Vermont property tax exemptions can lower your bill — there are breaks for owner-occupants, seniors, veterans, and homeowners with disabilities, and many people who qualify never claim them. That is money left on the table every year. Below are the Vermont property tax exemptions that exist, who qualifies, and how to apply. Amounts and income limits change over time and some are set locally, so treat each figure as a
starting point and confirm the current number with your local assessor.
Vermont Property Tax at a Glance
| Homestead & Primary-Residence Relief | Available — see below |
| Senior Relief (Age 65+) | Available — see below |
| Veteran & Disabled-Veteran Relief | Available — see below |
| Disability Relief | Available — see below |
Verified from official state and county sources.
In This Vermont Guide:
Vermont Property Tax Exemptions & Relief
An exemption lowers the value your tax is figured on (or, in some states, gives you a credit or caps how fast your value can rise) — so the same tax rate produces a smaller bill. Here is each of the Vermont property tax exemptions available to homeowners.
Relief does not look the same everywhere. Some states knock a flat dollar amount off your home’s value; others give a credit on the tax itself, cap how much your assessed value can rise each year, or freeze the bill for qualifying seniors. A few offer an income-based rebate instead of a value exemption. The point is the same — a lower bill for people who qualify — but the
form differs, so read each program below for how it actually works rather than assuming it is a simple dollar discount.
Homestead & Primary-Residence Relief
Vermont has no dollar homestead exemption, but every resident must file a Homestead Declaration (Form HS-122) each year by April 15 to have their home taxed at the (lower) homestead education tax rate instead of the higher nonhomestead rate – and to qualify for the income-based Property Tax Credit (below). Missing it means the higher rate plus a penalty.
How much / how it works: No dollar exemption; the Homestead Declaration secures the lower education tax rate. File Form HS-122 by April 15.
Senior Relief (Age 65+)
Vermont’s main relief is income-based rather than age-based: the Property Tax Credit (filed on Form HS-122 with Schedule HI-144) caps a homestead’s property tax at a percentage of household income for owners under the income limit – so lower-income seniors benefit automatically. Some towns also offer a senior tax deferral. There is no separate senior dollar exemption.
How much / how it works: Income-based credit (household income limit varies by year, up to roughly $115,000 for part of the benefit). Confirm with the Vermont Dept of Taxes.
Veteran & Disabled-Veteran Relief
Disabled Veterans Exemption (32 V.S.A. 3802(11)): at least $10,000 of assessed value exempt (towns may raise it up to $40,000) for a veteran with a 50%+ VA disability, and surviving spouses. Apply through the Vermont Office of Veterans Affairs by May 1.
How much / how it works: $10,000 of value (towns may raise to $40,000). Confirm with the Vermont Office of Veterans Affairs.
Disability Relief
Totally disabled homeowners benefit mainly through the income-based Property Tax Credit (which caps tax as a share of income). Disabled veterans use the veteran exemption above. Vermont has no separate general disability dollar exemption.
How much / how it works: Income-based Property Tax Credit. Confirm with the Vermont Dept of Taxes.
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Not sure which Vermont breaks you qualify for?
How to Apply for Vermont Property Tax Exemptions
Vermont property tax exemptions are almost never automatic — you have to file for them, usually with your local assessor, and usually by a set date each year. Apply once for most breaks and they carry forward, but a few (like some senior or income-based programs) must be renewed. If you just bought your home, or just turned 65, or your disability or veteran status changed, that is the moment
to file.
Even one missed exemption can cost hundreds of dollars a year, so it is worth ten minutes to check.
Don’t want to appeal your Vermont taxes yourself? A property tax appeal service can file everything for you and usually only charges if it wins — typically a share of what it saves you. It is one option; you can also appeal on your own for free.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Vermont property tax exemptions are available?
Vermont has relief for owner-occupants (homestead), seniors 65+, veterans and disabled veterans, and homeowners with disabilities. The details, amounts, and income limits are covered above — and each is worth checking, because they can stack.
Who qualifies for a homestead exemption in Vermont?
Generally an owner who lives in the home as their primary residence. Exact rules — and whether the state uses a dollar exemption, a credit, or an assessment cap — are described in the homestead section above.
How do I apply for Vermont property tax exemptions?
File the application with your local assessor, usually by a set date each year. Most exemptions carry forward once approved; some must be renewed. Confirm the current form and deadline with your assessor.
Can I claim more than one of the Vermont property tax exemptions?
Often yes — for example a homestead break plus a senior or veteran break — though some programs interact. The sections above note where that applies; your assessor can confirm what stacks.
Vermont Property Tax Sources & Data
- Tax Foundation — Property Taxes by State & County: taxfoundation.org
- U.S. Census Bureau (American Community Survey): census.gov/acs
- Lincoln Institute of Land Policy (property tax data): lincolninst.edu
Exemption details for Vermont on this page were verified from official Vermont state and county sources and last
checked in July 2026. Amounts, income limits, and deadlines change and many are set locally — confirm the current
figures and forms with your local assessor before you rely on them.
More Property Tax Guides
- Property Tax Rates by State
- Property Tax by County
- Are You Overpaying? Over-Assessment Checker
- Property Tax Exemption Finder
Disclaimer: This guide is informational only and is not legal, tax, or financial advice. Know Property Tax is an independent educational resource. It is not a government agency, not a county assessor, and not a tax-appeal service. Property tax rates, bills, exemptions, and deadlines change over time and vary by county and property. Confirm anything that affects your taxes with your county assessor or a licensed professional before you act.