Congress renews tax deduction for landowners

Congress renewed a tax deduction for private landowners who protect land with voluntary conservation agreements.

The incentive had expired at the end of 2009 but was renewed as part of the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization and Job Creation Act of 2010 passed last month. The new incentive expires at the end of 2011.

It allows donors of voluntary conservation agreements to take a 50 percent tax deduction on their Federal taxes for 16 years. Farmers and rangers may be able to deduct 100 percent. Upstate Forever, an HBA Community Partner, is among the land trusts that can assist landowners with a conservation agreement for their property.

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