Background
- The Vermont Department of Taxes issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) in February of 2019 for the acquisition of a software solution and implementation services solution to modernize the state’s integrated property tax management system.
- The Division of Property Valuation and Review (PVR) held statewide listening sessions in 2019 to hear directly from municipalities on what officials wanted in a new system. Gathering the feedback from these regional meetings and from other outreach efforts, the PVR Team evaluated the vendor responses, hosted vendor demonstrations and conducted site visits.
- In April 2020, the Department announced that Axiomatic LLC of Portsmouth, New Hampshire was selected to develop the State’s modernized Statewide Integrated Property Tax Management and Grand List Software.
- The Department has been working with Axiomatic, local officials and partner vendors to develop the new system.
- In July 2021, The Division of Property Valuation and Review (PVR) announced that the Integrated Property Tax Management System (IPTMS) name was retired. The name was updated to Vermont Property Information Exchange (VTPIE).
What’s Next
A phased approach will bring new system functionality online incrementally between August 2021 and June 2024. Training and support will also be phased to support each module as it goes live.
Project Objectives
Enforce and Enhance Compliance with Statutory Requirements
The Department of Taxes is statutorily required to maintain a statewide education grand list with Grand List data from each municipality, on each parcel, in the state collected and available to the public. This solution plays a critical part in the collection of over $1.3 billion in Education Fund Revenue.
Meet the Individual and Collective Needs of a Diverse Cross-Section of Stakeholders
The users of the system are the municipal officials in each town responsible for listing and assessing properties (listers, assessors, contract or hired assessors, town clerks, and treasurers) and staff at the Department.
Consolidate and Synchronize Property Tax Data Currently Maintained in Multiple Systems
The current software system has been in place since the 1990s and requires the Department to maintain multiple Access databases with daily manual file exchanges to accommodate the limitations of the system.
Improve Efficiency, Accuracy, and Transparency with New Features and Expanded Capabilities
Technology solutions and innovations have expanded significantly in the realm of property taxation, such as web-based platforms, GIS integration and better security and performance. Under a modern system, improvements in efficiency and Grand List and taxation accuracy will lead to better policy making, and more transparent property tax administration.
Important Functions of VTPIE
- Administration of Education Grand List
- Reporting of Homestead Declarations
- Sales Data Communication and Validation for the Equalization Study
- Tax Increment Financing (TIF)
- Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT): Payments and Calculations
- Current Use Program
- Administration of Municipal Grand List
- Statewide Education Property Tax Bill Data Transmission
Axiomatic LLC is a national company based in New Hampshire, with strong client bases in the region. They have a wide range of customers in all levels of government, corporate and non-profits. They were founded in 2014 as a wholly owned New Hampshire Limited Liability Company (LLC) specifically to serve the software and consulting needs of property tax oversight agencies.
Axiomatic’s principals hold memberships in numerous professional organizations, including the International Association of Assessing Officers, the Federation of Tax Administrators, and the Urban and Regional Information Systems Association. Axiomatic is committed to building the state property tax community nationwide to promote best practices and facilitate communication among industry professionals.
Learn more about Axiomatic LLC.