Idaho (Summary)
Last Updated: March 2020
Tax Type: Current Use and Yield Tax
Description: Small woodland owners have two options: 1) Bare Land and Yield Tax system; and 2) Productivity Tax system. Large woodland owners are taxed under the Productivity Tax System.
Objective: Encourage private forest landowners to retain and improve their holdings of forest lands and to promote better forest management.
Principal Forest Property Tax Incentive Programs:
1. Program legal-common name: General property tax (Bare Land and Yield Tax program (BL&Y))
Law: I.C. §§ 63-1703, 63-1706
Description: The Bare Land and Yield Tax system requires that the landowner pay a yearly tax based on the present value of his bare forestland plus a 3% yield tax on the stumpage value at the time of harvest. State is divided into 4 Forest Value Zones, and each district is rated good, fair or poor for producing wood fiber. Yield tax is 3% of stumpage value at the time of harvest.
Program Requirements
Min/Max Acreage: 5-5,000 acres, whether contiguous or not, as long as held in common ownership
Min. Stocking Growth: N/A
Forest Management Plan: N/A
Duration of Enrollment: 10 years
Evidence of Use: State Tax Commission is authorized to examine condition of forest land and associated landowner records.
Penalties for Use Change: Payment of deferred taxes up to 10 years
Program Administration
State: State Tax Commission
County Tax Assessor and Commissioner: County assessors determine the eligibility.
University: N/A
Landowners: Landowners apply to the county assessor. They can choose forest taxation systems in the designation year (every 10 years).
2. Program legal-common name: General property tax (Productivity Tax system)
Law: I.C. § 63-1705
Description: Productivity system is a property tax based on the ability of the land to produce an annual income from wood products. State is divided into 4 Forest Value Zones, and each district is rated good, fair or poor for producing wood fiber. The forest landowner will pay property taxes amounting to about 1% of the productivity values. The yield tax does not apply to timber harvested from land in this option.
Program Requirements
Min/Max Acreage: 5 - 5,000 acres (choice between Bare Land and Yield Tax or Productivity Tax); over 5,000 acres (subject to Productivity Tax)
Min. Stocking Growth: N/A
Forest Management Plan: N/A
Duration of Enrollment: 10 years
Evidence of Use: N/A
Penalties for Use Change: Payment of deferred taxes up to 10 years.
Program Administration
State: State Tax Commission
County Tax Assessor and Commissioner: County assessors determine the eligibility.
University: N/A
Landowners: Landowners apply to the county assessor. Small landowners can choose forest taxation systems in the designation year (every 10 years).
For a more in depth discussion of Idaho property taxes click here!