Tax Tips for Forest Landowners
By Greg Fry
USDA Forest Service
It's that time of year again? federal income tax season! Family forest owners may be thinking about how to report income or deductions associated with their forest land in 2025. Perhaps they are considering how the changes in tax law enacted in 2025 may impact them. Or, they may be considering the tax implications of forest management, timber harvest, or other activities they have planned for 2026 and beyond. Whatever the case, the newly updated Tax Tips for Forest Landowners: 2025 Tax Year, published by the USDA Forest Service in partnership with Extension faculty from the Universities of Georgia (Dr. Yanshu Li) and Florida (Dr. Tammy Cushing), is a great place to start. This brief publication is designed to assist family forest owners and their tax advisers, by highlighting some of the most common tax provisions affecting forest landowners each year, as well as some of the major changes from year to year.
And since we're talking about taxes, perhaps you, extension professionals, are interested in joining a dialogue about the role of taxation in natural resource conservation? More specifically, the Forest and Rangeland Taxation Meeting at Duke University (Durham, NC) August 4-5, 2026 will explore federal, state, and local tax policies that could impact land retention, conservation outcomes, and sustainable management, while addressing gaps in implementation, understanding, and real-world effectiveness. The meeting aims to bring together researchers, extension and education professionals, policymakers, and practitioners to explore both familiar and emerging issues related to tax law, markets, and societal trends that influence land management decisions. Registration and a call for proposals to present at the meeting are currently open. Hope to see you there!
