Education property tax rate
The education portion of the tax bill. The state publishes homestead and nonhomestead education rates, and the Bill Backer explains how the rates are calculated.
Official-source reference
How Vermont
property taxes work.
This page explains the major pieces of a Vermont property tax bill using official Vermont Department of Taxes sources. It is meant to help Vermonters understand what they are seeing on a tax bill, reassessment notice, Grand List, or town tax rate notice.
Primary plain-English source: Vermont Department of Taxes, Printable Tax Bill Materials and Resources and the 2026 Bill Backer. VT4VT summarizes the concepts here and links back to the state so readers can verify the official explanation.
The short version
What affects the bill
01Your town sets assessed values through the Grand List and local assessment process.
02Voters and school finance rules affect education spending and the education property tax rate.
03The state applies CLA/equalization rules so towns are compared more fairly.
04Your final bill can also include municipal rates, credits, penalties, exemptions, and local line items.
Definitions
Terms Vermonters see.
Homestead
A principal Vermont dwelling and the land around it. Vermont residents generally file a Homestead Declaration each year so the town can apply the correct education property tax classification.
Nonhomestead
Property that is not classified as a Vermont homestead. This can include many business, rental, second-home, commercial, and nonresident properties.
Common Level of Appraisal
CLA is produced through the state Equalization Study. It compares listed values with sale prices and is used in education tax rate calculations.
Property Tax Credit
Some homestead filers may qualify for a state property tax credit based on prior-year household income. The credit may appear on the bill as a state payment.
Current Use
The Current Use Program, also called Use Value Appraisal, allows eligible agricultural and forest land to be taxed based on use value rather than listed value.
Tax bill checklist
What should be on the bill
The Vermont Department of Taxes says municipal tax bills are prepared from available municipal information and must include key property and tax details. If you are trying to use the calculator, these are the fields to look for first.
Property identifiers
Look for the parcel's total assessed value, SPAN number, acreage, and - when applicable - the homestead value and housesite value.
Tax rates
Look for the homestead education tax rate, nonhomestead education tax rate, municipal tax rate, and any local agreement rate.
Credits and net due
If a property tax credit applies, the bill may show a state payment and the net amount due after that credit.
Housesite breakdown
If the property includes a housesite, the bill should show the amount of state education taxes and municipal taxes on that housesite.
Official sources
Where to verify it.
| Source | What it explains | Use it for |
|---|---|---|
| Printable Tax Bill Materials and Resources | What municipal property tax bills must contain, helpful tax bill resources, and printable bill materials. | Understanding what numbers should appear on a Vermont property tax bill. |
| 2026 Bill Backer | Plain-English reminders about education tax rates, CLA, homestead declaration, property tax credits, Current Use, penalties, appeals, and assistance. | A concise public explanation to pair with the calculator and definitions. |
| Vermont Department of Taxes property page | State property tax resources and links for Vermont taxpayers. | General official property tax information. |
| Education property tax rates | Town-level education property tax rates and related calculation materials. | Finding homestead and nonhomestead education rates. |
| Vermont property tax information | State property tax information, including education property tax resources, homeowner filings, and related guidance. | Finding official state resources connected to property tax bills, rates, homestead declarations, and credits. |
| Homestead Declaration | Homestead filing rules, deadlines, penalties, and classification issues. | Understanding whether a property is treated as homestead or nonhomestead. |
| Property Tax Credit | State property tax credit rules and filing information. | Understanding state payments or income-based property tax relief. |