RSA 72:28-c — Optional Tax Credit for Combat Service. –

I. A town or city may adopt or rescind an optional tax credit for combat service pursuant to the procedure provided in RSA 72:27-a.
II. The optional tax credit for combat service, upon adoption by a city or town pursuant to RSA 72:27-a, shall be an amount from $50 up to $500. The tax credit for combat service shall be subtracted each year from the property tax on the qualifying service member's residential real estate, as defined in RSA 72:29, II.
III. To qualify for the tax credit for combat service, a person shall be a resident of this state engaged at any point during the taxable period in combat service as a member of the New Hampshire national guard or a reserve component of the Unites States armed forces, called to active duty. For purposes of this section, and in accordance with Internal Revenue Service Publication 3, Armed Forces Tax Guide, "combat service" shall mean military service in one of the following areas:
(a) An active combat area as designated by the President in an Executive Order, for which the service member receives special pay for duty subject to hostile fire or imminent danger as certified by the Department of Defense.
(b) A support area as designated by the Department of Defense in direct sustainment of military operations in the combat zone, for which the service member receives special pay for duty subject to hostile fire or imminent danger as certified by the Department of Defense.
(c) Service in a contingency operation as designated by the Department of Defense, for which the service member receives special pay for duty subject to hostile fire or imminent danger as certified by the Department of Defense.
IV. The application for the tax credit under this section shall be accompanied by the service member's military orders, and shall include such information as may be required for the assessor's office to verify the dates of combat service.
V. A tax credit for combat service shall be in lieu of, and not in addition to, the optional veteran's tax credit under RSA 72:28 or the all veterans' tax credit under RSA 72:28-b. The service member shall be eligible for the credit in each tax year in which the combat service occurs, but the credit may be prorated in the second tax year based on the duration of combat service.