Town-wide Reappraisal

The reappraisal process is finished and your 2025/2026 tax bill reflect the new value of your property. You may click on the Reappraisal link below and find a detailed copy of your lister card. You may also click on the Official Change of Appraisal Notice link to see a copy of the publication sent to all Bethel property owners

The grievance process is over for 2025, but you may grieve your value in 2026. You will need to contact the Bethel Lister office the middle to end of April 2026, to see when the grievance period for 2026 will be held.

Abatement:

• Purpose: Abatement provides relief to taxpayers facing extraordinary circumstances that make it difficult to meet their tax obligations or when there are errors in the tax assessment.
• Administration: Each city or town in Vermont has a Board of Abatement (or Board of Civil Authority) responsible for reviewing and deciding on abatement requests.
• Composition of the Board of Abatement: In Bethel the BCA is made up of  the town clerk, town treasurer, selectboard members, assessors, and justices of the peace. 
• Eligibility for Abatement: Vermont law 24 V.S.A. § 1535 outlines specific grounds for abatement, including: 

• • • (1) taxes or charges of persons who have died insolvent;

      (2) taxes or charges of persons who have moved from the State;

      (3) taxes or charges of persons who are unable to pay their taxes or charges, interest, and collection fees;

      (4) taxes in which there is a clear or obvious error or a mistake of the listers;

      (5) taxes or charges upon real or personal property lost or destroyed during the tax year;

      (6) the exemption amount available under 32 V.S.A. § 3802(11) to persons otherwise eligible for exemption who file a claim on or after May 1 but before October 1 due to the claimant’s sickness or disability or other good cause as determined by the board of abatement; but that exemption amount shall be reduced by 20 percent of the total exemption for each month or portion of a month the claim is late filed;

      (7) [Repealed.]

      (8) [Repealed.]

      (9) taxes or charges upon a mobile home moved from the town during the tax year as a result of a change in use of the mobile home park land or parts thereof or closure of the mobile home park in which the mobile home was sited, pursuant to 10 V.S.A. § 6237; or

      (10) sewer, water, utility, or service charges caused by circumstances that were difficult to foresee or outside of the person’s control.

       

• Application Process: Taxpayers initiate the process by contacting the Town Clerk's Office at 802-234-9722.
  • She will outline the process for you.
  • Be advised, applicants may be asked to provide supporting documents like tax bills, financial information (e.g., Household Income form HI-144, proof of income, expenses, assets), and evidence related to the abatement reason (e.g., photographs, receipts).
• Hearing and Decision: The Board of Abatement will schedule a hearing to consider the request. The taxpayer may attend and offer testimony. The board's decision is typically issued in writing and may involve granting all, part, or none of the requested abatement.
• Appeals: If the abatement request is denied, the taxpayer may be able to appeal the decision to The Vermont Superior Court.