Henrico County officials are urging disabled American veterans who own their principal residence in the county to apply for a recently implemented real estate tax exemption.

Virginia voters adopted a constitutional amendment in the general election last November directing the General Assembly to provide a tax exemption for a disabled veteran’s principal residence and the land it occupies.

The exemption became effective for tax years beginning on or after Jan. 1, 2011.

To qualify, a veteran must have a 100 percent service-connected, permanent and total disability, as determined by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The exemption:

• applies to the principal residence and its land, up to a maximum of 10 acres;

• applies to the veteran or surviving spouse, if the veteran’s death occurs on or after Jan. 1, 2011;

• does not require annual refiling.

Unlike Henrico’s Real Estate Advantage Program, there are no income or financial requirements for disabled veterans seeking the tax exemption, Revenue Division Director Ed Trice said.

In addition, there is no cap to the amount of relief they will receive.

For details or a veterans exemption application, contact Henrico’s Revenue Division at 501-4263 or visit http://www.co.henrico.va.us/finance and follow the link for “Disabled Veterans Real Estate Tax Exemption.”