From Florida Forestry Association's Forestry Friday, 1/4/13: This week the federal government took action to avoid the much-talked about "fiscal cliff," but what does that mean to the forestry industry? In brief:
- Estate Taxes: Estate tax levels were permanently set at a $5 million individual exemption ($10 million for couples) and a 40 percent tax rate.
- Farm Bill: Current provisions that expired September 30th, 2012, were extended for one year. With some limitations, forest owners maintained access to needed tools through conservation programs.
- Capital Gains Taxes: Capital gains tax rates remain at 15 percent for individuals with an annual income less than $400,000 ($450,000 for couples). For those with higher incomes, the rate increases to 20 percent.
- Conservation Easement Tax Incentives: Tax incentives for conservation easements, which had ended in 2011, were retroactively extended through 2013.
- Spending Cuts to Forest Programs: Across the board cuts on all federal spending, originally scheduled to be enacted January 1, were delayed for two months.
- Payroll Taxes: The payroll tax was temporarily reduced in 2010 from 6.2 percent to 4.2 percent. The reduction expired Dec. 31, 2012, when neither side in Congress moved to extend it. Employers will not be affected because their side of the equation was never reduced; employees' take-home pay will decrease, however. Households making $45,000, for example, can expect to pay $900 more in taxes this year.
2012 TAX TIPS FOR FOREST LANDOWNERS NOW AVAILABLE
Tax Tips for forest landowners for preparation of 2012 tax returns available at: http://www.fs.fed.us/spf/coop/programs/loa/tax.shtml.
SUPPORT THE NEW AUSTIN CARY FOREST LEARNING CENTER
A new Learning Center will be built to replace the Conference Center that burned in July 2011. More information about this new facility and how you can help are at this link:
http://sfrc.ifas.ufl.edu/Learning_Center/fundraising.html
FWC REQUESTS REPORTS OF PANTHER AND CHIPMUNK SIGHTINGS
Report chipmunk sightings here: https://public.myfwc.com/hsc/chipmunk/getlatlong.aspx
Report panther sightings here: https://public.myfwc.com/hsc/PantherSightings/getlatlong.aspx
COYOTES VS BOBCATS: WHAT ARE THEY EATING?
Over the next 3 years (2012-2014), the University of Florida will be conducting a study of coyote and bobcat diets in Florida. Of particular interest is the importance of popular wildlife species, including white-tailed deer, turkeys, and bobwhite quail, livestock, and pets in the diet of these predators. Diets will be determined by examining the stomach contents of coyotes and bobcats legally harvested or obtained in Florida. We are asking for your help in obtaining legally acquired coyote and bobcat carcasses, with or without pelts. We will also accept coyote and bobcat stomachs and intestines if you cannot store the whole carcass. If you have at least 5 animals that you would like to provide us, you can contact Lauren Watine (352-846-0558; lnwatine@ufl.edu) or Bill Giuliano (352-846-0575; docg@ufl.edu) at the University of Florida to arrange for pickup. If you have fewer than 5 animals or are going to be coming through Gainesville, arrangements can be made to get carcasses from you at the University or combine your animals with others in your area for a pickup. Carcasses or stomachs and intestines should be frozen in a suitable bag or container, and include the name of contributor, animal sex, date harvested/obtained, and location harvested/obtained. We have obtained a permit from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission for this project, and will keep information provided by you for this project anonymous to the extent possible by law. We greatly appreciate your help with this valuable study!
FORESTRY AND NATURAL RESOURCES WEBINARS
For a calendar of upcoming webinars in a variety of land management topics see:
http://www.forestrywebinars.net/webinar-calendar/month#.T-zLkBhgZys.blogger
ONLINE EVENTS / EDUCATIONAL VIDEOS
http://www.sfrc.ufl.edu/Extension/florida_forestry_information/events_calendar/online_events.html
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