The Preliminary Application for Disabled Veteran / Surviving Spouse Real Estate Tax Exemption is a City of Chesapeake, Virginia form that asks the Commissioner of Revenue's office for preliminary approval of the real estate tax exemption on a specific home. It is one of the Chesapeake property tax forms for disabled veterans and surviving spouses, and it is tied to a purchase agreement for the property. On this page you can fill out the form online on FillingPDF and download or print the completed PDF; the official PDF is published by the City of Chesapeake.
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What is Preliminary Application for Disabled Veteran / Surviving Spouse Real Estate Tax Exemption – Chesapeake, VA?
The Preliminary Application for Disabled Veteran / Surviving Spouse Real Estate Tax Exemption is the City of Chesapeake form on which a disabled veteran or a surviving spouse asks the Commissioner of Revenue's office for preliminary approval of the real estate tax exemption for a home they wish to qualify for.
The form works with a package of documents. It lists the evidence required from disabled veterans (a Summary of Benefits letter, identification, a marriage certificate if applicable) and from surviving spouses (a Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) letter or VA verification, a marriage certificate, a death certificate, identification and proof of the veteran's prior exemption). Both groups must also include the full purchase agreement for the property.
The application itself collects the veteran's and spouse's names, dates of birth and Social Security numbers, marital status, the property address, whether the property is real estate or a mobile home, who will live in the home full-time, and a mailing address. The applicant signs a certification under penalty of perjury.
The form cites Code of Virginia §58.1-3219.6, which allows the Commissioner of Revenue's office 20 business days after it receives the preliminary application, all requested documentation and a copy of the purchase agreement. The Preliminary Approval Letter is mailed to the current address given on the form. An "Office Use Only" block at the bottom is completed by the city, not by the applicant.
Who needs to file Preliminary Application for Disabled Veteran / Surviving Spouse Real Estate Tax Exemption – Chesapeake, VA?
Two groups use this form, each with its own document list printed on it.
- Disabled veterans who want preliminary approval for a home. The form requires a current or most recent Summary of Benefits letter showing 100% Service Connection or 100% Unemployability and the effective date of Permanent and Total disability. The veteran must be rated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (or its successor agency).
- Surviving spouses of veterans. The form requires a current DIC letter from the VA, or VA verification that the veteran met the eligibility requirements at the time of death plus the joint federal income tax return for the tax year before the death. The death certificate must confirm a date of death on or after January 1, 2011.
Both groups must supply the full purchase agreement for the property seeking preliminary approval, because the application is for a specific address.
Virginia residents need a Virginia driver's license. The form makes one exception for a veteran living in Virginia with an active-duty spouse, whose orders to be in Virginia must accompany the application.
When to file Preliminary Application for Disabled Veteran / Surviving Spouse Real Estate Tax Exemption – Chesapeake, VA
File this form when you are seeking preliminary approval of the exemption for a particular home and have the purchase agreement and the other required documents ready. The form prints no calendar deadline; it is tied to the property named in the application.
Under Code of Virginia §58.1-3219.6, as cited on the form, the Commissioner of Revenue's office has 20 business days following receipt of the preliminary application, all documentation requested and a copy of the purchase agreement. An incomplete package therefore delays the review.
If the property address changes, the certification on the form requires you to report the change to the Commissioner of Revenue's office and to file a new preliminary application for the different address.
Documents you need
- Disabled veterans: current or most recent Summary of Benefits letter from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs showing 100% Service Connection or 100% Unemployability and the effective date of Permanent and Total disability.
- Disabled veterans: a valid driver's license; it must be a Virginia license if you live in Virginia, unless you have an active-duty spouse whose orders to be in Virginia accompany the application.
- Disabled veterans: a valid Military ID, or a valid Veteran's ID with a picture if you have no military ID.
- Disabled veterans: a marriage certificate, if applicable.
- Full purchase agreement for the property seeking preliminary approval (disabled veterans and surviving spouses).
- Surviving spouses: current (most recent) VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) letter, or VA verification that the veteran met the eligibility requirements at the time of death plus the jointly filed federal income tax return for the tax year before the death.
- Surviving spouses: the ORIGINAL letter granting the surviving spouse DIC with the beginning effective date.
- Surviving spouses: marriage certificate.
- Surviving spouses: certified copy of the veteran's death certificate confirming a date of death on or after January 1, 2011.
- Surviving spouses: copy of a Virginia driver's license showing the correct and current address, and a valid military ID if applicable.
- Surviving spouses: proof of the veteran's prior exemption, a letter from the county or city showing ownership by the veteran and spouse receiving the exemption before death; if the veteran was deemed eligible at death, proof of home ownership with the surviving spouse before death.
