Collections’ Office
205 South Street
Bennington, VT 05201
Direct Phone Lines
(If no answer, leave message or call Reception at 802-442-1037)
Joyce Silvestro
Email: jsilvestro@benningtonvt.org
Phone: 802-442-1047
Leah Latour
Email: llatour@benningtonvt.org
Phone: 802-442-1046
The Collections Department is located at the Town Offices. This department is responsible for both the collection of Real Estate Taxes, Water Bills, Sewer Bills, and any general service billings known as Accounts Receivables (or A/R Bills).
If you need a copy of a bill, a history of payments or have any questions regarding your payments on Water, Sewer, or Real Estate taxes you may contact the Collections Department.
Annual tax sale notices - Properties that will be offered for tax sale will be listed here when known. Listed properties are typically sold at public auction at the Offices of the Town of Bennington to discharge such taxes and fees, with costs, unless previously paid.
If you have questions on the Homestead Declaration or Property Tax Adjustment Claim, scroll down on this page.
If you have any questions regarding turning your water service off/on, water meters or water usage, please contact Linda Bermudez in the Water Department.
Email: lbermudez@benningtonvt.org or Phone: 802-447-9719
Property Tax Information
TAX BILL
Town of Bennington property tax bills are sent out late August each year. This is the only tax bill that property owners will receive. If the property is sold, the tax bill should be given or forwarded to the new owner at the time of the closing.
Tax bills are due annually on November 10th.
Tax payments must be received at the Town Offices Collections department or in the secure payment drop box, located by the front door of the Town Offices by 4:30PM by the due date.
For a detailed explanation of your tax bill, please CLICK HERE.
Penalty and interest are charged as indicated on your tax bill and is assessed the next day after the due date. Interest is posted on the first of each month thereafter.
Pay By Credit Card
Online payments for Water & Sewer bills is a service provided by ACI Payments for a convenience fee of $5.72.
- Go to our authorized payment gateway at ACI Payments (www.officialpayments.com)
- Click on “State Payments”
- Enter Jurisdiction Code: 5507
- Click “Make a Payment.” This will reload the same screen, but now with Town of Bennington Information added.
- Use Pulldown menu to select “Water and Sewer Bill”
- Click “Make a Payment” again.
- Enter Payment Amount, choose payment option, and click “Continue.”
- Follow the onscreen instructions to complete your transaction.
- Go to our authorized payment gateway at ACI Payments (www.officialpayments.com)
- Click on “State Payments”
- Enter Jurisdiction Code: 5507
- Click “Make a Payment.” This will reload the same screen, but now with Town of Bennington Information added.
- Use Pulldown menu to select “Real Estate Tax.”
- Click “Make a Payment” again.
- Enter Payment Amount, choose payment option, and click “Continue.”
- Follow the onscreen instructions to complete your transaction.
Homestead Declaration
By Vermont law, property owners whose homes meet the definition of a Vermont homestead must file a Homestead Declaration annually by the April filing deadline. If eligible, it is important that you file so that you are correctly assessed the homestead tax rate on your property. You can download their informational PDF here: https://tax.vermont.gov/sites/tax/files/documents/FS-1051.pdf
What is the Vermont Homestead Declaration?
In Vermont, all property is subject to education property tax to pay for the state’s schools. For this purpose, property is categorized as either nonresidential or homestead. A homestead is the principal dwelling and parcel of land surrounding the dwelling, owned and occupied by the resident as the person’s domicile.
Please complete the State of Vermont tax form called HS-122. You may be eligible for an income-based property tax credit by submitting the HI-144 form.
For more information and to download the forms mentioned above, please visit the State of Vermont Tax Department website:
https://tax.vermont.gov/property/forms.
Questions regarding State Payments or Homestead Declaration should be directed to the State of Vermont. Property Tax Assistance – (Education Payment, Rebate, Homestead Declaration) Tel: 1-866-828-2865 (toll free in VT) or 802-828-2865 (local & out-of-state) Fax: 802-828-2720. The State Web site is http://tax.vermont.gov/
FAQs
Town of Bennington Real Estate Taxes are due (1) time a year. Bills are mailed late August of every year and are due on November 10th.
Water and sewer bills for the Town of Bennington are billed and collected quarterly.
We encourage the property owner to pay as much as they can by the due date. There is NO grace period. A one-time penalty will be assessed on the remaining balance as of 4:30pm that day. This is a state imposed penalty of 8%. For every month thereafter, interest of 1% will be added based on principle until the balance is paid in full.
At the Town Offices we accept checks and cash. Credit cards are accepted with a convenience fee. There is a locked drop box for payments at the front entrance of the Town offices at 205 South Street. Payments can also be made by mail to P.O. Box 469 Bennington, VT 05201.
Yes. You can call ACI Payments at 1-800-272-9829 or go to their website: www.acipayments.com or stop by the Town Offices. You will need your jurisdiction code (5507) and your account number. You may pay your water, sewer, or real estate taxes. Please be advised that a convenience fee will be charged.
No, there are no discounts offered for paying before the due date on real estate taxes, water or sewer bills.
All bills (real estate, water, & sewer) MUST be mailed to the property owner (ONLY). If the mailing address is changed for real estate taxes, it is changed for ALL correspondence from the Town of Bennington including water and sewer billings.
You will need to fill out a change of address form and return it to the Assessor’s Office. Please note only one mailing address is available for each parcel for all bills.
Even if your taxes are escrowed, you will receive a bill as the property owner. If your mortgage company requests a copy, one will be sent to them. If your mortgage company does not request a copy of your bill, it is your responsibility to get it to them. The Town of Bennington will send copies only if requested by a mortgage company or bank. As a property owner, you are solely responsible for payment when due. If your mortgage company is supposed to make payments on your behalf, or if you do not receive a bill, it is your responsibility to follow-up and see that payment is made when due to avoid penalty and interest.