Producers and landowners in need of tax management tips can get farm income tax management fact sheets from the Ohio State University Extension.
Topic areas include government payment programs, income averaging, home office deduction, frequently asked ag questions and conservation programs.
The conservation program fact sheets, new this year, describe various USDA-sponsored soil and water conservation programs making available cost-share payments that may be deductible or excluded from income.
"The information attempts to illustrate that not all conservation program expense items are treated the same way," says Robert Fleming, an Ohio State Extension Farm Management District Specialist.
For example, most conservation programs, such as the Conservation Reserve Program and the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program, are eligible for expense deductions, but cannot be excluded from a farmer's income. Other programs, such as the Wildlife Habitat Program and the Forestry Incentives Program, can be excluded from a farmer's income, but the expenses cannot be deducted.
Fleming said that farmers should be aware of which programs their income and expenses fall under for proper reporting.
Another area that receives frequent questions is how to properly report the use of farm trucks. Fleming said that several factors are involved that may affect the allowable depreciation of a farm truck, including the vehicle's gross weight and its potential designation as "listed property," if it is not used more than 50 percent of the time in a business.
"There are many farmers who use their vehicles for personal travel, as well as business. This newsletter is designed for those who use their vehicles for business purposes only," said Fleming.
To receive the tax factsheets, contact your local Ohio State Extension office or log on to http://northwest.osu.edu and click under "farm management."