Town Clerks, Listers, and Assessors
I wanted to give you an update on Current Use for the coming year.
Use Values
The Use Values for 2018 have been set. They are Agricultural Land $347/acres; Forest Land $136/acres; and Forest Land Greater than 1 mile from a Class 1, 2, or 3 Road 4 $102/acre. Agricultural Land has increased $21 from last year and the forest land categories have gone up $1.
If all other things remain equal, an increase in the use value means that the landowner’s property taxes will increase. Put another way, the landowner’s exempt reduction will decrease which leads to the landowner receiving less of a reduction in their property value due to enrollment in the program. Of course, few things remain equal year to year, so changes in the grand list value of the enrolled property and property tax rates will also effect the savings that a landowner receives due to current use enrollment.
Annual Current Use Mailing
The annual current use mailing to all of the enrolled landowners will start today. This mailing informs the landowners of the use value changes and provides them background on the program requirements. This is a generic mailing to all landowners that is required by statute.
myVTax vs eCuse
We’ve gotten a number of calls from listers and town clerks trying to sort out the difference between eCuse and myVTax. Both systems are still active and have different functions. You will need to have a username and password for each system. The Tax IT Help Desk can help you with your user name and password for both systems. You can reach the Help Desk at (802) 828-0428.
eCuse is the Current Use Application System, https://secure.vermont.gov/TAX/ecuse/ . This is where listers will find pending and approved current use applications. For Town Clerks, eCuse is where you will print and enter the recording information for current use applications.
myVTax is the tax system relating to taxes, https://myvtax.vermont.gov/ . myVtax is where listers and assessors will enter the fair market value calculation for land use change tax purposes and where they will eventually complete the verification of property transfer tax returns for the equalization study. It is where you will find completed Notices of Withdrawal. myVtax is where Town Clerks will print and enter recording information for current use lien releases. Once the recording information is submitted to us, we will authorize the payment of the lien release and the town’s share of the land use change tax. These distributions are made quarterly.
For both systems we are not yet using electronic maps, so you will still receive a copy of the map via the postal service for applications and Notices of Withdrawal.
You can find the information and guides on how to use both these programs at http://tax.vermont.gov/municipal-officials/online-tools .
First Current Use File
We will be sending you the first Current Use File for downloading on March 15th. Plan on returning your file to us on a monthly basis until you are 100% certified. There’s no need to rush to return your first file to us in the immediately. Please take some time to get your homestead data loaded. Also, make sure to cross check the enrolled parcels against the transfers that have been recorded in your town through April 1, 2018. If the entire parcel transferred and the return is in myVTax, please provide us the Confirmation Number from myVtax, so we can look it up in the system. If only a portions of parcel transferred or the landowner acquired land, please provide the Confirmation Numbers from myVTax along with the updated grand list acreages and SPANs. If the return was not done in myVTax, then please provide names and addresses too.
If you are doing a reappraisal, you can still return the file to us with updated information on transfers, etc. We know that your values will change later in the year, but this allows us to reach out early to landowners who need to get us updated information.
If you have concerns about the eligibility of land or buildings, you can either make a comment in the file or reach out to us via email or phone.
Help?
If you need assistance, you can reach out to your District Advisory or one of the Current Use Program staff at [log in to unmask] or your District Advisor at [log in to unmask] or their individual email. The phone number is (802) 828-5860.
We couldn’t do our jobs without your involvement and assistance. Thank you!
Elizabeth
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Elizabeth Hunt | Property Taxes Section Chief
Property Valuation and Review Division | Vermont Department of Taxes
133 State Street | Montpelier, VT 05633-1401
o: 802.828.5860 | www.tax.vermont.gov
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