Lister and Assessor Handbook A Guide for Vermont Listers and Assessors Published by the Division of Property Valuation and Review Vermont Department of Taxes Phone: (802) 828-5860 Email: [email protected] Rev. 07/2021 l Pub. GB-1143 July 2021 This page intentionally left blank VERMONT DEPARTMENT OF TAXES July 2021 A2 Table of Contents I. The Lister* ................................................................................ 1 Introduction . 1 Job Description . 1 The Lister as a Public Official . 2 Career Development . 3 II. Lister’s Calendars .......................................................................... 5 Grand List Important Dates . 5 Sample Extension Request Letter . 6 Annual Activities by Month . 6 III. Appraisal at Fair Market Value ..............................................................12 Fair Market Value Defined . 12 Highest and Best Use . 12 Appraisal Principles . 14 Approaches to Value . 16 Cost Approach to Value . 17 Market Data Approach (Sales Comparison Approach) to Value . 17 Income Approach to Value (Income Capitalization) . 19 IV. NEMRC Grand List Software ................................................................ 21 V. NEMRC MicroSolve ........................................................................ 22 VI. Annual Reporting and Maintenance ......................................................... 23 Ongoing Analysis and Maintenance . 23 Reappraisal . 24 Grand List Book . 26 Real Property Highest and Best Use Codes . 27 Personal Property Category Codes . 30 Ownership Codes . 30 Sales Reports from Department of Taxes . 30 The “411” Form . 31 Determining Acreage and Property Mapping . 33 Water and Sewer Assessments . 34 Determining the Owner . 35 What is a Parcel? . 36 VII. Grievances and Appeals ................................................................... 37 VIII. The Board of Tax Abatement .............................................................. 39 IX. Errors and Liabilities ...................................................................... 40 X. Special Properties ........................................................................ 41 Trailer Coaches (Mobile Homes) . 41 Construction Equipment (“Yellow Metal”) . 41 Condominiums/Common Interest Ownership . 42 Timesharing . 42 Swimming Pools . 42 Farms . 42 Timber and Forest Land . 42 Railroad and Ferry Boat Companies . 43 Public Land . 45 *For the purpose of this publication, the term “lister” includes listers and assessors. VERMONT DEPARTMENT OF TAXES July 2021 A3 Lakes and Ponds . 47 Personal Property . 47 Listing Examples Based on Vermont Statutes and Case Law . 48 Subsidized Housing . 49 Covenant Restricted Housing . 50 XI. Exemptions .............................................................................. 51 Appeals from decisions of the Board of Listers regarding exemptions . 51 Public Property Exemptions . 51 NEMRC Coding for Non-taxable Exemptions . 53 XII. Local Agreements (Town-voted) ............................................................ 56 Volunteer Fire, Rescue and Ambulance Organizations . 56 Local Funding of Tax Agreements . 56 NEMRC Coding for Voted Exemptions . 56 Local Agreements (Voted exempt on Municipal GL only) . 57 Special Exemptions (Does not affect Municipal GL) . 58 XIII. Special Exemptions ...................................................................... 59 NEMRC Coding for Special Exemptions . 59 XIV. Homestead Declarations—Classification .................................................... 60 Income Sensitivity—Housesites . 61 Homestead Declarations . 61 Multi-use Properties . 62 Ownership Issues . 64 Domicile Issues . 67 Penalties—Late Filers and Non-filers . 67 XV. Current Use Program (Use Value Appraisal) .................................................. 71 Introduction . 71 Allocating Value for Enrolled Parcels . 71 Current Use Agriculture Discontinuances . 71 Resources . 71 Data Transfer . 72 Changes in Ownership or Use . 72 Appeals . 73 XVI. How To Sign In to Tools Required by PVR .................................................... 74 Sign Up for Listserv . 74 Sign Up for myVTax . 74 Get Started with eCUSE . 74 Subjects Section ............................................................................ 75 Call Us Main Phone . 802-828-5860 District Advisors Hotline . 802-828-6887 IT Helpdesk . 802-828-0428 Homestead, Property Tax Adjustment, and Renter Rebate Issues . 802-828-2865 Property Transfer Tax Return and Real Estate Tax Issues . 802-828-6851 Email Us General Mailbox . tax .pvr@vermont .gov Real Estate Transfer Tax Issues . tax .rett@vermont .gov Lister Education Questions . tax .listered@vermont .gov IT Helpdesk . tax .ithelpdesk@vermont .gov VERMONT DEPARTMENT OF TAXES July 2021 A4 I. The Lister* Introduction Years ago, a lister’s job was seasonal and part-time. Listers spent a few days, weeks or months out of the year collecting data on new and improved properties to produce and defend a grand list. Since then, ongoing legislation and taxation complexities have brought about many changes in Vermont. The lister’s job has grown markedly. Today’s role of lister includes daily tasks, extensive knowledge and training, and many more hours than ever before. One of the most important responsibilities of a lister is to become educated in listing practices and real estate knowledge. This requires.