How to Verify Military Status
Target uses SheerID, a third-party verification service, to confirm your military eligibility. You can verify in two ways:
Via Target App: Go to the My Target tab, tap Settings (the wheel icon) in the top right corner, and select Military verification under Your discounts section. Enter your information and submit the verification form.
Via Target.com: Log in to your account, select Account from the dropdown menu under the Hi greeting, then select Settings in your Target account. Choose Verify status in the Discounts section, then select Verify status in the Military section. Enter your information and submit.
What You Need to Verify
When submitting verification, you will need to provide:
- First and last name (exactly as it appears on your official documents)
- Branch of service
- Current affiliation with the armed services
- Discharge date (if applicable)
Accepted Documents for Verification
Target accepts the following documents to verify military status. Keep in mind that photocopies of U.S. government identification are prohibited.
- Military pay stubs (Leave and Earnings Statement)
- Record briefs (ARB/ERB/ORB for U.S. Army)
- Reserve Activation Orders
- Enlistment contracts
- DD214 form
- Driver’s License or state ID with VETERAN endorsement
- Honorable Discharge Certificate
- NGB form 22
- Reserve Separation Orders
- Veterans Health Identification Card (VHIC) or Veteran Identification Card (VIC)
- Retiree Account Statement (eRAS)
- VA disability letter
Current Military Discount Offers
Target runs periodic military appreciation promotions throughout the year. The primary discounts include:
Target Circle 360 Reduced Membership: Verified military members can subscribe to Target Circle 360 for $4.99 per month or $49 per year, compared to the regular price of $10.99 per month or $99 per year. Your discount continues as long as you remain eligible. If eligibility changes or you no longer have a Target Circle Card saved to your account, your subscription renews at the regular price.
Holiday Promotions: Target offers storewide military appreciation discounts during key holidays, such as Independence Day in July and Veterans Day in November. For example, Target has offered 20% off one qualifying storewide purchase to verified military members, veterans and their families during Independence Day promotions. These promotional discounts are available through Target Circle and apply to one qualifying purchase during the promotion period.
What Discount Covers
Military discounts through Target Circle provide:
- Free Target Circle membership (basic level)
- Exclusive deals and promotions reserved for military members
- Access to a Target coupon policy that allows stacking coupons with other offers
- Free, fast shipping on Target.com orders
- Same-day delivery access where available (select Target stores only)
- Monthly freebies exclusive to verified military members
- Reduced pricing on Target Circle 360 membership, which includes same-day delivery, faster checkout and exclusive member benefits
Who Is Eligible
Target Circle military discounts are available to:
- Active duty service members across all U.S. military branches
- Veterans with honorable discharge or similar service documentation
- One eligible dependent per military member or veteran
Verification Problems and Solutions
If your verification fails or takes longer than expected, common issues include name mismatches and data entry errors. Target’s system requires your name to match exactly as it appears on your official documents. For example, if your military records list your first name as “Jamie” but you submit “Jay,” the verification will fail. Similarly, typos such as an incorrect birth year will cause rejection.
After successfully verifying, allow up to 1 hour for your discount to appear in your Target Circle account. If you remain verified, enrolled in Target Circle and still cannot locate your bonus, contact Target’s Help Center for assistance. If you experience problems with SheerID verification, visit their help center for troubleshooting.
How Discounts Are Applied
Military discounts appear as bonuses or offers in your Target Circle account only when an active promotion is running. You do not need to enter a code. Once verified, eligible promotions automatically apply to your account. Discounts cannot be combined with other promotions and apply to a single membership per guest. Discount offers cannot be applied to previous purchases.
Dependent Verification
One dependent per military member or veteran is eligible for the military discount. Both the service member and the dependent must have separate Target Circle accounts. The dependent will need to verify their relationship through the same SheerID process, providing documentation of their dependent status.
Privacy and Data Use
Information you enter during verification is used exclusively for Target Circle benefits and eligibility confirmation. Target partners with SheerID for the verification process. SheerID does not rent or sell your personal information. All data handling follows Target’s privacy policy.
Comparing Target to Other Retailers
If you’re shopping for military discounts across retailers, compare Target’s offerings to similar programs. For reference, Walmart military discount structures differ from Target’s model. You may also want to explore other Target loyalty benefits, such as the Target senior discount or Target price match policy to maximize savings across all your purchases.
When Discounts Are Not Available
Between active military promotion periods, verified military members retain access to Target Circle member deals and the discounted Target Circle 360 subscription rate. However, the special storewide percentage discounts (such as 20% off promotions) only apply during designated military appreciation periods tied to holidays like Independence Day and Veterans Day.
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