From the Governor and Administration

Ordered today in Addendum No. 6 a Stay Home/Stay Safe directive effective March 25 at 5:00 pm until April 15 that all businesses and not-for-profit entities in the state shall suspend in-person business operations. Businesses and entities providing services or functions deemed critical to public health and safety, as well as economic and national security shall remain in operation. Those businesses and entities are then defined. An entity not listed can petition the Agency of Commerce and Community Development for inclusion.

Announced or authorized the following changes in Vermont tax deadlines and filings:

• Personal income tax deadline moved from 4/15 to 7/15
• That, in turn, moves the homestead declaration and property tax adjustments also to 7/15
• Corporate income tax and fiduciary income tax similarly moved to 7/15

In addition, the IRS moved the first estimated tax payments from 4/15 to 7/15. That does not, however, automatically move the dates under VT law but the Tax Department will exercise its authority to waive penalties and interest for those that come in.

As for the Meals and Rooms and Sales and Use Taxes

• There is no extension of due dates as Tax does not have authority to do so.
• Tax has already used its authority to forgo penalties and interest for payments due.
• This is not an abatement or forgiveness of tax owed as Tax has no authority to do so.
• Tax is not canceling collections of these taxes moving forward at this time.

From the State House

The Senate reconvened today and passed two COVID-19 related bills, H.742 (health care, municipal issues, and DMV drivers’ license extension) and H.681 (unemployment insurance). The House will convene tomorrow, concur with those Senate amendments, and send the bills to the Governor for signature.

Some House Committees started to meet today by electronic means. That will continue and more committees will also start to meet. The House will also be testing new remote voting technology in the coming days.

Look for the House and Senate to develop additional COVID-19 response measures in the coming days and weeks. Critically important will be elements of any federal stimulus, which will also help the Legislature focus its efforts on COVID-19 in concert with federal actions and also to address any gaps.