How to fill out Preliminary Application for Disabled Veteran / Surviving Spouse Real Estate Tax Exemption – Chesapeake, VA
Enter the disabled veteran's details
Under APPLICATION, write the disabled veteran's last name, first name and middle initial, date of birth and full Social Security number.
Enter the spouse's details
On the Spouse line, enter the last name, first name and middle initial, the Active Duty entry, date of birth, full Social Security number and the state of residence (the "ST of Resid." blank).
Mark your marital status
Check Single, Married, Divorced or Widowed. For Married, Divorced or Widowed, enter the date in the space provided.
Enter the property address
Write the street address, city and ZIP code of the property you are applying for, and check Real Estate or Mobile Home.
Answer the residency questions
Check YES or NO for whether the veteran plans to reside in the home full-time. If married, check YES or NO for whether the spouse will also live there full-time.
Enter your current address
Give your current street address, city and ZIP code. The Preliminary Approval Letter is mailed to this address.
Add your contact information
Enter your phone number and email address, and check Phone or Email as the best way to contact you.
Complete the certification
Print your name in the blank in the statement that the answers are true and correct under penalty of perjury. You acknowledge that you must report changes in the requested property address and file a new preliminary application for a different address.
Sign and date the application
Sign on the line for Veteran's / Surviving Spouse Signature and enter the date. Leave the Office Use Only block blank.
Review, download and assemble the package
Check names, dates and the property address, then download or print the completed PDF from FillingPDF. Gather the documents for your group and the purchase agreement, and submit them as described under How to submit.
How to submit Preliminary Application for Disabled Veteran / Surviving Spouse Real Estate Tax Exemption – Chesapeake, VA
The form does not list separate submission channels. It prints the address Post Office BOX 15285, Chesapeake, Virginia 23328 at the top, and its certification refers to the Commissioner of Revenue's office. The City of Chesapeake lists disabled veteran and surviving spouse applications under the Commissioner of the Revenue on its City Forms and Applications page, which also points to more information on disabled veterans tax benefits.
- Package contents: the signed application, the documents listed for your group (disabled veteran or surviving spouse) and a copy of the full purchase agreement for the property.
- Reply address: the Preliminary Approval Letter is mailed to the Current Address you enter on the form, so check that it is correct and complete.
- Questions or delivery options: contact the Commissioner of Revenue's office through the city's website, because the form states no phone number or in-person location.
FillingPDF lets you fill out and download the PDF; submission follows the city's channels above.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Sending the application without the full purchase agreement for the property seeking preliminary approval.
- Submitting a Summary of Benefits letter that does not show 100% Service Connection or 100% Unemployability and the effective date of Permanent and Total disability.
- Using an older DIC letter when the form asks for the current (most recent) one, or a copy where the ORIGINAL letter granting DIC is required.
- Providing a death certificate that is not a certified copy or does not confirm a date of death on or after January 1, 2011.
- Presenting a non-Virginia driver's license while living in Virginia, without the active-duty spouse's orders attached.
- Entering an incomplete current address; the Preliminary Approval Letter is mailed to it.
- Reusing the application after the property address changes instead of filing a new preliminary application for the different address.
- Filling in the Office Use Only block, which is for the city's parcel, service-connection and approval entries.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Chesapeake preliminary application for the disabled veteran / surviving spouse exemption?
It is a City of Chesapeake form asking the Commissioner of Revenue's office for preliminary approval of the real estate tax exemption on a specific home. Disabled veterans and surviving spouses submit it with their VA documents and the purchase agreement for the property.
How long does the Commissioner of Revenue have to review the application?
20 business days. The form cites Code of Virginia §58.1-3219.6, which allows the office that time after it receives the preliminary application, all requested documentation and a copy of the purchase agreement.
Do I need a purchase agreement to apply?
Yes. The form lists the full purchase agreement of the property seeking preliminary approval as a requirement for both disabled veterans and surviving spouses, and the 20-business-day review period starts only once a copy has been received.
What proof of disability does a veteran need?
A current or most recent Summary of Benefits letter showing 100% Service Connection or 100% Unemployability and the effective date of Permanent and Total disability. The veteran must be rated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or its successor agency.
What does a surviving spouse need to attach?
A current DIC letter, or VA verification of eligibility at the time of death plus the joint federal return for the prior tax year; the original DIC grant letter; a marriage certificate; a certified death certificate; ID; and proof of the veteran's prior exemption.
Does the veteran's date of death matter?
Yes, for surviving spouses. The certified death certificate must confirm that the date of death was on or after January 1, 2011.
What if I change the property address after applying?
Report the change to the Commissioner of Revenue's office and file a new preliminary application for the different address. The form's certification states that you are aware of this requirement.
Can I fill out the Chesapeake exemption application online?
You can fill out the PDF online on FillingPDF and download or print it. FillingPDF is an independent service and does not file or send the application; you submit it through the City of Chesapeake's channels.
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