Forest Land-Use Tax Plans

Depending on your location, a Forest Land Use Plan may provide you as a landowner with a reduced tax rate on the forestland you own.    The requirements of this program vary with localities, but may come with a substantial reduction in the amount of annual taxes paid out.

Preceding an application process, most local governments require a landowner to have a written Forest Management Plan to be eligible for the tax break.  This plan must be created by a professional forester with a copy being forwarded to the County Assessors office.  The plan must include sound forestry recommendations that are to serve as a forest management guideline for the landowner.

The Forest Management Plan created for this purpose would include the following attributes:

1.      A thorough, on-site evaluation of the forestland.

2.      Description of landowner goals and objectives.

3.      Tract summary with individual parcel descriptions.

4.      Management recommendations based on the goals and objectives.

5.      A recommended schedule of events for a five year period.

6.      An aerial photograph with tract and parcel boundaries, acreages, streams, roads, unique areas, etc.

 

Contact our office for more information pertaining to Forest Land-Use in your area.