What This Statute Says
A.R.S. § 42-11120 exempts property owned by veterans organizations such as VFW posts, American Legion halls, and similar groups. The property must be used in the qualifying veterans-service mission.
Property that is owned by a United States veterans' organization that qualifies as a charitable organization and that is recognized under either section 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(19) of the internal revenue code is exempt from taxation if the property is used predominantly for those purposes and is not used or held for profit.
A.R.S. § 42-11120Veterans organizations get the same favorable treatment as other nonprofit fraternal and civic groups. The exemption supports community spaces that often host services for veterans and their families.
For estate plans that include a charitable bequest to a veterans organization, the recipient post holds the gifted real property tax-free.
When This Statute Comes Into Play
This statute typically becomes relevant in three situations. A property owner is reviewing an annual tax bill. An estate is being administered and the personal representative has to address ongoing property tax obligations. Or a charitable or nonprofit organization is claiming or maintaining an exemption. The statute is part of a larger framework in chapter 11 of title 42 and operates alongside the related sections cross-linked below.
What This Means for Arizona Families
Most families never think about Arizona property tax statutes until they are sitting at a closing table on an inherited home, reviewing an unexpected tax bill, or trying to claim an exemption for a surviving spouse. When that moment arrives, the rules in chapter 11 of title 42 are the framework you are working inside.
If you are holding real property in a revocable living trust, the trust structure does not by itself remove the property from the tax rolls. The exemption has to come from a specific statute. Our FAQ on what to do with property you inherit in Arizona covers the immediate practical questions, and our FAQ on probate timelines covers how a contested or stalled administration can affect tax filings and exemptions.
If you are administering an estate, the personal representative has a duty to keep property taxes current, to claim available exemptions where appropriate, and to maintain documentation in case the assessor reviews a claim later. Calendar the February exemption filing window each year for any property where a widow, widower, or disability exemption applies. Once the deadline passes, the saving for that year is usually lost.