Timber sale income taxes

If you had a timber sale in 2014, then take advantage of the IRS rules that minimize the tax bill. If you are contemplating a timber sale in the near future, you might want to take a look at these IRS rules before the sale. Planning ahead can sometimes sa

If you received money in 2014 for the sale of timber, the government expects you to pay taxes on that income. The amount of tax you pay on that income will depend upon the nature of the timber sale and how well you follow the rules to minimize the tax liability.

Doing nothing will result in paying a higher tax (or perhaps penalties if you’re caught under-reporting!).

The first step might be to visit the National Timber Tax website at TimberTax.org. This resource is kept current with the most recent changes in tax policy and provides access to forms and information.

You will want to download Form T, which is not a common form at the local library.

According to a Michigan State University Extension educator, it may be worth your while to hire a professional tax preparer. Make certain the person knows about timber sale income tax treatment, as some preparers do not. The IRS code about timber sale taxation is a bit obscure.

The idea behind minimizing the tax bill is reducing the gross income to obtain a lower net income. There are three main ways to reduce the tax bill; 1. Report income as capital gains, 2. Calculate the timber basis and depletion and 3. Keep receipts for all out-of-pocket expenses related to the timber sale and claim them as deductions.

Check to learn if your timber sale income is eligible for capital gains tax rates, which are lower than ordinary income tax rates. Most timber sale income is eligible. You will need to have owned the timber for at least 12 months prior to the sale. Also, capital gains income does not have to pay self-employment taxes, which is nearly 15 percent. You can save a lot with this tip.

Calculating basis and depletion values can be confusing. The basis is the monetary value of all your timber at the time it was purchased. Just the timber. Not the land. The depletion value is a portion of that basis and can be deducted from timber sale income based upon the percentage of total wood volume harvested. So, if you harvest half your wood volume; then half the basis value can be deducted from the timber sale income. If the entire forest was harvested, then the entire basis value can be deducted from the timber sale income. Working with a professional forester can help identify timber volumes and values. This calculation is especially helpful if you have owned your timber for less than 10 years or so.

Deductions are fairly easy to subtract from the gross timber sale income. You will need receipts. Some expenses can lie in a gray area of whether or not the expense was directly attributable to a timber sale. Expenses to hire a consulting forester and to set-up and administer the timber sale are clearly a deduction. Building a graded road is debatable. Determinations might be best made with the help of a tax preparer that knows about timber sale taxation.

For many forest owners, a timber sale happens once or twice in a lifetime. So, the same is true for the taxation part. If you had a timber sale in 2014, then take advantage of the IRS rules that minimize the tax bill. If you are contemplating a timber sale in the near future, you might want to take a look at these IRS rules before the sale. Planning ahead can sometimes save money.

Property taxation is a different topic. Michigan has two forest property taxation programs. They both require commitment to harvest timber and obtain a professionally prepared forest management plan. Each program has eligibility criteria and each has withdrawal penalties. Become familiar with both programs before signing any agreements.

The Commercial Forest Program (CFP) has the largest tax breaks, but the forest becomes open to the public for hunting and fishing. Only foot access is required. Vehicles are not. Access roads can be gated. The Qualified Forest Property (QFP) program has less of a tax break but the forest can be posted.

The CFP is administered through the DNR. The QFP program is a bit more complicated and is administered through the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD). Conservation District foresters through the Forestry Assistance Program are front-line contacts. You will also need to involve a consulting forester to help you develop a forest management plan. For the QFP, a “qualified forester” from the DARD list must be used. Of course, such a plan has many benefits and is a good idea regardless of your interest in property tax reductions.

Did you find this article useful?