Forest Land Tax Policy

Landowners who wish to keep their land undeveloped and forested are often concerned about paying taxes on properties that do not earn much income. There are two primary ways that forest land owners in Tompkins County can reduce the taxes paid on such land.

The first program is the New York State Forest Tax Law - 480a, which promotes the production of forest crops by allowing landowners of properties with at least 50 acres of woodland up to an 80% reduction in the assessment (for town/county/school district taxes) if they comply with strict forest management and timber harvesting requirements.

The second program is the "Agland" exemption under the Agriculture and Markets Section of the Real Property Tax Law. This allows tax exemptions for eligible farm woodland, as long as the woodland is part of land which qualifies for an agricultural assessment. The woodland must not exceed 50 acres on any separately described and assessed parcel, and must be used primarily for the production for sale of woodland products.

Finally, in order to protect forest lands, preserve ecological corridors for wildlife habitat, and promote informal economic activities such as private timber harvesting or maple syrup production in a community, local governments may establish a tax abatement term easement program. Such a program would offer reductions in property taxes to participating landowners in return for term (e.g., 15 year) forest conservation easements. This program could be used to protect forested parcels of less than 50 acres, and/or be less restrictive than the Forest Tax Law - 480a.