States Use Gentle Hand in Taxing Timberland

STATE

TAX ON TIMBERLAND*

Alabama

10% of current use value based on soil productivity; severance tax based on type of timber.

Alaska

Timber and land are exempt from general taxation.

Arizona

25% of full cash value or limited valuation; severance tax based on type of timber.

Arkansas

Current use value based on soil productivity (not to exceed 20% of current use); severance tax based on type of timber.

California

Valued at the present worth of the land (land must be worth more than $2.00/acre) and a 2.9% yield tax.

Colorado

The “actual value” of agricultural lands, exclusive of building improvements thereon, is determined by the earning or productive capacity of such lands during a reasonable period of time, capitalized at a rate of 13%; once the “actual value” is determined, the assessment rate of 29% is applied to arrive at the taxpayer’s liability.

Connecticut

The rate of tax on forest land is limited to 10 mills (the local rate is applicable if lower). The rate is applied to the value of the land itself, excluding the value of the timber. Yield tax rate depends on number of years of timber growth on the land.

Delaware

Property tax is based on the value of land actively devoted to agricultural, horticultural or forest use and has been so devoted for at least the 2 successive years immediately preceding the tax year in issue (provides lower tax rates for qualifying land). In addition, any landowner who establishes a “commercial forest plantation” and meets other qualifications under Delaware law shall be entitled to a 30-year exemption from county property taxes on such plantation.

Florida

The current value of the land and its potential to produce income is calculated for the property based on the site’s “productive value” (i.e., site index). Since the assessment is based on productivity and potential income, the higher the site index, the assessed value will also be higher.

Georgia

Tax rate is based on current use valuation. For ad valorem tax purposes, standing timber is taxed only once following its harvest or sale. Standing timber is taxed at 100% of its fair market value. It is subject to taxation even if the land underneath is exempt unless taxation has been prohibited by federal law or treaty.

Hawaii

Current use value based on agricultural production; varies by county. Agricultural land is taxed at a fixed amount per $1,000 assessed value.

Idaho

Bare Land and Yield- Current use and yield tax; approximately 1% of the bare land value of the property. State is divided into 4 districts and each district is rated good, fair or poor for growing trees. Yield tax is 3% of stumpage value determined by the State Tax Commission.

Productivity Valuation– state is divided into 4 districts and each district is rated good, fair or poor for growing trees, and then taxed based on current use value (no yield tax imposed)

Illinois

Current use and yield tax; productivity index gives range of values for “other farmland” based on agriculture crops using soils; 4% yield tax.

Indiana

A flat $1.00 per acre (assessed value) on classified forest land.

Iowa

Agricultural real estate is valued at its current use with permanent forest or fruit tree reservations exempt; property assessed at its actual value by giving exclusive consideration to its productivity and net earning capacity determined on the basis of its use for agricultural purposes capitalized at a rate of 7% and applied uniformly among counties and classes of property.

Kansas

Valuations for each parcel of land devoted to “agricultural use” will be based on the agricultural income or productivity attributable to the land in its current usage (use value) under a degree of management reflecting median production levels.

Kentucky

Agricultural and horticultural land is assessed on the basis of the land’s value for agricultural or horticultural uses; the use value of agricultural or horticultural land is based upon income producing capability and comparable sales of farmland purchased for farm purposes when the price is indicative of farm use value, excluding sales representing purchases for farm expansion, better accessibility, and other factors that inflate the purchase price beyond farm use value.

Louisiana

Assessed at 10% of current use value.

Maine

Forest land is eligible for current-use valuation in which the land is valued by reference to the market value of similar property rather than in comparison to land priced at a premium, for residential or commercial purposes. The 100% valuation per acre for each forest type for each area equals the value of the annual net wood production multiplied by a capitalization rate. The capitalization rate applied to the value of the annual net wood production is 8.5%.

Maryland

Land is assessed at $125 per acre (unless fair cash value is less than $100 per acre).

Massachusetts

5% of fair cash value (not less than $10) plus enrollment fee. 8% yield tax (assessed on cutting 2 years prior to classification).

Michigan

$1.00 per acre flat tax and 5% yield tax.

Minnesota

Net rate of 1% of the market value, however, there is a rebate for forest land; minimum rebate of $1.50 per acre for each acre enrolled in the sustainable forest incentive program.

Mississippi

Taxed at 15% of current use.

Missouri

$3.00 per acre flat tax (assessed value for 25 years) and $1.00 per acre if enrolled prior to 1974 and a 6% yield tax.

