On August 23, 2018, the IRS released new proposed tax regulations that penalize Virginia conservation easement donors for receiving the land preservation tax credit. This new rule significantly reduces the tax benefits that Virginia landowners will receive for donating a conservation easement. Continue reading Proposed SALT Regulation Reduces Conservation Easement Tax Deductions
Congress
The U.S. Congress has the final say on any proposed legislation that will affect the federal tax deductions that are associated with the donations of conservation easements or that will affect the federal funding levels for various conservation-focused programs, such as the National Park System. Thus, Congress plays a fairly important role in incentivizing land conservation. Read the posts that follow for more information on Congress’s latest doings. You might also wish to visit the “Politics” category page.
Enhanced Conservation Easement Tax Incentive Reinstated, Made Permanent
After more than eleven months of limbo, the enhanced conservation easement tax incentive was reinstated and made permanent as part of the Congressional budget deal on December 18, 2015. This federal tax incentive provides preferential treatment to donations of conservation easements that ordinary charitable donations do not receive. Let’s take a closer look at the history of the enhanced tax incentive and how the enhanced tax incentive benefits donors of conservation easements. Continue reading Enhanced Conservation Easement Tax Incentive Reinstated, Made Permanent
What Is This “Kerr Lake” of Which You Speak?
On Friday, January 16, 2015, a story ran on the Associated Press (AP) wire reporting that Virginia State Senator Frank M. Ruff, Jr. had introduced legislation to permit state agencies to refer to Buggs Island Lake as “Kerr Lake” or the “John H. Kerr Reservoir.” The story was quickly picked up by several regional news outlets, including the Richmond Times-Dispatch, WRAL TV-5 out of Raleigh, North Carolina, and WTOP 103.5 FM out of Washington, D.C. This legislation might seem somewhat random without knowing the historical background, so let’s delve into the sometimes controversial history behind the John H. Kerr Reservoir. Continue reading What Is This “Kerr Lake” of Which You Speak?