How to Complete the Renter Credit Claim in myVTax

1. Go to myVTax

   Type myvtax.vermont.gov into your browser.

   

   Click File a Return in the Returns panel of the home page.

   

2. Select Return Type and Enter Address

   Under Taxpayer Information, click the drop-down carat to reveal a list of account types.

   

   Select Renter Credit from the drop-down list pop-up. The list closes when you have made the selection.

   

   For the ID Type, enter your Social Security Number (SSN). For Claimant Name, your last name, middle initial, and first name. If you are filing with a jointly filed spouse or civil union partner, you can add their information later.

   

   Enter your mailing address and click Verify.

   

3. Verify the Address

   The address you entered must be a valid postal address capable of receiving mail. Verification makes sure the address is complete. Do this step even for PO Boxes.

   If a pop-up appears showing one or more address choices, select the best one. This closes the pop-up. In the example shown here, the last four digits were added to the ZIP code.

   

   The Verify button changes to Verified, and a button, File Return, appears. Click the button.

   

4. Spouse, Contact, and Rental Unit Information

   Your name and SSN are prefilled from what you entered before.

   Add your Date of Birth.

   If your income tax filing status is Married Filing Jointly, and you share your unit with a spouse or civil union partner, enter their name and SSN.

   

   Leave the Spouse fields blank if you are filing under any other status: Single, Head of Household, or Married Filing Single. (Other adults sharing your unit can file their own separate claims.)

   Your mailing address is prefilled based on the information you entered earlier. 

   Enter your phone number and email address. Select your filing status from the drop-down. In the example shown here, Sanaa Frost and David Sims are claiming the renter credit and have filed a joint income tax return.

   

   Will you be using the Renter Credit to pay income tax liability? Select the appropriate button.

   • No (to have the entire amount paid to you)
   • Yes (to have the Department of Taxes use your renter credit to pay Vermont income tax, if owed. Any leftover credit will be paid to you.)

   Mark the checkbox if your rental address and mailing address are the same.

   For the School District, select your town or city name from the drop-down. The county auto-populates based on the town/city you select.

   

   If your current address and the address where you lived on December 31 are different, leave the box unchecked and enter the correct street address underneath. Enter the unit number where you rented on Dec. 31 of last year, even if you lived there less than half the year. If you are no longer renting in Vermont, use the address where you last rented. (You must have rented in Vermont for at least six months during the year.) Select the rental town or city from the drop-down.

   Potential reasons for a different address:

   • You moved after Dec. 31
   • You receive mail at a different address, such as a PO Box

   Here's an example if you leave the box unchecked:

   

   At the bottom of the screen, click Next.

   

   Note: You can estimate your renter credit amount using the Renter Credit Calculator.

5. Renter Information, Eligibility, Income

   Enter the School Property Account Number (SPAN) for the rental address.

   The first six digits prefill based on the entry you made in Step 4. Provide the last five digits. You can get this number from your landlord, or you can use the SPAN Finder tool.

   

   Answer the Eligibility Questions. You are eligible if your answers are:

   • “Were you domiciled in Vermont for all of calendar year 2025?” - YES
   • “Were you claimed as a dependent in 2025 by another taxpayer?" - NO
   • “Did you rent in Vermont for six months or more in 2025” - YES

   

   Select the appropriate button: “Did you share your rental unit with another adult who was not your jointly-filed spouse?”

   • If NO, you are either claiming the renter credit with a spouse who lives with you and who is filing their income tax return jointly with you.
   • If YES, you are sharing your unit with another adult who is not filing a joint income tax return with you. 

   Select the appropriate button: "Was your rent subsidized?"

   If you paid all of your rent amount, select NO, and enter the number of months you rented and the number of personal exemptions you're claiming on your Vermont income tax return.

   

   If some or all of your rent was paid with government assistance, select YES, and enter the number of months it was subsidized during the year.

   Also enter the total number of months you rented, and the number of personal exemptions from your Vermont income tax return.

   

   Did you file an income tax return?

   If you select YES, complete the income information found on your federal Form 1040. The Total Income amount is a required field. Click Next.

   

   Did you file an income tax return?

   If NO, you can still file the Renter Credit Claim. If you do not have a requirement to file income taxes, you may still be eligible to file for a renter credit.  

   Please the following information if you do not file income taxes but wish to apply for a renter credit:

   Total Income - Enter the total amount of wages, salaries, and other compensation (generally reported on federal Form W-2, Box 1, issued by the payer) and the total pensions, annuities, and IRA distributions you received (generally found on the federal Form 1099 issued by the payer).  Include on this line alimony received; business income (but do not enter business losses); capital gains; other gains; any income from rental real estate, royalties, partnerships, S corporations, trusts, etc.; farm income; unemployment compensation; and any other income that would be included in federal total income if you filed a federal income tax return.

   Social Security Income - Total all payments received under the federal Social Security Act, including regular social security benefits, social security disability benefits, and supplemental security income (generally found on federal Form SSA-1099).  Include the gross amount before Medicare is subtracted.

   Tax-Exempt Interest - Enter all interest and ordinary dividends you received.  These amounts can generally be found on the federal Form 1099 issued by the payer, such as a bank.

   Add-backs - See instructions regarding business losses for "Total Income," above.  Leave this line at zero.

   Click Next.

   

6. Review the Form

   You have completed the form. Scroll up and down to review your entries. If anything is incorrect or missing, you can make changes.

   Click Next when done.

   

7. Certification and Summary

   Mark the checkbox to certify that you are authorized to submit the return. If you completed your own return, or someone other than a tax preparer completed it for you, mark the box, I certify the statement above. Enter your name in the Signature line and add today’s date and a daytime phone number. Click Next.

   

   If you are a preparer, mark the preparer checkbox. This opens up more fields to complete.

   If the claimant wants to allow the Department of Taxes to discuss this claim with the tax preparer, mark the checkbox. If not, leave it unchecked.

   When all information is provided, click Next.

   

8. Bank Information

   Complete the bank routing and account number fields if you, the renter, want to receive the credit amount by direct deposit. The renter credit may come separately from a tax refund. 

   Leave the fields blank if you want a check mailed to you at the address you provided earlier.

   Click Submit when ready.

   

   Confirm your submission by entering your email address twice, then click OK to close the pop-up.

   
    

9. Confirmation; Print a Copy

   We recommend you save a copy of your return for your records. Click Print to get a file copy. Do not mail this copy to the Department of Taxes. By submitting the claim online, the Department has already received it.

   The confirmation provides your name, the filing year, and a confirmation number. Note the email address and verification code.

   

   

   You have now completed and filed Form RCC-146, Renter Credit Claim.

   You have until the next daily processing (4:30 p.m. on business days) to make any edits or to print the return for your records. After the daily processing, you can only access the return if you have a log-in username and password for myVTax. 

   To make edits before processing, use the email address and the verification code provided. For help, see the instruction, “Access a Saved Submission” on the myVTax User Basics page.