Vermont landowners filing annual agricultural certifications for the Current Use program can use an online portal this year, with the existing Nov. 1 deadline still in place.
Tax Commissioner Bill Shouldice explained the change Oct. 9. He said the annual certification requirement has existed for years; the new element is the online filing process.
The portal includes prefilled information and provides confirmation when a form is submitted. Landowners can find filing instructions on the department's agricultural certification page.
Paper forms remain available by calling 802-828-5860. Shouldice said the department will not automatically remove property from Current Use solely because an agricultural certification is not submitted by Nov. 1. He said staff will follow up and help landowners complete the process.
The department's filing instructions warn that failure to certify may ultimately lead to removal of agricultural land and farm buildings from Current Use, with property taxes then based on assessed value rather than use value.