- Assessor site
- https://tax.vermont.gov/municipalities/reports/equalization-study ↗
- Search by
- route to the town listers/assessor (address determines town)
- Reassessment cycle
- MUNICIPAL town LISTERS maintain each grand list (counties have no tax role); 100% of fair market value as of APRIL 1 — but the COMMON LEVEL OF APPRAISAL is what moves bills: the state's annual equalization study adjusts each town's TWO education rates (HOMESTEAD, spending-driven, vs NONHOMESTEAD, uniform statewide for every business/rental/second home) by CLA — from FY26, CLA ÷ the new statewide adjustment. Municipal taxes ride the raw grand list, no CLA, no classification.
- Reassessment trigger
- PVR orders reappraisal when the COD exceeds 20 — and under Act 68 (2023, eff. 2025) every town must begin a full reappraisal at least every six years; otherwise the CLA changes your EFFECTIVE education rate every year with no town action. Education is spending-driven (per-pupil x legislative yield).
- Personal & intangible property
- Business personal property is a TOWN-OPTION tax (inventory exempt statewide; many towns repealed) — check the town.
- CRE forecasting note
- Every commercial asset is NONHOMESTEAD: underwrite the town's CLA trajectory (overdue reappraisal = falling CLA = rising effective rate, annually). Appeals: lister GRIEVANCE (strict, void if late) -> Board of Civil Authority within 14 DAYS (mandatory interior inspection) -> PVR hearing officer (low-fee) or Superior Court. Current-use land carries a land-use-change tax on development. FY26 statewide adjustment = education-finance reform in flight.
- Residential note
- FILE FORM HS-122 EVERY YEAR by April 15 or your home is billed at the NONHOMESTEAD rate, with penalties up to 3%/8% for misclassification; the income-sensitized property tax credit ('state payments' on the bill) reaches about two-thirds of homesteads. Grievance clocks are strict; the BCA will inspect the interior.
SPLIT RATE — Homestead vs NONHOMESTEAD education rates — every business/rental/second home pays the statewide nonhomestead rate.
RATIO CAUTION — The CLA ÷ statewide adjustment (70.33% for FY27) moves effective education rates every year without any reassessment.
FILING REQUIRED RELIEF — HS-122 homestead declaration is ANNUAL (Apr 15); miss it and pay nonhomestead rates plus up to 3%/8% penalties.
APPEAL DEADLINE — Grievance-day filing is strict/void-if-late; BCA appeal within 14 days with mandatory interior inspection.
REVENUE DRIVEN RATES — Homestead rates are per-pupil-spending-driven via the legislative yield; statewide Education Fund.
REFORM IN FLIGHT — FY26 statewide adjustment + active education-finance restructuring.
Note: Your town's listers (Vermont's assessors) set values here (Burlington, South Burlington, Essex, Winooski, Williston, Shelburne — the population center.) The state link carries each town's CLA from the annual Equalization Study — the number that moves education rates yearly. Commercial = NONHOMESTEAD statewide rate x the town's CLA adjustment. Homeowners: file HS-122 by Apr 15 EVERY year. Appeals: lister grievance (strict) -> BCA within 14 days (interior inspection) -> PVR hearing officer or Superior Court.
Primary sources: VT Dept. of Taxes official pages (education-rate FAQs, Statewide Adjustment, Equalization Study, HS-122 penalties); PVR 2026 annual report; 32 V.S.A. §§4461-4469, 5405-5410 (as of 2026-07-04). Confirm current rules and figures with the assessing authority before any use.