Connecticut
Military Benefits

Military Pay & State Income Tax

Connecticut taxes active duty military pay for state residents but provides a partial exemption for military retirement income, with full exemption available for retirees meeting income thresholds.

Connecticut taxes base pay and other military compensation for servicemembers who are legal residents of Connecticut, regardless of where stationed. If you maintain Connecticut as your state of domicile and are stationed in Connecticut, your full military pay is subject to CT income tax. Servicemembers stationed outside Connecticut who maintain CT domicile still owe CT income tax on military pay unless they establish domicile in a new state. Being stationed elsewhere does not automatically change your Connecticut tax liability.

Connecticut provides a partial exemption for military retirement income. Under Connecticut General Statutes Section 12-701, military retirees may exclude 50% of retirement pay from Connecticut taxable income if their federal adjusted gross income does not exceed $100,000 for single filers or $150,000 for joint filers. Retirees above those thresholds pay CT income tax on the full amount of retirement pay. Claim the exemption on CT Form CT-1040 Schedule 1. Connecticut has been gradually expanding this exemption and full exemption legislation has been proposed in recent sessions of the General Assembly.

VA disability compensation is fully exempt from Connecticut state income tax consistent with federal law. Connecticut honors this exemption automatically on all VA disability ratings. No separate state form is required to claim the exemption, it flows from federal taxable income. This includes compensation for partial disability, total disability, and combined ratings.

Connecticut National Guard members called to state active duty by the Governor receive pay that is exempt from Connecticut income tax. Pay earned during federal training periods, weekend drills, and annual training is subject to regular Connecticut income tax as it is not state active duty pay. Guard members should retain documentation of the nature of each activation when preparing Connecticut tax returns.

Under the Veterans Benefits and Transition Act of 2018, a military spouse who maintains legal domicile in another state is not subject to Connecticut income tax on wages earned in Connecticut while accompanying their servicemember on military orders. File Connecticut Form CT-1040NR/PY to claim the exemption if CT income taxes were withheld. Spouses who have voluntarily established Connecticut domicile owe CT income tax on all CT-source wages.

SBP annuity payments received by surviving military spouses are treated as military retirement income under Connecticut law and benefit from the same 50% partial income exemption available to retirees, subject to the same income thresholds. Surviving spouses whose income exceeds the threshold pay CT tax on the full annuity amount. Consult the Connecticut Department of Revenue Services at (860) 297-5962 for current thresholds and filing instructions.

Property Tax Exemptions & Discounts

Connecticut provides property tax exemptions for veterans and disabled veterans administered at the local level under state enabling statutes, with additional benefits for totally disabled veterans.

Connecticut General Statutes Section 12-81 provides qualifying veterans a reduction of $1,000 from the assessed value of their property for property tax purposes. This applies to honorably discharged veterans who served during a qualifying war or period of conflict. While modest, it applies to all qualifying veterans statewide and is administered through local town assessors. Veterans must apply by the November 1 application deadline in most municipalities.

Veterans with a service-connected disability rating of 10% or higher receive an additional property tax exemption under Connecticut law. The exemption increases with disability rating: veterans with ratings between 10% and 24% receive a higher exemption bracket, and veterans with ratings of 25% or higher receive the maximum standard exemption. Totally disabled veterans (100% P&T rating) qualify for the highest tier. Apply through your local town assessor with your VA disability award letter.

Connecticut General Statutes Section 12-81(19) provides a full property tax exemption for the specially adapted housing of veterans who are 100% permanently and totally disabled due to service-connected disabilities and who require adaptive housing. The property must be the veteran's primary residence. This is one of the strongest protections in the state for disabled veterans who need modified housing.

The surviving spouse of a qualifying veteran retains the veteran property tax exemption as long as they do not remarry and continue to occupy the property as their primary residence. The exemption transfers automatically upon the veteran's death. Surviving spouses should notify their local town assessor of the veteran's death and their continued eligibility to avoid any interruption.

