LEWISTON – Eligible veterans seeking a Maine veterans property tax exemption for the first time must file by April 1 with their local assessing office.

One change in the law is that the exemption period for the Vietnam War has been extended to reflect the full federally recognized Vietnam War beginning on Feb. 28, 1961, and ending on May 7, 1975, said Assessor Joseph Grube.

To qualify for the veterans exemption, people must have:

• Served in active service of the Armed Forces of the United States and be retired, separated or discharged under other than dishonorable;

• Be at least 62 years of age by April 1 or be receiving a pension or compensation from the U.S. government for total disability, either service or non-service connected as a veteran.

Veterans’ widows who have not remarried can claim the exemption based on their spouses’ service as a veteran, providing they are legal residents of Maine.

Federally recognized war periods in addition to the Vietnam War are World War I (April 6, 1917, to Nov. 11, 1918); World War I service in Russia (April 6, 1917, to March 31, 1920); World War II (Dec. 7, 1941, to Dec. 31, 1946); the Korean campaign (June 27, 1950, to Jan. 31, 1955); and the Persian Gulf War (after Aug. 2, 1990, to April 6, 1991).

Other qualifying events include:

Service during the periods of Aug. 24, 1982, to July 31, 1984, and from Dec. 20, 1989, to Jan. 31, 1990; being a recipient of the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal; service as a member of the American Merchant Marine in oceangoing service between Dec. 7, 1941, and Aug. 15, 1945.

Contact a local assessor’s office for more information. The number for the Lewiston office is 784-2951, extension 232, or TTY/TDD, 784-5999.