could be against it. Our cities and states did not decide to send these men and women into combat. My father didn't develop leukemia because Fayette County, Pennsylvania (or Harrisonburg, Virginia) sent him to Vietnam; the federal government did that. I think that it is the responsibility of the federal government to provide relief like that to the veterans, disabled or not, and it should not fall to the states and localities.

This was my knee-jerk reaction. Should fall to the feds not to municipalities or states. 

Still sounds like socialism though.

[*bfine32*]

The Federal Government gives plenty benefits to disabled Vets. If a state wants to throw in a little more, then I don't have a problem with it.

[oncemoreuntothejimbreech]

(09-24-2020, 11:29 PM)bfine32 Wrote: The Federal Government gives plenty benefits to disabled Vets. If a state wants to throw in a little more, then I don't have a problem with it.

Like?

[Benton]

(09-24-2020, 11:48 PM)oncemoreuntothejimbreech Wrote: Like?

https://benefits.va.gov/BENEFITS/benefits-summary/SummaryofVABenefitsforDisabledVeterans.pdf

[oncemoreuntothejimbreech]

(09-25-2020, 12:39 AM)Benton Wrote: https://benefits.va.gov/BENEFITS/benefits-summary/SummaryofVABenefitsforDisabledVeterans.pdf

“As part of our mission to serve you, VA provides disability compensation to eligible Veterans”

Keyword being eligible. Certain restrictions may apply.

[Benton]

(09-25-2020, 12:59 AM)oncemoreuntothejimbreech Wrote: “As part of our mission to serve you, VA provides disability compensation to eligible Veterans”

Keyword being eligible. Certain restrictions may apply.

Like... being disabled?



Sorry, couldn't help. Anyway...

[oncemoreuntothejimbreech]

(09-25-2020, 01:03 AM)Benton Wrote: Like... being disabled?



Sorry, couldn't help. Anyway...

I am. And while I’m glad I’m not disabled enough to qualify most of those benefits, most other disabled vets aren’t, either.

[*PhilHos*]

(09-24-2020, 07:05 PM)Belsnickel Wrote: I've let it set long enough to give my opinion, which also means explaining why someone could be against it. Our cities and states did not decide to send these men and women into combat. My father didn't develop leukemia because Fayette County, Pennsylvania (or Harrisonburg, Virginia) sent him to Vietnam; the federal government did that. I think that it is the responsibility of the federal government to provide relief like that to the veterans, disabled or not, and it should not fall to the states and localities.

While true, those states and communities still benefitted from veterans serving. It's not like your father served the US but not Fayette County (where my ex-wife and daughters live, btw).

[fredtoast]

It seems that the number of people effected would be so small that it really would not make much difference in revenue.

I'd say that is a big reason there is no big fight against things like this.

[Belsnickel]

(09-25-2020, 12:24 PM)PhilHos Wrote: While true, those states and communities still benefitted from veterans serving. It's not like your father served the US but not Fayette County (where my ex-wife and daughters live, btw).

Which I get. It's just the way I see the federalist system working best.

I'm actually going to be up there all next week to take care of some things. It's gonna be good times.

[oncemoreuntothejimbreech]

(09-25-2020, 01:57 PM)fredtoast Wrote: It seems that the number of people effected would be so small that it really would not make much difference in revenue.

That’s probably true except for counties adjacent to military bases.

Quote:I'd say that is a big reason there is no big fight against things like this.

It actually works in the opposite way. Because this affects so few people we are basically a minor special interest group to politicians. Sure they pay lips service to taking care of service members and veterans. Then they cut health benefits. They cut retirement benefits. They can pretty much do it with impunity since the people affected don’t equal a large enough demographic to hurt them at the ballot box.

Take retirement plans as an example. When I joined the military there were three different retirement plans based upon when you joined all with decreasing benefits. Who voted to decrease the benefits? Politicians.

[*PhilHos*]

(09-25-2020, 01:59 PM)Belsnickel Wrote: Which I get. It's just the way I see the federalist system working best.

I get that. And I appreciate the viewpoint on how people could be against tax breaks for disabled vets.

(09-25-2020, 01:59 PM)Belsnickel Wrote: I'm actually going to be up there all next week to take care of some things. It's gonna be good times.

C'mooooon. We know the truth. You're really going to a Trump rally, aren't you?