Do I Have My Land in Check?

States in the U. S. approve and allow property tax exemptions for many different purposes. Some land uses, such as land used for state and federal facilities, land used for religious or non-profit organizations, land owned by the elderly or infirmed, etc., qualify for such exemptions. One such exemption, occurring primarily in the State of Texas, is the use of land for wildlife management.

Through this tax exemptions program, land owners are allowed an exemption of property taxes on land that is used to maintain wildlife. There are many regulations pertaining to and upholding this law. Land owners are required to have a working knowledge of the rules and regulations and the requirements thereof. Periodic reports must be made to both wildlife management programs and taxing authorities. Regulations require periodic census reports to include historic, actual and projected animal counts together with migration and wintering time frames.

The land owner must certify that the land is to be used for indigenous or native wild animals. Those providing managerial services must be knowledgeable of the breed of animal and be willing to provide an area of habitat and safe haven. This wildlife must be native animals that migrate through or winter in the local area. The land owner may be required to provide water, food or shelter depending on the supply that is available in the wild. No such exemptions are made for exotic or imported animals.

An additional requirement for this endeavor is that the wildlife must be maintained for the use of humans. These uses could include recreational activities, human consumption or medical uses.

In addition to having to certify the authenticity of the wildlife management activities, the landowner must qualify by and through the local tax assessor. Understanding of the federal, state and local guidelines for these activities and the qualifications for these tax exemptions is no easy task. Landowners may need to seek the services of wildlife management experts to better understand the needs of the animals. These experts can clarify the regulations governing the quality and quantity of attention required by the wildlife, the necessary food supplements and the required shelter.

It may also be necessary for anyone pursuing this type of facility to contact tax accountants or other tax specialists in order to obtain and maintain a tax exemption for the land use of wildlife management. These landowners must adhere to these legal guidelines in order to keep their land in check.

Peter Wendt is a freelance writer and recent landowner living in Austin, Texas. AFter the purchase of his new property, Wendt made sure to get a property tax consultation with a Texas wildlife management company to make sure that all of his interests were represented by a professional. Wendt was very pleased with the outcome and highly recommends their services.