Vermont taxpayer advocate urges outreach, proposes change to property tax credit for people in pending divorces

Jeff Dooley, taxpayer advocate for the Vermont Department of Taxes, told the Ways & Means Committee that his office assisted roughly 50 cases last year and that most of the extraordinary-relief work involved the state property tax credit.

"In the past year, I believe I assisted 50 51 cases came before me. 42 cases, were approved. Of those 42 cases, 88% of those were property tax credits," Dooley said during his annual report to the committee.

Dooley told the committee he splits his work between systemic recommendations and individual casework, including extraordinary relief when the literal application of tax law creates significant hardship. He said the property tax credit (PTC) produces the most contacts because it is complex, involves comparatively large sums for low-income Vermonters and has strict deadlines.

He described several administrative initiatives the department implemented or plans to expand. The department implemented the new childcare contribution last year and…