Renter Rebate

To file your own Renter Rebate, follow these three steps:

1. Find out if you qualify for the Renter Rebate.
   The Renter Rebate has income limits. To find out if you qualify, fill out Vermont Department of Taxes Form 144: Household Income. Form 144 lets you know what income does not count for the Renter Rebate. That income still counts for other parts of your tax return.
    
2. Get the Landlord's Certificate from your landlord.
   Your landlord must give you a completed and accurate Vermont Tax form. The tax form is called "Form LC-142 Landlord's Certificate." The Landlord's Certificate must show how much rent you paid during the tax year. See below for more information about the Landlord’s Certificate.
    
3. Fill Out Form 141: Renter Rebate Claim.
   Fill out Vermont Department of Taxes Form 141: Renter Rebate Claim. Claims for rent you paid in 2015 may be filed as late as October 15, 2016.

You will need:

• More information from the Vermont Department of Taxes website  
• Your school district code

When your landlord is required to give you the Landlord's Certificate depends on how many rental units are in your building:

• If your apartment or house has more than one rented unit in it, your landlord must give you your Landlord Certificate by January 31.
• If your landlord rents out only one unit (your apartment or house), then your landlord must give you your Landlord's Certificate within a reasonable amount of time after you ask for it. A "reasonable amount of time" usually means within about a week.

The State may fine landlords for each Landlord Certificate they don't provide.

What if I Move Before December 31?

Your landlord must give you your Landlord's Certificate when you leave or mail the Certificate to your new address or to the last address your landlord has for you.

My Landlord Didn't Give Me a Landlord's Certificate. What Can I Do?

If your landlord did not give you a Landlord’s Certificate, ask him or her to give you the Vermont Tax Department Landlord's Certificate: Form LC-142. Your landlord is required to give it to you.

If you asked, but your landlord still won't give you the Landlord's Certificate, call the Vermont Department of Taxes toll-free at 1-866-828-2865. Tell them your landlord won't give you the Landlord's Certificate for the Renter Rebate.

The Vermont Tax Department could fine your landlord $200.00 if he or she refuses to give you your Landlord's Certificate or gives you a Certificate with the wrong information on it.

My Landlord Gave Me the Landlord's Certificate, But It's Wrong. What Can I Do?

If the Landlord Certificate has the wrong amount of rent or other wrong information, ask your landlord to explain what the form means. You might just not understand what the form is asking for.

If it's not a mistake or misunderstanding, call the Vermont Department of Taxes toll-free at 1-866-828-2865. Tell them that the information your landlord put on the Landlord's Certificate is wrong. Ask them to help you get your landlord to correct it.

Here are some steps you can take if you called the Vermont Tax Department, and your landlord still won't give you the Landlord's Certificate or change the information that is wrong.

1. Call Vermont Legal Aid at 1-800-889-2047 to see if you qualify for free legal help.
2. If Vermont Legal Aid is unable to help you, you can file the Landlord's Certificate yourself.  Here’s how:

• Fill out the Landlord's Certificate: form LC-142. If you can’t print the certificate and want the Vermont Department of Taxes to mail a paper copy to you, call them toll-free at 1-866-828-2865.
• Write your landlord's name, address, and telephone number on the form.
• Attach copies of your cancelled checks or rent receipts to the Landlord's Certificate.
• Attach a letter explaining why the Landlord Certificate isn’t filled out by your landlord. Include your landlord’s name, address and telephone number in the letter.
• Fill out the Vermont Department of Taxes Form 141: Renter Rebate Claim and Form 144: Household Income.