Vermont Statutes Title 32. Taxation and Finance, § 7303. Procedure for determining apportionment

(a) The Probate Division of the Superior Court having jurisdiction over the administration of the estate of a decedent shall determine the apportionment of the tax. If there are no probate proceedings, the Probate Division of the Superior Court of the county wherein the decedent was domiciled at death upon the application of the person required to pay the tax shall determine the apportionment of the tax.

(b) If the Probate Division of the Superior Court finds that it is inequitable to apportion interest and penalties in the manner provided in section 7302 of this title, because of special circumstances, it may direct apportionment thereof in the manner it finds equitable.

(c) The expenses reasonably incurred by any fiduciary and by other persons interested in the estate in connection with the determination of the amount and apportionment of the tax shall be apportioned as provided in section 7302 of this title and charged and collected as a part of the tax apportioned. If the Probate Division of the Superior Court finds it is inequitable to apportion the expenses as provided in section 7302 of this title, it may direct apportionment thereof equitably.

(d) If the Probate Division of the Superior Court finds that the assessment of penalties and interest assessed in relation to the tax is due to delay caused by the negligence of the fiduciary, the court may charge the fiduciary with the amount of the assessed penalties and interest.

(e) In any suit or judicial proceeding to recover from any person interested in the estate the amount of the tax apportioned to the person in accordance with this chapter, the determination of the Probate Division of the Superior Court in respect thereto shall be prima facie correct.