2012 Vermont Statutes
Title 32 Taxation and Finance
Chapter 154 HOMESTEAD PROPERTY TAX INCOME SENSITIVITY ADJUSTMENT
§ 6069 Landlord certificate

§ 6069. Landlord certificate

(a) By January 31 of each year, the owner of land rented as a portion of a homestead in the prior calendar year shall furnish a certificate of rent to each claimant who owned a portion of the homestead and rented that land as a portion of a homestead in the prior calendar year. The certificate shall indicate the proportion of total property tax on that parcel which was assessed for municipal property tax, for local share property tax, and for statewide property tax.

(b) The owner of each rental property consisting of more than one rented homestead shall, not later than January 31 of each year, furnish a certificate of rent to each person who rented a homestead from the owner at any time during the preceding calendar year. All other owners of rented homestead units shall furnish such certificate upon request of the renter. If a renter moves prior to December 31, the owner may either provide the certificate to the renter at the time of moving or mail the certificate to the forwarding address if one has been provided by the renter or in the absence of a forwarding address, to the last known address.

(c) A certificate under this section shall be in a form prescribed by the commissioner and shall include the name of the renter, the address and any property tax parcel identification number of the homestead, notice of the requirements for eligibility for the property tax adjustment provided by this chapter, and any additional information which the commissioner determines is appropriate.

(d)(1) An owner who knowingly fails to furnish a certificate to a renter as required by this section shall be liable to the commissioner for a penalty of $200.00 for each failure to act. An owner shall be liable to the commissioner for a penalty equal to the greater of $200.00 or the excess amount reported who:

(A) willfully furnishes a certificate that reports total allocable rent in excess of the actual amount paid; or

(B) reports a total amount of allocable rent that exceeds by ten percent or more the actual amount paid.

(2) Penalties under this subsection shall be assessed and collected in the manner provided in chapter 151 for the assessment and collection of the income tax.

(e) Failure to receive a rent certificate shall not disqualify a renter from the benefits provided by this chapter. (Added 1997, No. 60, § 51, eff. Jan. 1, 1998; amended 2009, No. 160 (Adj. Sess.), § 26.)