Agricultural

Agricultural Valuation

What Land Qualifies?

Taxpayers may qualify for agricultural productivity valuation under two different laws. The newer law is called “open-space valuation” or “1-d-1 appraisal” (after Article 8, Section 1-d-1 of the Texas Constitution). Both individual and corporate owners are eligible under this provision if the land is used for a qualified purpose. Nearly all land that receives productivity valuation is under this law.

An older law — known as “1-d” or “agricultural use” appraisal — is available only to individual owners who derive the majority of their income from farming or ranching.

For “1-d-1 appraisal,” the land must meet the following:

• The land must be devoted principally to commercial agricultural use. Agricultural use includes production of crops, livestock, poultry, fish or cover crops. It also can include leaving the land idle for a government program or for normal crop or livestock rotation. Land used for raising certain exotic animals (including exotic birds) to produce human food or other items of commercial value and cutting wood for use in fences or structures on adjacent agricultural land also qualifies. Land which has been receiving agricultural productivity valuation may qualify as wildlife management land provided it is used in at least three of seven specific ways to propagate or maintain a population of indigenous wild animals for human use. Rules related to wildlife use may be obtained from SCAD by calling (254) 559-8233.
• Timberland must be used with the intent to produce income and be devoted principally to the production of timber.
• Both agricultural land and timberland must be devoted to commercial production at a level of intensity that is common in the local area. The chief appraiser, with input from an agricultural appraisal advisory board composed of local agricultural and timber producers, determines the level or degree of intensity applicable to each type of agricultural or timber use.
• The land must have been devoted to agricultural and/or timber production for at least five of the past seven years.

It’s important to know that if you just stop using the land for an agriculture purpose you may not be issued a rollback on your property. The only two reasons for a rollback to be issued on a piece of land is if the land is platted into a subdivision or something commercial is built on the land. REMEMBER, STOPPAGE OF USE IS NOT NECESSARILY A CHANGE OF USE.

If your land qualified for agricultural appraisal and you change its use to a non-agricultural use (subdivision or commercial), you will owe a rollback tax for each of the previous three years in which your land received the lower appraisal. The rollback tax is the difference between the taxes you paid on your land’s agricultural value and the taxes you would have paid if the land had been taxed on its higher market value. Plus, 5-percent interest is charged for each year from the date that the taxes would have been due.

The chief appraiser determines if a change to a non-agricultural use has been made and sends a notice of the change. If you disagree, you may file a protest with the ARB. You must file the protest within 30 days of the date the notice was mailed to you. The ARB decides your case.

If you don’t protest or if the ARB decides against you, you owe the rollback tax.

The owner who changes the use of the land gets the bill for the rollback tax.

How to File for Agricultural Appraisal

1. Get an application form at the appraisal district office.
2. Fill out the form completely and return it to the appraisal district office after January 1, but no later than April 30. Remember, making false statements on your application is a criminal offense.
3. If your property is valued by more than one appraisal district, you must file an application in each appraisal district office. If you do not you could end up paying taxes on your property’s full market value to one or more taxing units. This occurs when your property is in a taxing unit that is also in a neighboring county. Contact the appraisal district if you are not sure.
4. If you need more time to complete your application form, submit a written request to the chief appraiser before the April 30 deadline. The chief appraiser can grant up to 60 extra days if you have a good reason for needing extra time.
5. If you miss the April 30 deadline, you may file an application any time before the appraisal review board approves the appraisal records (usually about July 20). However, in such a case, you will be charged a penalty for filing late. The penalty is 10 percent of the tax saving you obtained by getting agricultural appraisal for your land. Once the appraisal review board approves the records, you can’t apply for agricultural appraisal for that year.
6. If the chief appraiser asks you for more information, you will have at least 30 days to reply. You may ask for more time but you must have a good reason. If you don’t reply the chief appraiser must deny your application.
7. If the chief appraiser denies or modifies your agricultural appraisal, he or she must tell you in writing within five days. This notice must explain how you can protest.
8. Once you receive agricultural appraisal, you don’t have to apply again in the following years unless your qualifications change. However, the chief appraiser may request a new application to verify that you still meet the qualifications. If you get a notice to reapply, be sure to do so. If you don’t, you will lose your eligibility. If you become the owner of land that is already qualified, you must reapply in your own name by April 30. If you don’t you will lose your eligibility. You must notify the appraisal district in writing by April 30 if your land’s eligibility changes. Failure to do so results in a penalty charge.
9. The agricultural appraisal is based on an estimate of the typical annual income during the five-year period preceding the year before the appraisal. The agricultural appraisal may change annually based on this income and the capitalization rate.

• Current Ag Manual
• Stephens County Appraisal District Policy on Special Values
• Guidelines for Beekeeping
• APPLY NOW

ajudkins@stephenscad.com (Ag, Wildlife Management Property)
taxpayerconnection@stephenscad.com  (For all other inquiries.)