Vt. Stat. tit. 21 § 1327
No employer's contribution rate shall be reduced from five and four-tenths percent for any rate year, except as provided in section 1324 of this subchapter, unless and until the employer's experience-rating record has been chargeable with benefits throughout the three consecutive calendar years immediately preceding the rate year with respect to which the rate shall be reduced and contributions were payable by the employer with respect to the three calendar years. An employer who has not been subject to the law for a period of time sufficient to meet this requirement may qualify for a reduced rate if the employer's record has been chargeable with benefits throughout a lesser number of consecutive calendar years but in no event less than one calendar year immediately preceding the rate year with respect to which the rate shall be reduced and contributions were payable by the employer with respect to the period.
21 V.S.A. § 1327