Montana

Calculated each year by dividing the total estimated tax due on forest lands by the total forest value of those lands. Severance tax is $0.15/MBF.

Nebraska

Assessed at 80% of current use value.

Nevada

35% of the current use value.

New Hampshire

Range in fixed assessment values by forest type, lower range of values with stewardship plan. An additional 20% reduction if recreation allowed. 10% yield tax.

New Jersey

Agricultural land is valued and assessed based on its current use, not the highest and best use; this value is adjusted for the productivity ratings of the soil. The higher the soil productivity rating the higher the value on a per acre basis.

New Mexico

Use of the land to produce forest products or in a manner that qualifies for compensation under a federal soil conservation program is considered an agricultural use that may entitle the land to be valued on the basis of its capacity to produce agricultural products. The production capacity of agricultural land shall be determined by the income method of valuation based on the income derived or capable of being derived from the use of the land for agricultural purposes.

New York

Bare land value with exemption of timber, 6% of timber stumpage value as determined by the assessor. Also has law permitting forest land to be taxed at 80% of FMV or $40 fixed value, whichever is the lesser.

North Carolina

Certain forestland and open-space land is designated as a special class of property under the authority of the North Carolina Constitution and, as such, is excluded from taxation or is otherwise specially treated. Severance tax depends on type of timber.

North Dakota

$.50 per acre flat tax.

Ohio

Current Agricultural Use Value- Based on soil productivity, generally assessed at $100/acre.

Ohio Forest Tax Law– 50% of local tax rate on the FMV plus $50 application fee.

Oklahoma

For purposes of the assessment of Oklahoma real property tax, managed timberland used for the cultivation of timber should be classified at its fair cash value for that use.

Oregon

Forestland program- Property taxes under this program range from 40 cents per acre to $6.75 per acre, depending on location of the property and the ability of your property to grow timber.

Small tract forestland option- A landowner pays an annual property tax on 20 percent of the forestland special assessment value. The STF Severance Tax is paid when the landowner harvests the timber from this property.

Pennsylvania

Current use value based on forest productivity; value based on FIA growth in 4 regions of the state – usually weighted within counties.

Rhode Island

The assessment rate, which is determined based on current use value, is set by the state Forestry Commission each year for all site classes and species. Property tax exemption for certain types of forestry.

South Carolina

For property tax purposes land used to grow timber is classified as “agricultural use land” and is taxed on the basis of its fair market value for agricultural purposes. Current assessment rate for agricultural use land (privately owned) is 4.0%.

South Dakota

Current use based on agricultural productivity. Forest land is not classified, though it can occupy a portion of agricultural land whether it is dry cropland, pasture, waste or non-productive.

Tennessee

Forest land is assessed at 25% of its current use value.

Texas

Landowners may apply for special appraisal based on their land’s productivity value (which is lower than fair market value) rather than what the land would sell for on the open market (appraisal value may not exceed the market value of the land as determined by other appraisal methods).

Utah

Tax is based on current use value. Various components are considered in determining the use value of the land. Agricultural land is first grouped into land classifications, according to its capability to produce crops or forage. Productive values are established by the Utah State Tax Commission with assistance of a five member Farmland Assessment Advisory Committee and Utah State University. These factors are expressed in terms of value per acre for specific land classifications.

Vermont

Land will be valued based on its current use rather than highest and best use. Forest land is classified as either “productive forest land” or “non-productive forest land.” Agricultural land is classified as either “agricultural land” or “non-productive agricultural land.” Land values are reviewed annually by the “Current Use Advisory Board.”

Virginia

A county, city or town may adopt an ordinance to provide for the use value assessment and taxation of property devoted to agricultural, horticultural, forest, or open-space use; a severance tax is also imposed with the rate depending on the type of wood.

Washington

Current use values on forest land are determined by the state Department of Revenue and vary depending on the productivity of the soil and other factors. Harvesting timber on either private or publicly owned land is subject to a 5% excise (yield) tax on the stumpage value of timber harvested for sale or for commercial or industrial use.

West Virginia

Productivity based on soil survey and a 3.22% yield tax.

Wisconsin

$0.83 per acre and a 10% yield tax.

Wyoming

The taxable value is based on a portion of the full value, the fractional amount is 9.5% for agricultural property.

* Every state has certain requirements which the timberland must meet in order to receive the valuation/exemption described. Please refer to specific state statutes to determine whether a particular parcel of timberland qualifies. In addition, much of this information was collected from timbertax.org; please refer to this website for more detailed information regarding timberland and property taxes.