Wisconsin Ag Connection - Rural Landowners Encouraged to Watch Tax Assessments

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Rural Landowners Encouraged to Watch Tax Assessments
Wisconsin Ag Connection - 03/26/2019

The state's largest farm organization is urging rural landowners to check their property tax assessments this spring to ensure their property is accurately classified. Wisconsin Farm Bureau Governmental Relations Director Karen Gefvert says agricultural land is subject to the use-value assessment law, and is further classified as Grades 1, 2 or 3, or pastureland.

"Land on Wisconsin farms generally falls into one of five classifications," Gefvert said. "Farmers need to be aware of how the various types of land they own are classified in order to determine how assessments apply."

In addition to whole ag property, Agricultural Forest is assessed at 50 percent of market value. This includes woodlots located on a parcel also containing Agricultural Land, or wooded land contiguous to a parcel entirely classified as Agricultural Land under the same ownership.

Productive Forest Land is a wooded area that does not meet qualifications as Agricultural Forest and is assessed at market value. And Undeveloped Land is a classification that encompasses wetlands, swamps and wasteland, all of which are assessed at 50 percent of market value.

Gefvert says tax assessment statements for municipalities are typically issued in April and May to notify landowners of changes in assessments. She encourages farmers who have questions about their assessments to talk with their local assessor.

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