The maine tree growth tax law provides for the valuation of land that has been classified as. If you need legal advice, please consult a qualified attorney. An act to amend the maine tree growth tax law to encourage. An act to amend the maine tree growth tax law to encourage public access. Maine revenue services taxes documents administrative. Box 1066, augusta, me 043321066 booklets and applications may be downloaded from the maine revenue services web site. The maine tree growth tax law provides for the valuation of land that has been classified as forest land on the basis of productivity value.
The maine legislature enacted the tree growth tax law in 1972 to help maine landowners maintain their property as productive woodlands, and to broadly support maines wood products industry. Sample plans follow these links to download plans that meet specifications for. We work closely with the maine forest service and the natural resources conservation service to provide financial assistance for landowners. Any findings related to any differences in compliance issues based on the location of parcels e. Tree growth, excise tax and roadmap updates maine forest. These documents are not intended as legal, accounting, or other professional advice, and maine coast heritage trust cannot attest to the legal, financial, or tax consequences of. Tree growth plan in maine, should i put my wooded land. Hp1157, ld 1691, item 1, an act to improve the maine tree growth. Using fia, grouped into hardwoods, softwoods, and mixed by county.
Maine department of agriculture, conservation and forestry 2017 directory of maines stationary and portable sawmills pdf. Tree growth tax law audit report public law 2011, chapter 619, an act to evaluate the harvesting of timber on land taxed under the maine tree growth tax law charged mfs to make findings from the audit, including. The landowner shall file a sworn statement with the municipal assessor for a parcel in a municipality or with the state tax assessor for a parcel in the unorganized territory that a forest management and harvest plan has been prepared for the parcel. My amendment says that the amendment would begin january 1, 2014 and r0quires a landowner who participates in the maine tree growth tax law program to file a copy of the plan instead. Attached hereto is the report of the election laws revision committee appointed by the 103rd. A forest management and harvest plan must be prepared for each parcel and updated every 10 years. Maine revenue services real estate transfer tax declaration pdf. This law provides for the valuation of land which has been classified as forest land on the basis of productivity value, rather than on fair market value. Bulletin no 19 maine tree growth tax law issued november 29, 2007. Why not buy property in tree growth for sale, real estate. To enroll your property in the maine tree growth tax program, you must have at least ten acres of forest land managed primarily for the.
Tree growth tax program wilderness realty maine land. It reached 217 years old before succumbing to disease and was felled in 2010. However, many landowners utilize subsidy funds, available from both the maine forest service and the us dept. Be it enacted by the people of the state of maine as follows.
Under the tree growth tax law forest land is assessed on the basis of. To have as a guide to follow with lower taxes on the maine land the incentive to enter it in the management program for maine wooded land. The state determines the 100% valuation per acre for each forest type classified by county. We also provide forest plans for landowners enrolled in the tree growth tax program. The revisors office cannot provide legal advice or interpretation of maine law to the public. April 1 st tree growth deadline new enrollments for 2012 if you are considering enrolling forest land in tree growth for the first time, the deadline for the 2012 property tax year for submitting the tree growth application to your local assessor or maine revenue services property tax division, if your land is in an unorganized township. Legislators hope to tighten treegrowth tax break, citing. To enroll your property in the maine tree growth tax program, you must. If additional space is required to complete any line or lines on the schedule, please attach a separate sheet with the name or names of the land owners at the top. An act to amend the maine tree growth tax law and the open space tax law. Maines public policy encourages the management of forestland for a continuous supply of forest products and services. Rule 202 tree growth tax law valuations 2017 proposed repeal and replace. If forest land in the unorganized territory is reclassified or withdrawn from taxation under this subchapter, the state tax assessor shall make supplementary assessments or abatements as necessary to.
Maine forest management offers a number of options for forest management plans. Harold burnett, lf 993 january, 2012 this plan meets specifications for. One of the most famous trees, herbie, was the largest american elm tree in new england. Supplemental information changes in taxable food products effective january 1, 2016, maine revenue services.