Many Connecticut municipalities near Sub Base New London and other installations, including Groton, New London, and Waterford, have adopted local ordinances providing additional property tax relief beyond the state minimums. Groton, which hosts the bulk of Sub Base New London personnel, has historically offered enhanced veteran exemptions. Contact the Groton Town Assessor at (860) 441-6660 or New London Assessor at (860) 447-5216 for current local rates.

Vehicle Registration & Driver's License

Connecticut honors SCRA vehicle registration protections and offers free registration for certain disabled veterans, but military families should review local property tax rules carefully.

Active duty servicemembers stationed in Connecticut under military orders are not required to register their vehicles in Connecticut under SCRA. You may maintain home-state registration and plates. The Connecticut DMV cannot require you to transfer registration based solely on presence under military orders. Carry a copy of your current orders with home-state registration documents when driving in Connecticut.

Connecticut waives vehicle registration fees and provides free special license plates for veterans with a 100% permanent and total service-connected disability rating. Contact the Connecticut DMV at (860) 263-5700. Bring your VA award letter documenting 100% P&T status. Disabled veteran license plates are available in several designs and exempt the holder from standard registration fees on one vehicle.

Connecticut driver's licenses for active duty servicemembers stationed outside Connecticut remain valid for the duration of active duty orders plus 90 days after separation or discharge. When you return to Connecticut or PCS to Connecticut, you have 60 days to renew your license without penalty. The extension applies to the primary servicemember and accompanying dependents who hold Connecticut licenses.

Connecticut municipalities assess an annual property tax on motor vehicles registered in Connecticut. This is a significant financial consideration for military families who register vehicles in Connecticut. Unlike some states, Connecticut's motor vehicle tax is collected at the local level and can range from approximately 25 to 45 mills depending on the town. If you maintain home-state registration under SCRA, you are not subject to the Connecticut motor vehicle property tax.

Military spouses who maintain domicile in another state may keep their home-state vehicle registration and driver's license while residing in Connecticut on military orders. Connecticut cannot require a spouse to obtain CT plates or a CT license based solely on their presence in the state accompanying the servicemember. This protection applies regardless of the length of time the spouse has lived in Connecticut.

Military Spouse Employment & Licensing

Connecticut has enacted military spouse professional license reciprocity and expedited transfer processes, though the state's cost of living makes employment particularly important for dual-income military families.

Connecticut law provides expedited professional license transfer for military spouses holding a valid equivalent license from another state. Under Connecticut General Statutes Section 20-12g and related provisions, licensing boards are required to establish an expedited process for military spouses. Covered professions include nursing, real estate, mental health counseling, social work, physical therapy, cosmetology, and others. The spouse must be in good standing in their prior state and must be in Connecticut accompanying their servicemember on military orders.

While a full license application is under review, Connecticut licensing boards may issue a temporary authorization allowing the military spouse to practice in their profession. This prevents income gaps during the application period. Request a temporary authorization explicitly when submitting your license transfer application. Not all boards issue these automatically, so ask directly at time of application submission.

Connecticut participates in expedited teaching certificate reciprocity for military spouses. Given the high number of Navy families at Sub Base New London and Coast Guard families at various Connecticut stations, the state education department maintains processes to transfer out-of-state teaching credentials. Contact the Connecticut State Department of Education at (860) 713-6969 for certification reciprocity applications.

Connecticut law provides that a military spouse who voluntarily leaves employment to accompany their servicemember on a permanent change of station is eligible for Connecticut unemployment benefits. They are not treated as having voluntarily quit without good cause. The spouse must have worked in Connecticut prior to the PCS departure. File with the Connecticut Department of Labor at (860) 263-6000.

Connecticut consistently ranks among the top five highest cost-of-living states nationally. For military families stationed at Sub Base New London in the Groton-New London area, dual income is frequently essential to meet housing and living expenses. The state's proximity to Boston and New York creates both job opportunities and competitive compensation for skilled military spouses. The Connecticut Department of Labor maintains a job bank at jobs.ct.gov with veteran preference listings.

