State · LIHTC 2026
LIHTC in Vermont: 2026 allocations, QAP and data
Vermont Housing Finance Agency (VHFA) allocates Vermont's housing tax credits. The population-based part of Vermont's 2026 9% credit ceiling, before carryforwards and returned credits, is $3,953,600. That is the small-state minimum: 644,663 residents times $3.416 would give only $2,202,169. Its 2026 private activity bond cap is the $397,625,000 minimum, and every 4% deal in the state needs a share of it.
Agency and qualified allocation plan
| Allocating agency | Vermont Housing Finance Agency (VHFA) |
|---|---|
| Tax credit program page | VHFA LIHTC page |
| Current QAP | State of Vermont Qualified Allocation Plan (2023-2026) |
| QAP status | 2026 rounds ran under the 2023-2026 QAP (effective 10/1/2023). A new QAP took effect Oct 1, 2026 and governs later rounds: vhfa.org link (PDF vhfa.org link). |
Agency and QAP links checked 2026-10-30.
2026 credit ceiling and bond cap
| Item | 2026 | Per resident |
|---|---|---|
| Population (IRS Notice 2026-22) | 644,663 | 51st of 52 |
| 9% ceiling, population amount | $3,953,600 | $6.13 |
| Formula | greater of $3.416 × pop or $3,953,600 | minimum applies |
| Private activity bond cap | $397,625,000 | $616.80 |
| Formula | greater of $135 × pop or $397,625,000 | minimum applies |
Sources: IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32 secs. 4.08 and 4.19 (the 9% amounts already include the 12% increase from Pub. L. 119-21 sec. 70422); IRS Notice 2026-22 (2026-15 I.R.B.). Computed by us and rounded to the dollar; agencies may round differently.
Vermont is one of 13 jurisdictions (8 states, DC and the four insular areas) that receive the same $3,953,600 minimum, so its credits per resident ($6.13) are above the $3.416 national rate. See every state side by side on the 2026 ceilings and bond caps table.
Basis boost areas: 2027 QCTs and DDAs
HUD's 2027 lists, which apply from January 1, 2027, put 12 Vermont census tracts in qualified census tracts, spread across 6 counties. 5 nonmetropolitan counties are difficult development areas. In metro areas, 6 ZIP code areas (ZCTAs) are Small Area DDAs. A building in either can take 130% of eligible basis. Check an address with the QCT and DDA lookup.
| County | 2027 QCT tracts |
|---|---|
| Chittenden County | 5 |
| Bennington County | 2 |
| Franklin County | 2 |
| Orleans County | 1 |
| Washington County | 1 |
Nonmetro DDA counties: Lamoille County, Orange County, Rutland County, Washington County, Windham County.
Metro areas with Small Area DDAs: Burlington-South Burlington, VT MSA.
Every Vermont qualified census tract, with its population, poverty rate and median income, is on the Vermont QCT list by county.
Source: HUD 2027 QCT and DDA designations, FR Doc. 2026-20390 (91 FR 63573, Oct. 6, 2026).
Tax credit properties in Vermont
HUD's database lists 303 Vermont properties financed with housing tax credits that the allocating agency still monitors, with 7,261 income-restricted units. The largest city totals are below; see all cities on the Vermont apartments page.
| City | Properties | Restricted units |
|---|---|---|
| Burlington | 34 | 1,012 |
| South Burlington | 17 | 566 |
| Brattleboro | 21 | 467 |
| Rutland | 15 | 290 |
| St Johnsbury | 9 | 260 |
| Winooski | 6 | 252 |
| St Albans | 8 | 248 |
| Springfield | 6 | 205 |
| Bennington | 8 | 194 |
| Middlebury | 9 | 175 |
| County | Properties | Restricted units |
|---|---|---|
| Chittenden County | 82 | 2,596 |
| Windsor County | 29 | 723 |
| Windham County | 36 | 695 |
| Franklin County | 23 | 597 |
| Rutland County | 28 | 550 |
| Washington County | 24 | 550 |
| Caledonia County | 18 | 405 |
| Addison County | 17 | 313 |
| Bennington County | 11 | 234 |
| Orange County | 11 | 181 |
For buyers and lenders: the Vermont Year 15 and Year 30 list shows which of these properties reach the end of the compliance period or the 30-year extended use minimum from 2022 to 2034, by county.
Source: HUD's national LIHTC database (LIHTCPUB, revised May 28, 2026; projects placed in service through 2024). City pages cover cities with at least five properties; county links go to that county's 2026 income and rent limits.
Financing a LIHTC deal in Vermont
A 9% deal in Vermont competes for VHFA's 2026 ceiling of $3,953,600 (population amount) under the State of Vermont Qualified Allocation Plan (2023-2026). A 4% deal needs an award from the state's $397,625,000 private activity bond cap: tax-exempt bonds must finance 50% of the aggregate basis of the building and land, or at least 25% if one or more of those bonds, from an issue dated after December 31, 2025, together finance at least 5% of that basis (the 25% bond test, for buildings placed in service in taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025). Sites in Vermont's 12 qualified census tracts for 2027 can take the 130% basis boost.
On HUD's records for the 191 Vermont properties on this site's city pages, 40% of those reporting the field were financed with tax-exempt bonds and 59% took 9% (70% present value) credits; 47 received allocations in 2015 or later.
Sources: IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32; HUD 2027 QCT list; HUD's national LIHTC database (LIHTCPUB, revised May 28, 2026; projects placed in service through 2024), bond and credit-type fields. What to read in a QAP: state LIHTC programs. Sizing a Vermont deal: get a financing quote.
State housing tax credit
Yes. Vermont Affordable Housing Tax Credit, 32 V.S.A. 5930u. VHFA awards up to $400,000 a year in first-year rental credits ($2M per 5 years), plus homeownership credits. (primary source)
More Vermont data
- Vermont 2026 income and rent limitsby town
- Vermont tax credit apartmentsby city
- Vermont QCTs and DDAs2027 lists by county
- Year 15 and Year 30 propertiesby county
- QCT and DDA lookupby address
- Monthly credit ratesIRS
- LIHTC in Utahprevious
- LIHTC in Virginianext
- All statescompare
Questions people ask
How much 9% LIHTC does Vermont get in 2026?
The population part of Vermont's 2026 housing credit ceiling is $3,953,600: the greater of $3.416 per resident or $3,953,600, applied to the 644,663 population in IRS Notice 2026-22. The agency's actual 2026 authority also adds unused and returned credits and any national pool share, so its own published figure can be higher.
Who allocates housing tax credits in Vermont?
Vermont Housing Finance Agency (VHFA). It awards 9% credits under its qualified allocation plan (State of Vermont Qualified Allocation Plan, 2023-2026) and sets the rules 4% bond deals must meet to receive credits.
Does Vermont have a state low-income housing tax credit?
Yes. Vermont Affordable Housing Tax Credit, 32 V.S.A. 5930u. VHFA awards up to $400,000 a year in first-year rental credits ($2M per 5 years), plus homeownership credits.
Financing a Vermont tax credit deal?
Construction, bond, bridge-to-equity and permanent debt for Vermont 4% and 9% deals.