| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Dorinda |
Posted - Feb 08 2012 : 3:56:12 PM
Okay so my DH and I went over to the property apprasers office today. Still arguing with them about our taxes and giving us our ag. exemp. back to us on the 5 acres they cut out. She is trying to tell us that you cannot turn a profit with cattle on less then 20 acres. I do not agree with her. We have 40 acres that we had fenced in and put cows on. We fenced in about 36 and a half and left the rest out where our house is. So they took our ag. Exemption away on the 4 and half acres causing our property taxes to go up over a Thousand dollares. Now we have fenced in that part and have got to let cows roam on it from time to time. Every since she became head over property appraisers office she has been telling people that you have to have at least 20 acres for cows to claim ag.xemption. So today she tells us that the Florida State statues reads no type or amount of acreage to farm. as long as you are filing an F form showing you are making a profit or loss you can claim Ag. exemp. Now my neighbor had 10 acres with cows on it. She went out and bought 10 more acres behind her to stay legally Ag. So she thought. Because that is what she was told by our property apprasiers office. Only now to find out that she was lied to. My question to you girls is do any of you farm under 20 acres and make any type of money? If so do you file a F Tax form with your taxes?
Have you filed for green belt or ag . Exemption?
Seize The Day!
Dorinda |
| 7 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| queenmushroom |
Posted - Feb 19 2012 : 10:45:57 AM
I highly encourage you to contact you local Farm Bureau to see if they can help you with this as well as the Florida Dept of Ag. You will not believe the pull your local farm bureau has in your local, state and federal government. I think once your property is in farm land/open space, it cannot be taken out unless you want to pay the back taxes from it being previously in farm land. And, no, I don't believe you have to have a working farm to have it in farm land. We have fields that we own and hay. That is all it's used for and yes, this is less than 20 contiguous acres. I would encourage you continue to pay the taxes as if it were still in farm land until it is settled. Hope this helps.
Patience is worth a bushel of brains...from a chinese fortune cookie |
| Dorinda |
Posted - Feb 12 2012 : 11:38:49 AM
Thanks ladies for all your information and help. I have been reading the sites that you offered.
Seize The Day!
Dorinda |
| msdoolittle |
Posted - Feb 12 2012 : 11:30:56 AM
Dorinda,
I hope this will help as it is specific to Florida ag exemption law. The Brevard Co. appraiser states: "On tracts of 10 acres or less, it would take at least 6 head of cattle to verify a commercial operation."
Read the whole thing for more information. https://www.brevardpropertyappraiser.com/mainhtml/agric.asp
You may also appeal to the Value Adjustment Board, apparently, if you were denied your exemption. I don't understand about the 'profitable' thing, but apparently in FL, you must submit receipts to your appraisal office to obtain (possibly maintain?) your exemption. Anyway, it isn't that complicated in TX.
FarmGirl #1390
www.mylittlecountry.wordpress.com |
| oregonatural |
Posted - Feb 10 2012 : 3:24:13 PM
Dorinda, I came across a website today that I think will help you here. It focuses on financial and tax issues for small farmers and ranchers! Poppy Davis is the gal who runs the site. I found her on Twitter. Here's the link to her website: http://beginingfarmerrancher.wordpress.com/
My off-grid homestead blog: http://oregonnatural.blogspot.com/
ETSY Shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/OregonNatural
Blessings to you from my mountain girl heart! |
| kristin sherrill |
Posted - Feb 10 2012 : 10:21:23 AM
Ha! Make money? I had to laugh at that. We own 3 acres and borrow our neighbors almost 3 acre pasture. I had 2 cows at a time on the borrowed pasture. Sold them and bought sheep. I HOPE to make some money on the lambs. And I am going to raise some meat birds soon so hope to make money on them. You really have to be creative with less property. I am going to get some fencing up on the other side of the yard for the sheep to graze there awhile. They eat alot. I'd like to get some pigs this spring too. I can make money on them.
That is not right to have someone in office that doesn't know what they are doing. She needs to go and get someone else in there. I hate calling some place that I think will help me and they know nothing about what I am asking. It's not right. I hope you get it all straightened out.
kris
Happiness is simple. |
| oregonatural |
Posted - Feb 09 2012 : 09:33:35 AM
Dorinda, I know that it varies from state to state but most state laws are loosely based on the IRS definition and there is no minimum acreage as far as I know to claim a farm operation. The statues are so hard to read, but they should be available on-line for your state/county. Or you could just ask the Appraisers office for a written copy of the statute she is using to value your property. By law they have to provide one! And yes, you can make a profit on cows with less than 20 acres, (duh, what about dairy or small beef production) and yes at least here in Oregon we have filed as exempt, both for Ag and secondary Wood Lot when we only had 19 acres! Good luck! Keep us posted on what you find out.
Love On!
Susan
My off-grid homestead blog: http://oregonnatural.blogspot.com/
Blessings to you from my mountain girl heart! |
| Simply Satisfied |
Posted - Feb 09 2012 : 07:09:13 AM
My husband is in charge of taxes but I know we file all the farm stuff, just don't know what it is called. In Montana it is pretty easy to be listed as agricultural usually. We have 5.1 acres we raise steers (about 7) every year. My inlaws live just up the road and keep another 25 or so. They actually takeout steers on the winter so only one of us has to feed and water. We aren't really trying to make money but it helps us on the taxes and does make a little every year. We probably have an acre or so of yard then four that are cross fenced for the steers. I used to live in Washington state and there were permits and rules for everything. In Montana there are exponentially less rules so I am not sure my answer helps you but we do claim our farm and I thinking we pay taxes as agri. As well but not positive.
Emily
Farmgirl # 3591 |