An owner of a parcel containing forest land may have the land valued under the tree growth tax law if the land contains at least 10 acres of forest land, is used primarily for growth of trees for commercial use, and has had a forest management and harvest plan prepared for the parcel to be updated every 10 years sec. You should be sure you understand all of the benefits of maines tree growth tax law, as well as the penalties for removing your land from the program. State of maine senate chamber augusta june 26, 1969 to the senate and house of representatives of the 1 0 4 t h legislature attached hereto is the report of the election laws rev i s ion committee appointed by the 103rd legislature. Report to the bureau of forestry repealed section history pl 1989, c.
A timber management and harvest plan prepared by a licensed maine forester is also required. Application for maine tree growth tax law program pdf application for open space land classification pdf application for working waterfront land classification pdf business equipment tax exemption bete program. The tax break is meant to preserve maines woodlands and create jobs, but some some think its misused. The maine association of assessing officers is a nonpolitical and nonpartisan organization promoting the responsible and equitable assessment of real and personal property for the purposes of ad valorem municipal property taxation. Forestland enrolled in the program is valued on the basis of its ability to grow trees rather than its highest and best use. The maine legislature enacted the tree growth tax law in 1972 to help maine. Current use programs bar harbor, me official website. By ken laustsen, biometrician, maine forest service.
Tgtl values woodland on its ability to grow commercial forest products such as pulpwood and sawtimber. No earlier than 185 days prior to a deadline established by section 574b, if the landowner has not yet complied with the requirements of that section, the assessor must provide the landowner with written notice by certified mail informing the landowner of the statutory requirements that need to be met to comply with section 574b and the date of the deadline for. Publications and documents maine land trust network. To maximize the investment, allow periodic selective harvesting of the maine woodlot. This subchapter may be cited as the maine tree growth tax law. A reference guide to the sales and tax law 2016, maine revenue services and peter b. If the land in tree growth happens to be on a deep clear salmon lake the withdrawal fee is based on a complicated formula and it goes back 30 years. Tree growth tax law professional logging contractors of. Tree growth and that had actual concerns with proprietary information. Forest management plan thompson woodlot forest grove, lincoln county, maine map 12, lot 15 ron and mary thompson 509 maple rd. In order to provide an adequate incentive to manage the land on a sustained yield basis and not to strip and sell the land for. The maine legislature enacted the tree growth tax law in 1972 to help maine landowners manage their property as productive woodlands and assess land. The tallest tree in maine is said to be a 5 foot tall red spruce located in blanchard. Some of the files below are pdf files which require the free adobe reader.
Volume four number one late winter 2000 what is the maine tree growth tax law. Timber tax filing for the 2018 new mfs publication. Current use programs value land according to actual uses, not potential. A property must be at least 10 acres in size to qualify. Tree growth the maine tree growth tax law provides for the valuation of land, which has been classified as commercially harvested forestland on the basis of productivity value, rather than on fair market value. Submitted as required by an act to evaluate the harvesting of timber on land taxed under the. It includes harvesting as an expressly stated activity for land in the maine. Property tax abatement and appeals procedures bulletin number 10.
Poverty abatement application homestead exemption homestead exemption application tree growth tree growth tax law. Tree growth application schedule instructions general instructions 1. Maine tree growth tax law the maine legislature enacted. Publications and documents the documents are samples actually in use by land trusts around the state and country, and have been tailored to their own specific needs. Download the tree growth tax law application and schedule pdf external link. By choosing to develop a woodland management plan designed to realize the value of your timber and meet. The forestry rules of maine 2014 excellent guide forest practices law changes for 2014 maine insect and disease update for 2018 released august 2019 asian longhorned beetle alert emerald ash borer alert landowner liability law explained tree growth tax law will save you money. There is a statewide program for owners of at least 10 acres of timberland which can reduce your taxes by 50% or more. Tree growth tax law issues report to the committee on taxation of the 124. Maines tree growth tax program maine woodland owners.
Legislators hope to tighten treegrowth tax break, citing poliquin case. Application for veteran property tax exemption for widowed spouse, minor child, or widowed parent. Office of legislative information 100 state house station augusta, me 04333. Tree growth tax law audit maine forest products council. While the law itself was not enacted until 1972, its origins stretch back almost 48 years.
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