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Tax Billing

2019-2020 Tax Billing

By law, taxes are levied on property as it exists for the owner of record on April 1st prior to the start of the tax year. Tax bills are mailed to the April 1st owner of record at the address on file with the Lister’s Office. If all or a part of the taxed property is sold, it is the seller's responsibility to forward the tax bill to the new owner.

Failure to receive a tax bill does not relieve any taxpayer of responsibility to pay the property taxes, interest or penalties when they become due to the Town of Weathersfield.

Installment Dates

Due dates, deadlines to pay, interest and penalty fees are all voted on at the Annual Town Meeting. ONE BILL will be sent at least 30 days prior to the first due date. This is the only bill you will receiveand also includes applicable Village taxes. You will NOT receive a notice of payment due for the final installment. This bill includes four installment coupons attached to the bottom and you may pay it in full or in installments as follows:

  • FIRST installment due and payable at the Town Office by 5:30 PM on August 14, 2019
  • SECOND installment due and payable at the Town Office by 5:30 PM on November 13, 2019
  • THIRD installment due and payable at the Town Office by 5:30 PM on February 12, 2020
  • FINAL installment due and payable at the Town Office by 5:30PM on May 13, 2020

Any installment not paid on or before the close of business at 5:30 PM on the due date will be subject to interest on the unpaid principal at the rate of 1% per month for the first three months and 1.5% thereafter per 32 V.S.A. §4873. An 8% penalty on the unpaid principal will be charged if payment is not received in full on or before the close of business at 5:30 PM on the final installment due date as provided by 32 V.S.A. §5136.

You can pay property taxes more frequently than the four installments.

Property Owners Responsibilities

  • By law, taxes are levied on property as it exists for the owner of record on April 1st prior to the start of the tax year. Tax bills are mailed to the April 1st owner of record to the address on file with the Lister’s Office.
  • If your property is sold after April 1st it your responsibility to forward the tax bill to the new owner and the new owner’s responsibility to take notice of the due dates. This office does not know what arrangements have been made regarding who is to pay the taxes at the time of transfer.
  • If your property is subdivided after April 1st your bill contains taxes due on the entire parcel. It is your responsibility to make sure the entire tax bill is paid in full for the year. You must contact your attorney for prorated taxes or funds being held in escrow on the sale and division of the property.
  • If your taxes are held in escrow by a mortgage company you are responsible for providing your escrow company with all the current information included on your property tax bill.
Payment Methods

The Town of Weathersfield offers choices for paying your property tax bill. Contact us for more information at 674-2626 or weathersfield@weathersfield.org.

  • Direct Debit
  • Check
  • Cash
  • Credit Card

See the notice printed on the back of your tax bill for more important information provided by the Vermont Department of Taxes

Escrow

If a property owner has his/her property taxes held in escrow by a mortgage company, the Town will no longer forward a copy to the institution without a written request. The property taxpayer must contact the escrow service with all the information included on the property tax bills.

2018 Homestead Information

Homestead Declaration

By Vermont law, property owners whose homes meet the definition of a Vermont homestead must file a Homestead Declaration annually by the April 18, 2019 filing deadline. A late filing fee will apply after that date. A homestead is the principal dwelling and parcel of land surrounding the dwelling, owned and occupied by the resident as the person’s domicile. All property is considered non- residential, unless it is declared as a homestead. It is your responsibility as the property owner to claim the property as a homestead if you meet, or expect to meet, the following requirements: you are a Vermont resident and you own and occupy a homestead more than 182 days as your domicile as of April 1, 2019. Declare your homestead with the Vermont Tax Department by filing Form HS-122.

Property Tax Adjustment Claim

The Vermont Property Tax Adjustment assists many Vermont homeowners with paying their property taxes. You may be eligible for a property tax adjustment on your property taxes if your property qualifies as a homestead and you meet all of the following eligibility requirements:

  • Your property qualifies as a homestead, and you have filed a Homestead Declaration for the 2019 grand list
  • You were domiciled in Vermont for the full prior calendar year
  • You were not claimed as a dependent of another taxpayer
  • You have the property as your homestead as of April 1; and
  • You meet the household income criteria (see form for current year income limit).

Property Tax Adjustment Claims are made to the Department of Taxes by filing Form HS-122, Section B. Visit the Department of Taxes website or call 1-866-828-2865 for more information.

Vermont Current Use Value Appraisal Program

Owners of agricultural and forest land may be eligible to have land taxed at the lower “use value” rate by enrolling in the Current Use Program. To qualify, parcels must be managed according to a forest or conservation management plan approved by the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation.  Applications are due by Sept 1 in order to enroll for the following tax year. For additional information, click here.

Veterans Exemption

In Weathersfield, the first $40,000 of appraised value of the established residence of a qualifying veteran, his or her surviving spouse or child is exempt if:

For questions regarding the application process and eligibility contact the Vermont Office of Veterans Affairs at (802) 828-3379.

Grievances

Property owners may grieve the assessed value of their property by submitting a written notice of appeal to the Board of Listers on or before the date that grievance hearings are held - sometime after April 1st. Call 802-674-2626 for the specific date. If your property has been improved (with an addition, for example) or if the town has conducted a town-wide reappraisal, you will receive a “change of appraisal” notice. The date for grievance hearings will be specified in the notice.