New Federal Law Gives Fairer Tax Benefit for Voluntary Conservation Agreements
Congress recently passed a new law that enhances the tax benefits of protecting private land for many landowners.  The legislation improves the tax incentive for conservation easements by allowing conservation easement donors to:

• Deduct up to 50% of their adjusted gross income in any year (up from 30%);
• Deduct up to 100% of their adjusted gross income if the majority of that income came from farming, ranching or forestry; and
• Continue to take deductions for as long as 16 years (up from 6 years).  

Congress also passed tighter appraisal standards for such gifts, and stronger penalties for appraisers who violate the standards.
The Land Trust Alliance (LTA) led the effort to get Congress to approve this new law.  LTA is a national organization that sets national standards for conservation organizations like ours, provides training and networking opportunities, and represents the land trust community in Washington, DC.  The Arizona Open Land Trust has been a member of LTA since 1999.

Each day we are touched by the generous and inspired landowners who work with us.  The new law will make it easier for others in our community to build on their love of the land and permanently protect southern Arizona’s natural areas and wildlife habitat.