Instructions For Form Hs-131 - Vermont Homestead Declaration
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1Instructions for Form HS-131
Vermont Homestead Declaration
A Homestead Declaration must be filed when you purchase a property
in the income tax booklet . If you are not sure of your school district code,
that will be used as your homestead or there is a change in the use of
check with your town clerk .
your current homestead . The declaration identifies property as the
Be sure to use the school district code and town where your homestead
homestead of a VT resident and the property is taxed at the homestead
is located . This may be different from the town used as your mailing
school property tax rate . A different school property tax rate applies to
address .
nonresidential properties .
Line 2 Legal Residence Enter the town or city name of legal residence .
SELLING THE HOMESTEAD If you sold your homestead, you must
If you live where there is both a city and town with the same name, please
file Form HS-132 within thirty (30) days of the closing date to withdraw
specify city or town . Examples: Rutland City or Rutland Town
Barre
the declaration .
City or Barre Town
DECEASED HOMEOWNER If the homeowner filed a declaration but
Line 3 SPAN (School Property Account Number) This is a unique
dies before April 1, the property may remain classified as a homestead
identification number assigned by the town . Enter the 11-digit number
until the following April 1 after the homeowner’s death provided the
printed in the Housesite information on your property tax bill .
property was the deceased homeowner’s principal residence at the time
Homestead Declaration Enter the date you owned and occupied
of death and the property is not rented . After the one-year period, Form
property as your principal residence .
HS-132 must be filed to withdraw the declaration .
Notice of Homestead Use Change Enter the date the change of use
BUYING A HOMESTEAD If you buy a homestead on or before April
began .
1, you are responsible for filing Form HS-131, Homestead Declaration . If
you buy a homestead after April 1, the seller is responsible for filing the
Line 4 Special Situations Check situation applicable .
declaration if the seller used the property as a principal home .
Use whole numbers and round to the nearest percentage for Lines 5
è
DUE DATE Form HS-131 is due APRIL 15
and 6 .
Form HS-131 may be filed separately from your income tax return .
Line 5 Business Use of Home Enter percentage of the property used
Filings after April 15, but on or before September 1, are late but you can
for business . Enter 00 .00% if there is no business use or the business
still declare a homestead . Late filing penalties apply for filings after April
use is 25% or less . If the business use changed since you filed the 2010
15 . Property where the Homestead Declaration is filed after September
Homestead Declaration, enter the new percentage and the date of the
1 is taxed at the higher school tax rate and is ineligible for a property tax
change . See the income tax booklet for further information .
adjustment . No extension of time to file is available. An extension of
Line 6 Rental Use of Home Enter percentage of the property that is
time to file an income tax return does not apply to the Form HS-131 .
rented . All rental use is required to be reported . There is NO exempt
TIMELY FILING A return mailed through the U .S . Post Office is
de minimus like business use . If the percent of rental use changed since
considered timely if received at the Department within 3 business days of
you filed the 2010 Homestead Declaration, enter the new percentage
the due date . Electronically filed or hand delivered declarations must be
and the date of the change . See the income tax booklet for further
received by the Department on or before the due date to be timely .
information .
Line 7 Business or Rental Use of Improvements and Other Buildings
LINE-BY-LINE INSTRUCTIONS
on the Property
Check the applicable “Yes” or “No” box . Check
þ
Who Must File: You must file a declaration if you
the “Yes” box if any improvements or other buildings are rented out
or used for business . If the business or rental use of improvements or
(1) Purchase A New Principal Residence You file a declaration
buildings on the property changed since you filed the 2010 Homestead
if you (1) expect to be a VT resident on April 1, and (2) own
Declaration, enter the new percentage and the date of the change .
and occupy the VT property as your principal home on April 1 .
Only one owner needs to file the Homestead Declaration . The
SIGNATURE REQUIRED
declaration must be filed even if it is after September 1 .
Date Write the date on which the form was signed .
(2) Changed the Business or Rental Use of the Homestead.
Telephone Number Enter the daytime telephone number
Homeowner Information Enter your Social Security number, name,
Disclosure Authorization To give the Department authorization to
and address and, if applicable, the Social Security number and name for
discuss your VT Homestead Declaration with your tax preparer,
check
þ
your spouse or civil union partner . Enter your date of birth . Example:
this box and include the preparer’s name .
Enter March 7, 1946 as 03 27 1946
Preparer If you are a paid preparer, you must also sign the claim, enter
Location Enter the physical location of the homestead (street or road
your Social Security number or PTIN and, if employed by a business, the
name) . Examples: 123 Maple Street
276 Route 12A
EIN of the business . If someone other than the filer(s) prepared the return
Please do not enter post office box, “same”, “see above”, or town name
without charging a fee, then that preparer’s signature is optional .
here .
Line 1 VT School District Code Enter the 3-digit school district code
where you lived on April 1 of the year you are filing the declaration .
Most towns print this code on the property tax bill . A school district code
chart is available on our web site at or see the list
Form HS-131
Rev. 10/11
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