Helpful info from the Virginia Outdoors Foundation (VOF).

Tax Benefits of Conservation Easements

* VOF provides this information about tax benefits to assist landowners, but not as tax advice. Please check with your tax advisor or attorney about qualifying for any tax benefits associated with conservation easements.

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The gift of an open-space easement in perpetuity to the Virginia Outdoors Foundation (VOF) may qualify as a non-cash charitable gift, providing the donor with various tax benefits. A donor applying for tax benefits must hire an independent certified appraiser to establish the value of the easement, which value is primarily based on the value of the development rights forgone. Once that value is established, it becomes the basis for calculating tax benefits.

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1. Federal Income Tax Deduction. Donations of open-space easements that meet federal tax code requirements may entitle the donor to federal income tax deductions. The federal tax deduction for tax year 2016 and subsequent years is 50% of adjusted gross income (AGI) for individual taxpayers, the unused portion of which may be carried forward for a period of fifteen years. In addition, a farmer or rancher who will receive more than 50% of adjusted gross income from the trade or business of farming or ranching is eligible for a tax deduction of 100% of adjusted gross income. IRS Form 8283 must be filed to obtain this deduction. Form 8283 requires attachment of a copy of the appraisal, an appraiser’s declaration, and VOF’s acknowledgement of the gift.
    

2. Virginia State Tax Credit.  A Virginia state tax credit has been established for conservation easements at 40% of the value of the easement. The amount of the credit that may be used by a taxpayer may not exceed $20,000 for taxable years 2015 and 2016 and $50,000 for taxable year 2017 and each taxable year thereafter, but any unexpended portion may be carried forward for the next 13 taxable years. In addition, any unexpended portion may be transferred to another Virginia taxpayer. A recent tax court opinion suggests that the income from the sale of tax credits held for more than one year prior to sale may receive more favorable long-term capital gains treatment. (Check with your tax advisor or attorney to determine whether and when tax credits should be sold.) Tax credits in excess of $1 million or more will be issued only if the conservation value of the donation has been verified by the Director of the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) based on criteria adopted by the Virginia Land Conservation Foundation. Pre-filing review of the conservation value is available through DCR. There is a $75 million limit on the amount of tax credits that the Department of Taxation may issue in each calendar year. Form LPC-1 must be filed with the Department of Taxation for registration of credits and Form LPC-2 for transfer of credits. For an easement conveyed on or after July 1, 2015, the LPC-1 application must be filed with the Department of Taxation by December 31st of the year following the calendar year of the conveyance or the credit will be disallowed.
    

3. Federal Estate Tax Reduction and Exclusion. Extinguishing some or all of the development rights for a parcel of land through a conservation easement may reduce the value of the land for estate tax purposes, thus reducing the estate taxes, often substantially. In addition, Section 2031(c) of the Internal Revenue Code provides an estate tax exclusion from the gross estate of up to 40% of the remaining encumbered value of the land (but not improvements on the land) protected by a qualified conservation easement. The exclusion is capped at $500,000 and is reduced if the conservation easement reduced the land’s value by less than 30% at the time of the contribution. To qualify the easement must prohibit all but “de minimis commercial recreational use.”
    

4. Local Property Taxes. Local property taxes may be reduced with respect to land (but not dwellings, farm buildings, or other improvements to the land).  However, if land is already assessed at “use value”, in other words, enrolled in a local land-use assessment taxation program, an additional reduction in taxes is unlikely.

Department of Conservation and Recreation’s Review Criteria

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The Director of the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) will review and verify the conservation value of donated land or conservation easements or other less-than-fee interests in land that result in tax credit applications for $1 million or more.

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Please visit Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation website for more information about applying for Land Preservation Tax Credits.