SCRA, Federal Protections That Apply in Connecticut

Connecticut courts honor all SCRA federal protections. Legal assistance is available at Sub Base New London JAG, which handles a high volume of SCRA cases given the submarine force concentration.

You may terminate any Connecticut residential lease with 30 days' written notice upon receiving PCS orders or a deployment of 90 days or more. Provide written notice with a copy of orders to the landlord. Termination is effective 30 days after the next rent payment due date following delivery of notice. Connecticut landlords cannot impose early termination fees on servicemembers exercising SCRA lease termination rights. Given the high rents in the Groton-New London area, this protection is particularly significant financially.

Any debt, including mortgages, car loans, credit cards, and student loans, taken on before entering active duty must have its interest rate reduced to 6% upon written request to the lender with a copy of orders. The excess interest above 6% is forgiven, not deferred. Connecticut lenders in the New London-Groton area are generally familiar with this requirement given the concentration of submarine force personnel. Submit your request in writing and retain proof of delivery.

Connecticut courts cannot foreclose on the primary residence of an active duty servicemember without a court order during active duty. The protection extends for 9 months after separation or discharge. This is particularly important for military homeowners in the Groton area who deploy on submarine patrols of extended duration. Sub Base New London JAG Legal Assistance has extensive experience with foreclosure protection applications.

Connecticut landlords cannot evict an active duty servicemember or their family from a primary residence without obtaining a court order. The protection applies when monthly rent is at or below the SCRA threshold (adjusted annually, approximately $4,036 in 2024). This is a meaningful protection given that landlords in the tight Groton-Mystic rental market are aware of frequent submarine deployments.

In addition to federal SCRA protections, Connecticut has state-level tenant protections that apply to all renters, including military families. Connecticut General Statutes Chapter 832 provides strong anti-retaliation and security deposit return protections. Landlords must return security deposits within 30 days of lease termination. These state protections layer on top of SCRA rights and provide additional recourse if a landlord fails to honor your federal rights.

Education Benefits in Connecticut

Connecticut offers immediate in-state tuition for military families and maintains strong National Guard education assistance, with University of Connecticut and several Yellow Ribbon schools serving the military community.

Connecticut law grants immediate in-state tuition eligibility to active duty servicemembers stationed in Connecticut, their spouses, and dependent children. No 12-month waiting period is required. This applies to the University of Connecticut system, Connecticut State University system (CCSU, Eastern, Southern, Western), Charter Oak State College, and all 12 Connecticut community colleges. Students who establish in-state status while enrolled maintain that status even if the servicemember subsequently PCSes out of state, provided the student continues enrollment.

Connecticut National Guard members may receive state tuition assistance through the Connecticut National Guard Education Assistance Program. The program can cover tuition at Connecticut public colleges and universities for qualifying Guard members in good standing. Contact the Connecticut National Guard Education Services Officer at Camp Rell or the Army Guard Readiness Center at (860) 524-4816 for current funding availability and application procedures.

Several Connecticut institutions participate in the Yellow Ribbon Program for veterans with 100% GI Bill eligibility. Participating schools include University of Connecticut, Sacred Heart University, Quinnipiac University, and Fairfield University. Yellow Ribbon agreements cover tuition and fees above the state-level cap at no additional cost to the veteran. Verify current Yellow Ribbon participation and contribution amounts at benefits.va.gov/GIBILL before enrolling.

Three Rivers Community College in Norwich is located directly adjacent to Sub Base New London and is specifically oriented toward military and veteran students. The college offers flexible scheduling including evening, weekend, and online courses designed around submarine operational cycles and deployment schedules. Three Rivers participates in federal Tuition Assistance programs and has an active Veteran Services office. It is one of the most military-convenient community college options on the East Coast.

