Vermont Property Tax Exemptions: Homestead, Senior and Veteran Relief
Vermont property tax relief: the homestead exemption, senior, veteran and disability exemptions, how and when to apply, and how to appeal your assessment, from official state sources.
Quick answers for Vermont
- Homestead exemption
- Vermont's owner-occupied relief works through the Homestead Declaration and the Property Tax Credit. All property pays education property tax classified as homestead or nonhomestead, taxed at different education rates. Vermont Department of Taxes, Homestead Declaration; Form HS-122 Instructions (2026)
- How to apply
- File Form HS-122 (Homestead Declaration and Property Tax Credit Claim) every year, online through myVTax or on paper with the Vermont Department of Taxes; a credit claim also requires Schedule HI-144 (household income). Vermont Department of Taxes, Homestead Declaration; Property Tax Assistance for Veterans (FS-1003, rev. Jan. 2026)
- Application deadline
- The Homestead Declaration and Property Tax Credit claim are due April 15, 2026. A declaration filed late may draw a town penalty of up to 3% (if the nonhomestead rate is higher) or up to 8% (if it is lower); Vermont Department of Taxes, Form HS-122 Instructions (2026); 2026 Lister Calendar
Last verified: 2026-10-27
The homestead exemption
| Homestead exemption | Vermont's owner-occupied relief works through the Homestead Declaration and the Property Tax Credit. All property pays education property tax classified as homestead or nonhomestead, taxed at different education rates. A Vermont resident who owns and occupies a home as their domicile (the principal dwelling and surrounding parcel) on April 1 must file a Homestead Declaration each year so it is taxed at the homestead rate. Homeowners with household income at or below $115,400 can also claim the income-based Property Tax Credit (maximum $8,000 for 2026). Credit: https://tax.vermont.gov/instructions/form-HS-122 |
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| How to apply | File Form HS-122 (Homestead Declaration and Property Tax Credit Claim) every year, online through myVTax or on paper with the Vermont Department of Taxes; a credit claim also requires Schedule HI-144 (household income). There is no automatic renewal. Mailing: https://tax.vermont.gov/sites/tax/files/documents/FS-1003.pdf |
| Application deadline | The Homestead Declaration and Property Tax Credit claim are due April 15, 2026. A declaration filed late may draw a town penalty of up to 3% (if the nonhomestead rate is higher) or up to 8% (if it is lower); declarations filed after October 15, 2026 are classified nonhomestead, and credit claims filed after October 15, 2026 generally cannot be accepted. The veterans exemption deadline is May 1. Veterans deadline: https://tax.vermont.gov/lister-assessor/2026-lister-calendar |
Senior, veteran and disability relief
| Veteran exemptions | Veterans with a VA disability rating of at least 50%, and their spouses, surviving spouses or dependents, may get a property tax exemption that lowers the home's value for tax purposes by $10,000 (or more, depending on the town), provided the veteran also receives disability compensation for a service-connected disability of 50% or more, a VA pension (including improved or widow(er)'s pension), or a permanent medical military retirement pension. Each year by May 1, send the VA Summary of Benefits letter and the Disabled Veteran and Surviving Spouse Property Tax Exemption form to the Vermont Office of Veterans Affairs. |
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| Other relief (credits, deferrals, circuit breakers) | Property Tax Credit: for Vermonters domiciled in Vermont all of 2025, not claimed as a dependent, who own the property as their principal residence on April 1, 2026 and declare it as their homestead, with 2025 household income at or below $115,400. The credit is based on housesite value, education and municipal taxes, ownership share and household income; the maximum 2026 credit is $8,000, and it appears as a "State Payment" on the 2026/2027 property tax bill. |
Paying and appealing
| Appealing your assessment | Property is valued as of April 1. Towns mail change of appraisal notices (2026: by June 4 in towns under 5,000 population, June 24 in larger towns), and the owner may grieve the value to the town listers or assessor at grievance hearings (2026: June 19-July 2 in smaller towns, July 9-22 in larger towns). The listers' decision may be appealed to the Board of Civil Authority within 14 calendar days after grievance results are mailed, and the BCA decision may be appealed to the state or Superior Court within 30 days. |
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Property Tax & Homestead Exemptions FAQ
What is the homestead exemption in Vermont?
Vermont's owner-occupied relief works through the Homestead Declaration and the Property Tax Credit. All property pays education property tax classified as homestead or nonhomestead, taxed at different education rates. A Vermont resident who owns and occupies a home as their domicile (the principal dwelling and surrounding parcel) on April 1 must file a Homestead Declaration each year so it is taxed at the homestead rate. Homeowners with household income at or below $115,400 can also claim the income-based Property Tax Credit (maximum $8,000 for 2026).
How do you apply for a homestead exemption in Vermont?
File Form HS-122 (Homestead Declaration and Property Tax Credit Claim) every year, online through myVTax or on paper with the Vermont Department of Taxes; a credit claim also requires Schedule HI-144 (household income). There is no automatic renewal.
When is the deadline to apply for a homestead exemption in Vermont?
The Homestead Declaration and Property Tax Credit claim are due April 15, 2026. A declaration filed late may draw a town penalty of up to 3% (if the nonhomestead rate is higher) or up to 8% (if it is lower); declarations filed after October 15, 2026 are classified nonhomestead, and credit claims filed after October 15, 2026 generally cannot be accepted. The veterans exemption deadline is May 1.
Do disabled veterans pay property tax in Vermont?
Veterans with a VA disability rating of at least 50%, and their spouses, surviving spouses or dependents, may get a property tax exemption that lowers the home's value for tax purposes by $10,000 (or more, depending on the town), provided the veteran also receives disability compensation for a service-connected disability of 50% or more, a VA pension (including improved or widow(er)'s pension), or a permanent medical military retirement pension. Each year by May 1, send the VA Summary of Benefits letter and the Disabled Veteran and Surviving Spouse Property Tax Exemption form to the Vermont Office of Veterans Affairs.
What property tax relief programs does Vermont offer?
Property Tax Credit: for Vermonters domiciled in Vermont all of 2025, not claimed as a dependent, who own the property as their principal residence on April 1, 2026 and declare it as their homestead, with 2025 household income at or below $115,400. The credit is based on housesite value, education and municipal taxes, ownership share and household income; the maximum 2026 credit is $8,000, and it appears as a "State Payment" on the 2026/2027 property tax bill.
How do you appeal a property tax assessment in Vermont?
Property is valued as of April 1. Towns mail change of appraisal notices (2026: by June 4 in towns under 5,000 population, June 24 in larger towns), and the owner may grieve the value to the town listers or assessor at grievance hearings (2026: June 19-July 2 in smaller towns, July 9-22 in larger towns). The listers' decision may be appealed to the Board of Civil Authority within 14 calendar days after grievance results are mailed, and the BCA decision may be appealed to the state or Superior Court within 30 days.
Property Tax & Homestead Exemptions in other states
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