Best way to start on ag exemption? (credit card, home equity)

[Biscuits]

Originally Posted by TexasHorseLady

I read it. I actually read it back when I was doing research for defending my ag exemption.

Thus, if you read the steps in the article you attached and then posted, filling out the application is NOT the first step. The first step is to get the land in ag production to the intensity common to the area and keep it that way for the required period of time , and to make sure you're doing that correctly and not wasting any time/money/energy, it's useful to talk to the extension agent. After you've been doing that for five years, THEN you fill out the application.

That's correct; assuming you have not been meeting either definition for the requisite lengths of time. Also, the "intensity" requirement is not part of 1-d if one chooses to go that route. It also only takes 3 years rather than 5.

[TexasHorseLady]

Well, the OP stated that he wanted the first step to start the "(long) ag exemption process" (his words). I read that to mean that he hadn't put the land into the kind of use that would qualify, but I could, indeed, be wrong on that one. OP?

[Biscuits]

Originally Posted by TexasHorseLady

Well, the OP stated that he wanted the first step to start the "(long) ag exemption process" (his words). I read that to mean that he hadn't put the land into the kind of use that would qualify, but I could, indeed, be wrong on that one. OP?

If it were me, I'd want to see how detailed the TCAD satellite image of my property was and then I'd determine what I may or may not have been using the land for for the past several years.

[TexasHorseLady]

You need to talk to your county agent and perhaps your county ag appraiser. It sounds like whoever told you that was talking about a 1.d.1 wildlife management ag, but if that's the case,the property needs to have its ag for five years before it can convert to wildlife management.

Does this not qualify for a Religious Organization Property Tax Exemption?

[Trainwreck20]

Does this not qualify for a Religious Organization Property Tax Exemption?

I was curious about this too, but after a (albeit brief) look at the laws, it looks like it probably cannot. The exempt property for churches looks like it is pretty much limited to the place of worship and associated parking lots. There are some other restrictions, too, which would limit the commercial use (such as hunting) even if the other criteria were met.

[verybadgnome]

So what is the purpose of the ag exemption anyway? Do other productive uses of land get similar incentives?

[TexasHorseLady]

For example?

[verybadgnome]

Originally Posted by TexasHorseLady

For example?

I don't know maybe a junk yard, wind farm, metal fabricator, or some other light industrial. It's always an advantageous thing for stakeholders such as taxpayers to question the benefits of economic incentives. For example, Austin Prop 2 was such a question.

[Driftwood1]

I didnt see anywhere if you plan a house on the property, or if there is one or not, but one thing to be aware of, you cannot use ANY equity of a house on AG exempt land! Period. If you ever need a home equity loan, or want to re-finance and cash out. etc, You cant.
You would need to survey out, and re-plat the home and the homestead its on, complete with its own parcel number...and re-apply for the AG since the affected parcel changed, so do it right the first time, keep a house and homestead utterly separate if you think you might ever need its equity.
(of course, with banking the way it is, perhaps a box in the barn is a safer bet for youre money!)

Cheers

Originally Posted by Austin97

I have 20 acres in the city and want to start the (long) ag exemption process. Any suggestions on how to begin?

[TexasHorseLady]

In Williamson, if you have a house on the land, that house and one acre are automatically considered to not qualify for ag exemption. In fact, there was some uproar recently because they were automatically assuming that one acre was going to have a house on it (even if there were no plans to do so) and taxing one acre randomly at market value.