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Estate Tax

Vermont collects a tax on the transfer of a Vermont estate of resident and nonresident deceased persons. Generally, Vermont Form EST-191, Estate Tax Return, must be filed if the deceased person has an interest in property located in Vermont and either (1) their federal gross estate plus federal adjusted taxable gifts made within two years of their death is worth more than $4.25 million, or (2) they are required to file federal Form 706, U.S. Estate (and Generation-Skipping Transfer) Tax Return. For Vermont resident decedents, property located in Vermont means all property interests, excluding real or tangible property located outside of Vermont at the time of death. For nonresident decedents, intangible property is also excluded.

Year of Death Gross Estate Value Exceeds
2000 & 2001 $675,000
2002 & 2003 $1,000,000
2004 & 2005 $1,500,000
2006-2010 $2,000,000
2011-2015 $2,750,000
Year of Death Value of GROSS ESTATE Plus Adjusted taxable Gifts Made within Two Years of Death EXCEEDS
2016-2019 $2,750,000
2020 $4,250,000
2021 $5,000,000

How to File

When a person dies, the person’s estate is responsible for filing:

  • an income tax return for the months of the tax year the person was living and receiving income—from January of the tax year to the date of death. File Form IN-111, Vermont Income Tax Return

  • a fiduciary return on behalf of the deceased person for the months of the tax year the estate earned income, such as rental income or an Investment Retirement Account (IRA) cashed in during administration of the estate. File Form FIT-161, Fiduciary Return of Income.

  • an estate tax return on the transfer of a Vermont estate of resident and nonresident deceased persons.

Filing a Vermont Income Tax Return

If a deceased taxpayer received Vermont income between the beginning of the taxable year and the date of death and is required to file a federal income tax return, a Form IN-111, Vermont Income Tax Return, also must be filed on the behalf of the deceased taxpayer. The return, reflecting income received from January until the date of death, should be filed with the Vermont Department of Taxes, along with payment for any tax due.

To claim an income refund on the deceased taxpayer’s behalf, attach one of the following documents to Form IN-111:

  • Probate court certificate showing your appointment as administrator or executor (not needed if you are the surviving spouse) or

  • Vermont Form 176, Statement of a Claimant to Refund Due on Behalf of Deceased Taxpayer or

  • Federal Form 1310, Statement of a Person Claiming Refund Due a Deceased Taxpayer

Probate Estate and Tax Clearance

When the deceased person owns assets in his or her individual name, an estate must be opened in a Vermont Probate Court. Find a Probate Court.

The probate court requires a tax clearance from the Vermont Department of Taxes to close the estate. Complete Vermont Form E-2A, Vermont Estate Tax Information and Application for Tax Clearance, for this purpose.

The Department will not issue a tax clearance until all required Vermont tax returns are filed, which may include one or more of the following:

  • Income Tax Return for current and (if applicable) prior year

  • Fiduciary Tax Return (except final return)

  • Estate Tax Return

Important Terms

Resident Estate: the estate of a decedent who was domiciled in Vermont at the time of death.

Vermont Income of a Resident Estate or Trust: the adjusted gross income of a resident estate or trust less income exempted from state taxation under the laws of the United States. 32 V.S.A. § 5823

Vermont Income of a Nonresident Estate or Trust: the sum of the following items as long as they are required to be included in federal adjusted gross income:

  • Rents and royalties from ownership of property located in Vermont

  • Gains from the sale or exchange of Vermont property

  • Wages, salaries, commissions or other income received for services performed in Vermont

  • Income from every business, trade, profession or occupation conducted in Vermont, including money received:

    • under an agreement not to compete with a business operation in Vermont,

    • for goodwill associated with the sale of a Vermont business, or

    • for contractual services associated with the sale of a Vermont business, unless it is shown that the compensation for services does not constitute income from the sale of the business.

  • Vermont income previously deferred under a non-qualified deferred compensation plan and income derived from such previously deferred income.

  • Examples of other income: gambling winnings including lotteries, raffles, or a lump-sum payment from the sale of a right to receive a future lottery annuity.

LAWS, REGULATIONS AND GUIDANCE
32 V.S.A. § 5822 Taxation of Individuals, Trusts, and Estates
32 V.S.A. § 7402 Estate and Gift Taxes

Authorization and Statement Forms and Instructions

Number Instructions Title Revised
8821-VT Included with form Authorization To Release Tax Information 2020
OIC-671 Included with form Offer in Compromise Agreement 2021
OIC-672 Included with form Collection Information Statement for Businesses 2019
OIC-673 Included with form Collection Information Statement for Wage Earners and Self-Employed Individuals 2019
PA-1 Included with form Special Power of Attorney for Use by Individuals, Businesses, Estates and Trusts 2013
TAX-692 Included with form Financial and Income Statement for Businesses 2021
TAX-693 Included with form Financial and Income Statement for Wage Earners and Self-Employed Individuals 2022

Tax Year 2023 Estate and Fiduciary Tax Forms and Instructions

Number Instructions Title
176 Included with form Statement Of Claimant to Refund Due on Behalf of Deceased Taxpayer
1310 (irs.gov) Included with form Federal Form - Statement of a Person Claiming Refund Due a Deceased Taxpayer
E-2A Instructions Vermont Estate Tax Information and Application for Tax Clearances
EST-191 Instructions Estate Tax Return - Death Occurring After December 31, 2015
EST-195 Included with form Application for Extension of Time to File Vermont Estate Tax Return
FIT-160 Included with form Fiduciary Income Tax Return Payment Voucher
FIT-161 Instructions Fiduciary Return of Income
FIT-162 Instructions VT Capital Gains Exclusions for Estates or Trusts
FIT-165 Included with form Fiduciary Estimated Tax Payment Voucher
FIT-166 Instructions VT Income Adjustments and Tax Computation for Fiduciaries
FIT-167 Instructions VT Credit for Tax Paid to Other State or Canadian Province for Fiduciaries
FIT-168 Included with form Application for Extension of Time to File Vermont Fiduciary Tax Return
FIT-K-1VT-F Instructions Beneficiary Information for Fiduciaries

Estate Tax Forms and Instructions

Death Occurring Before or On December 31, 2015

Number Instructions Title
E-1 Included with form Estate Tax Return - Death Occurring Before or On December 31, 2015