Charter Oak State College, Connecticut's credit-for-prior-learning institution, is a strong option for veterans and servicemembers who have substantial military training and education credits. Charter Oak evaluates military transcripts (AARTS, SMART) and Joint Services Transcripts for college credit and specializes in fully online degree completion programs. Many submarine sailors and Coast Guard members use Charter Oak to complete bachelor's degrees while on active duty.

Private Schools, Vouchers & School Choice

Connecticut does not have a universal school voucher or ESA program, but military families have access to open enrollment interdistrict transfers, strong public magnet schools, and the Interstate Compact protections.

As of mid-2026, Connecticut does not have a universal Education Savings Account or private school voucher program. Legislation creating ESA programs has not advanced in the Connecticut General Assembly. Military families seeking private school options must fund tuition through savings, GI Bill-eligible programs where applicable, or nonprofit scholarship organizations. This is a meaningful limitation for military families in Connecticut compared to states with universal ESA programs.

Connecticut operates a robust interdistrict magnet school system through the Regional School Choice Office (RSCO). Military families near Sub Base New London and in the Groton-New London area have access to science, technology, and maritime-themed magnet schools through the LEARN regional district. These schools accept applications from students across district lines and can be excellent alternatives to neighborhood schools for military families seeking specialized education.

Connecticut is a full member of the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children (MIC4). This provides military families with enrollment grace periods when arriving between school years, immunization waiver periods, credit transfer protections, graduation requirement flexibility, and athletic eligibility protections. The Groton and New London school districts, which serve the majority of Sub Base New London families, have designated MIC4 liaisons. Bring PCS orders to enrollment meetings.

Military families with children enrolled in the Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) who need specialized private placement should contact the EFMP coordinator at Sub Base New London Family Services at (860) 694-3524. Connecticut has strong special education legal protections under state law that exceed federal IDEA minimums. In some cases, the school district is legally required to fund a private special education placement if the public school cannot meet the child's IEP requirements.

Connecticut General Statutes Section 10-184 permits homeschooling. Parents must file a letter of intent with the local superintendent and provide instruction in required subjects at minimum. The Groton and New London areas have active military family homeschool co-ops, and several hybrid private schools in the region offer part-time enrollment for homeschool students. Connecticut Virtual Learning Academy (CTVLA) provides free online public school options for residents seeking flexible scheduling.

Voting & Residency Rights

Connecticut respects your right to maintain home-state domicile. UOCAVA absentee voting is available through your installation Voting Assistance Officer or through FVAP.gov.

Being stationed in Connecticut does not change your legal domicile. You may continue to vote in your home state by absentee ballot under UOCAVA. Submit a Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) at FVAP.gov to request absentee ballots from your home state. Your installation Voting Assistance Officer (VAO) at Sub Base New London or Coast Guard Sector Long Island Sound can help you complete and submit the FPCA before any election cycle.

If you choose to establish Connecticut as your legal domicile and vote in Connecticut, register at voterregistration.ct.gov or at your local town clerk. Note that Connecticut has a state income tax with a top rate of 6.99% and an estate tax. If your prior state of domicile has no income tax (Texas, Florida, Washington, etc.), switching to Connecticut domicile has significant financial implications. Consult a military-aware tax advisor before changing domicile.

Military spouses may independently choose and maintain domicile in any state under the Veterans Benefits and Transition Act of 2018. Connecticut cannot force a spouse to establish CT domicile based on their presence in the state accompanying the servicemember. The spouse's domicile election is completely independent of the servicemember's and may differ from it. This is relevant for both voting and income tax purposes.

Connecticut honors UOCAVA absentee ballot requests from deployed servicemembers. Submarine sailors at Sub Base New London face unique challenges with extended submerged patrols where communication is limited. The FPCA can be submitted electronically and Connecticut accepts email and fax return of UOCAVA ballots from overseas and deployed voters. Submit your FPCA at least 45 days before any election to ensure timely ballot delivery.