Tennessee (Summary)
Last Updated: March 2020
Tax Type: Current Use Tax (based on productivity value)
Description: Landowners may apply for special appraisal based on their land's productivity value rather than what the land would sell for on the open market.
Law: Texas Tax Code ยงยง 23.71-79, 23.9801-9807, 23.59, 23.521
Principal Forest Property Tax Incentive Program
Objective: Typically, a productivity value is lower than market value, which lowers property taxes. Open-space land devoted to timber production is entitled to taxation on the basis of its productive capacity.
Program Requirements
Min/Max Acreage: N/A
Min. Stocking Growth: N/A
Forest Management Plan: Plan is not required for Timberland for Productivity Appraisal classification, although intent to devote property to production of timber and forest products is supported by the existence of a forest management plan; For Restricted Use Timberland Classification, management plan is required for guidance of use and management activities in aesthetic management zones, critical wildlife habitat zones, and streamside management zones.
Duration of Enrollment: N/A
Penalties for Use Change: Tax imposed equal to the difference between the taxes imposed on the land for each of the five years preceding the year in which the change of use occurs and the tax that would have been imposed, plus interest at a rate of 7%.
Program Administration
State: Division of Property Tax Assistance of Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts (compile and publish timber productivity value table); Texas A&M Forest Service (determines eligibility for special forest zones under the Restricted Use Timberland classification upon requests from chief appraisers; provides inputs to the Comptroller's office about timber stumpage prices, timberland management costs estimates, and annual timber growth)
County Tax Assessor: Determines validity of application
University: N/A
Landowner: N/A
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