§ 5260. Redemption
(a) When the owner, lien holder, or mortgagee of lands sold for taxes, the owner’s, lien
holder’s, or mortgagee’s representatives or assigns, within one year from the day
of sale, pays or tenders to the collector who made the sale or in the case of the
collector’s death or removal from the town where the land lies, to the town clerk
of such town, the sum for which the land was sold with interest thereon calculated
at a rate of one percent per month or fraction thereof from the day of sale to the
day of payment, a deed of the land shall not be made to the purchaser, but the money
paid or tendered by the owner, lien holder, or mortgagee or the owner’s, lien holder’s,
or mortgagee’s representatives or assigns to the collector or town clerk shall be
paid over to such purchaser on demand. In the event that a municipality purchases
contaminated land pursuant to section 5259 of this title, the cost to redeem shall include all costs expended for assessment and remediation,
including expenses incurred or authorized by any local, State, or federal government
authority.
(b) During the redemption period, the tax collector shall:
(1) Serve the delinquent taxpayer with the written notice required under subsection (c)
of this section between 90 and 120 days prior to the end of the redemption period
using certified mail requiring a return receipt, directed to the last known address
of the delinquent taxpayer. If the notice by certified mail is returned unclaimed,
notice shall be provided by resending the notice by first-class mail or by personal
service pursuant to Rule 4 of the Vermont Rules of Civil Procedure.
(2) Post the notice in some public place in the municipality between 90 and 120 days prior
to the end of redemption period.
(c) The tax collector shall enclose the following statement, with directions to a resource
translating the notice into the five most common non-English languages used in this
State, with every notice required under this section: Warning: There are unpaid property
taxes at (address of property), which you may own, have a legal interest in, or may
be contiguous to your property. The property was sold at public auction on (date).
Unless the overdue taxes, fees, and interest are paid by (last day of redemption period),
the deed to the property will transfer to purchaser. To redeem the property and avoid
losing your legal interest, you must pay (dollar amount due for redemption). The amount
you must pay to redeem the property increases every month due to interest, mailing
costs, and other costs. To make payment or receive further information, contact (name
of tax collector) immediately at (office address), (mailing address), (email address),
and (telephone number).
(d) The resource for translation of the notice required under subsection (c) of this section
shall be made available to all municipalities by the Vermont Department of Taxes. (Amended 1989, No. 119, § 21, eff. June 22, 1989; 2005, No. 81, § 2; 2023, No. 106 (Adj. Sess.), § 6, eff. May 13, 2024.)