Contact land trusts and government agencies that work to assist landowners in your community who are interested in conservation. Get to know their policies and services, and discuss what you'd like to accomplish on your land and what rights you'd like to keep.
Land conservation is the long-term protection and management of unused or underused land resources, such as open space, farmland, and forest land.
A popular fundraising program is the sale of donated property. Charities may also use donated property in their tax-exempt programs.
Real Estate Donation A landowner may be interested in gifting a property to a charity or land trust. When a charity or land trusts accepts a real estate donation, the landowner can deduct the fair market value of the land from his or her federal taxes.
A conservation easement is just one of many options. You may also donate or sell property, donate or sell development rights, or do a bargain sale with a land trust. The opportunity of a permanent conservation easement can protect a family farm or ranch, allowing for future generations to continue in agriculture.
Determining the value of donated property de- pends upon many factors. You should consider all the facts and circumstances connected with the property, including any recent transactions, in determining value. Value may also be based on desirability, use, condition, scarcity, and mar- ket demand for that property.
Individuals may deduct qualified contributions of up to 100 percent of their adjusted gross income. A corporation may deduct qualified contributions of up to 25 percent of its taxable income. Contributions that exceed that amount can carry over to the next tax year.
Let's look at a few scenarios of how an easement may impact your property. Less control over access and usage. Easements impact who has access to your property. The servient property owner cannot block the use of the easement.
If a conservation easement calls for public access, as many do, it is often the landowner who must consider the increased liability and look at buying more insurance to protect them. The landowner may also be tasked with protecting the easement holder, should an issue arise.
No one in the family wanted to continue farming so there was no one to take on the legacy. They didn't want it to become something they did not want it to be, so they had it converted to a conservation easement.