Farmers Should Do Income Tax Planning Before Year Ends

By CnAgri Print

Agricultural producers should do tax planning before the end of the year based on the information known at this time. Traditionally, producers try to do tax planning to limit their tax liability. With uncertainty in Congress, tax rates may be higher in 2013 than 2012. If so, it may be best not to defer as much income to 2013.

"In tax planning, it is best to start with year-to-date income and expenses and estimate them for the remainder of the year," says Ron Haugen, North Dakota State University Extension Service farm economist. "Do not forget any income that was deferred to 2012 from a previous year.

"Depreciation also needs to be estimated," he says. "It is best to try to spread out income and expenses so producers don't have abnormally high or low income orexpenses in any one year. However, caution should be used in deferring too much income into future years because it may push you into a higher tax bracket."

These are items to note for planning 2012 tax returns:

-- The section 179 expense election is $139,000 for 2012. It generally allows producers to deduct up to $139,000 of new or used machinery or equipmentpurchased in the tax year. There is a dollar-for-dollar phase-out for purchases above $560,000. The section 179 expense election is scheduled to revert to $25,000 for 2013 unless Congress acts. The reduction in this provision greatly affects the ability for producers to reduce taxable income.

-- The additional first-year bonus depreciation is available for 2012. It is available for new property with a recovery period of 20 years or less. It is equal to 50 percent of the adjusted basis after any section 179 expensing. It is scheduled to expire Dec. 31, 2012.

-- Income averaging can be used by producers to spread the tax liability to lower income tax brackets in the three previous years. This is done on schedule J. North Dakota farmers who elect to use income averaging for federal purposes also may use Form ND 1FA (income averaging) for North Dakota income tax calculations.

-- Crop insurance proceeds and government crop disaster payments can be deferred to the next tax year if a producer is a cash-basis taxpayer and can show that normally income from damaged crops would be included in a tax year following the year of the damage.

-- A livestock deferral can be done for those who had a forced sale of livestock because of a weather-related disaster.

Here is what producers can do before the end of the year to limit their tax liability:

-- Prepay farm expenses. Feed, fertilizer, seed and similar expenses can be prepaid. Typically, discounts are received by paying for these expenses in the fall. Producers can deduct prepaid expenses that do not exceed 50 percent of their other deductible farm expenses.

-- Pay real estate taxes or interest. Paying taxes or interest can be done before the end of the year to increase 2012 expenses.

-- Defer income to 2013. Crop and livestock sales can be deferred until the next year by using a deferred payment contract. Most grain elevators or sales barns will defer sales until the next tax year. Producers should be aware that they are at risk if the business becomes insolvent before the check is received and cashed.

-- Purchase machinery or equipment. Machinery or equipment purchases can be made before the end of the year to get a depreciation or 179 expense deduction in 2012.