Who qualifies for the Homestead declaration in Vermont?

You own the Vermont property as your main home on April 1, 2026, and live there as your domicile. A rental of not more than 182 days can still count as a homestead in some cases. This is not an exemption and does not take off a set dollar amount. It makes the lower homestead education tax rate apply to your housesite instead of the nonhomestead rate. Deadline: April 15, 2026. The instructions page also mentions an extended date of October 15, 2026.

Who qualifies for the Property tax credit in Vermont?

You declared a homestead, lived in Vermont all of 2025, are not a dependent on someone else's 2025 return, own and live in the home on April 1, 2026, and have household income of $115,400 or less. Up to $8,000 for 2026: up to $5,600 against the education tax on your housesite and up to $2,400 against the municipal tax. The amount depends on your income and your housesite tax. Deadline: Generally April 15, 2026.

Who qualifies for the Disabled veteran and survivor exemption in Vermont?

A veteran, spouse, unremarried widow or widower, or child lives in the fee-simple residence. At least one of them gets VA disability compensation at 50% or higher, a VA improved (non-service-connected) pension, or military retirement pay for a permanent medical retirement. Business or rental parts are excluded. At least $10,000 off the appraised value for both the town and education grand lists. Your town may vote up to $40,000. Deadline: Before May 1 each year.

Rules by state / Vermont

Vermont property tax, line by line.

Your town sends one bill that includes the town's municipal tax and the statewide education property tax. You file a homestead declaration each year so the lower homestead education rate applies to your home.

Scan my bill free What may come off

At a glance

Who sends the bill: Your town. One bill covers the municipal tax and the statewide education property tax.
When it comes: Usually in summer, after the town's grand list and the education rates are set. Dates vary by town.
When it's due: Your town sets the installment dates. They are not the same everywhere.
If you pay late: Your town sets interest and penalties.
Value is set as of: April 1 (grand list)
Limits on increases: No cap on assessed value. The property tax credit has a cap, but that limits the credit, not your assessment.

Bill dates source · Assessment source

What may come off

3 programs homeowners can claim

None of these are applied for you automatically. Each one is free to apply for. If you upload your bill, we check which ones are already on it and which may fit you.

Homestead declaration

Who: You own the Vermont property as your main home on April 1, 2026, and live there as your domicile. A rental of not more than 182 days can still count as a homestead in some cases.
What you get: This is not an exemption and does not take off a set dollar amount. It makes the lower homestead education tax rate apply to your housesite instead of the nonhomestead rate.
How to apply: File Form HS-122, Section A, on myVTax or by mail to Vermont Department of Taxes, PO Box 1881, Montpelier, VT 05601-1881.
Deadline: April 15, 2026. The instructions page also mentions an extended date of October 15, 2026.
If you're late: Filing late can leave your property at the nonhomestead rate.
After that: Every year.

HS-122: the form

Property tax credit

Who: You declared a homestead, lived in Vermont all of 2025, are not a dependent on someone else's 2025 return, own and live in the home on April 1, 2026, and have household income of $115,400 or less.
What you get: Up to $8,000 for 2026: up to $5,600 against the education tax on your housesite and up to $2,400 against the municipal tax. The amount depends on your income and your housesite tax.
How to apply: File HS-122 and Schedule HI-144 on myVTax or with your income tax return. Form: HS-122 and HI-144.
Deadline: Generally April 15, 2026.
If you're late: The instructions page says claims filed after October 15, 2026 generally cannot be accepted. The program page says that if your homestead was filed by October 15, you may still be able to claim the credit as late as March 15 of the next year. Check with the Department of Taxes before relying on either date.
After that: Every year.

HS-122 and HI-144: the form

Disabled veteran and survivor exemption

Who: A veteran, spouse, unremarried widow or widower, or child lives in the fee-simple residence. At least one of them gets VA disability compensation at 50% or higher, a VA improved (non-service-connected) pension, or military retirement pay for a permanent medical retirement. Business or rental parts are excluded.
What you get: At least $10,000 off the appraised value for both the town and education grand lists. Your town may vote up to $40,000.
How to apply: Apply to the Vermont Office of Veterans Affairs with your VA or military letter. The 2026 application period closed May 1.
Deadline: Before May 1 each year.
If you're late: The 2026 period is closed.
After that: Every year. If the disability is permanent, you file the first year only and it stays until the title transfers.

The official page

Think your value is too high?

Asking for a lower listed value (grand list value)

Free review: Grieve first to your town's listers. This step is the informal review.
Formal appeal: The Board of Civil Authority, then a state hearing officer or Superior Court.
Good to know: The research does not say whether the board can raise your value, so assume it could. Ask your town clerk for the grievance deadline and fee, because they were not confirmed.

A formal appeal reopens your whole value: the board can raise it as well as lower it. Bring recent sales of similar homes.

Source · We never charge for help asking for a lower value.

What can't come off

Charges you can't remove

Nonhomestead education tax on property you did not declare as a homestead.
Tax on value that is not your housesite, beyond what the credit formula covers.
A credit above $8,000, or any credit if household income is over $115,400.
The veteran exemption above the amount your town voted, and never above $40,000.
Business or rental parts of a veteran-owned parcel.

Education and municipal taxes are on the town bill. A local-agreement tax is a separate line. It applies when voters exempt a property that the state still taxes, and it is not part of the homestead credit base. Current-use appraisal is a separate program, not a house-lot exemption. Special assessments are set locally.

Watch out. If you pay someone to prepare Form HS-122, the paid preparer must sign it. You can also prepare and file it yourself for free.

Ask a question

Ask about Vermont property tax

Answers come only from the checked rules on this page, with sources. For questions about your own bill, upload it.

See your own bill, line by line.

Upload your Vermont property tax bill. Free: every charge explained and tagged, what's already applied, and what may come off for you.

Scan my bill free

Rules checked October 28, 2026 against official Vermont sources. Rules change: check the deadline with your county before you rely on it. Not legal or tax advice.