It's so hot....

[foreman Etexas]

I think some of you may have misinterpreted the meaning of my original post. I have no issue with true working ranches or farms getting ag exemption. Likewise, I have no issue with someone using a piece of property to make a supplemental income from agricultural endeavors getting ag exemption. I thought since in my post I put the word ranch in quotation marks, I would get my meaning across. Maybe I should have used the word ranchette.

I was referring to the recreational property owner with 10 or so acres, that in order to avoid paying their fair share of property taxes, puts a couple of donkeys on the land to "qualify" for ag exemption. I think in some counties recreational horses; pets in other words, also qualify but I'm not sure. These are the same type that have a pickup that 99% of the time is used to drive from their suburb home to their office job but they have farm use license plates because they have a weekend ranchette.

I'd think the school funding issue could be helped quite a lot if these recreational properties were taxed as they should be. I have a weekend place and I pay taxes on it. I have no intention of trying to get ag exemption. There is a legal right and an ethical right.

OK, I'm stepping off my soapbox now.

For land to be granted agricultural classification, the use of the land must be primarily for bona fide commercial agriculture
Shouldnt be able to get AG exempt with 2 donkeys. Use must be "commercial," meaning done with a profit motive or intent to make a profit.However, it is not enough to grow fruit or vegetables for your own use or keep a pet cow or only your own horses for pleasure or sport.

 

[B2320]

I saw the original post and learned just another reason why I should of included a backhoe with my Kubota tractor purchase:laughing:

 

[Danner]

I think some of you may have misinterpreted the meaning of my original post. I have no issue with true working ranches or farms getting ag exemption. Likewise, I have no issue with someone using a piece of property to make a supplemental income from agricultural endeavors getting ag exemption. I thought since in my post I put the word ranch in quotation marks, I would get my meaning across. Maybe I should have used the word ranchette.

I was referring to the recreational property owner with 10 or so acres, that in order to avoid paying their fair share of property taxes, puts a couple of donkeys on the land to "qualify" for ag exemption. I think in some counties recreational horses; pets in other words, also qualify but I'm not sure. These are the same type that have a pickup that 99% of the time is used to drive from their suburb home to their office job but they have farm use license plates because they have a weekend ranchette.

I'd think the school funding issue could be helped quite a lot if these recreational properties were taxed as they should be. I have a weekend place and I pay taxes on it. I have no intention of trying to get ag exemption. There is a legal right and an ethical right.

OK, I'm stepping off my soapbox now.

Trust me, AG exemptions are difficult to get. And, I admire anybody who finds a lawful way to avoid paying taxes. A dollar less in the government's hand is about 80｢ of saved waste.

 

[bikerdib]

For land to be granted agricultural classification, the use of the land must be primarily for bona fide commercial agriculture
Shouldnt be able to get AG exempt with 2 donkeys. Use must be "commercial," meaning done with a profit motive or intent to make a profit.However, it is not enough to grow fruit or vegetables for your own use or keep a pet cow or only your own horses for pleasure or sport.

"Shouldn't be able to" I agree with, but I know of lots of people that have done just what I talked about. My cousin is one of those. He bought an old weekend place from me. 12.7 acres of wooded land. He put 2 donkeys on it and after 5 years now has ag exemption. His case is not extraordinary. Lots and lots of people have done the very same thing. Ag exemption is a very abused program, in many cases, granted where it really shouldn't be.

 

[bigbull338]

i know some farmstores are real tight when it comes to ag exempt.i was in TSC the other day an bought i think 70 T post an 5 rolls of barbed wire.an the checker asked if it was farm use,an i goes if it wasnt why would i being buying post an barbed wire.2 was before i was in an bought the same amont of stuff.

 

[foreman Etexas]

"Shouldn't be able to" I agree with, but I know of lots of people that have done just what I talked about. My cousin is one of those. He bought an old weekend place from me. 12.7 acres of wooded land. He put 2 donkeys on it and after 5 years now has ag exemption. His case is not extraordinary. Lots and lots of people have done the very same thing. Ag exemption is a very abused program, in many cases, granted where it really shouldn't be.

Sounds like someone needs to be turned in!!! If I seen it happening I wouldnt miss a lick turning them in and get them audited.""Face severe criminal and monetary penalties,its no joke if they get caught.""Its funny how someone takes the chance to save a few bucks for going to prision(12ac.probaly 4-$500 a year savings,thats $37dollars a mnth).

 

[Bird]

I don't know what the laws are now, but in the mid-90s I think it was entirely up to your local tax assessor/appraisor as to whether you got an ag appraisal. So I'm sure it was different in different counties in Texas.

 

[Baby Grand]

I'd think the school funding issue could be helped quite a lot if these recreational properties were taxed as they should be. I have a weekend place and I pay taxes on it. I have no intention of trying to get ag exemption. There is a legal right and an ethical right.

OK, I'm stepping off my soapbox now.

Please stay on your soapbox for as long as your legs will last. That's an important distinction that you made between what is due, ethically vs legally. The legal part can be changed faster than a career criminal can change his story. The ethical part never changes. We need to keep that in mind every time we make a decision that affects other people. Neighbors helping neighbors, as someone said.