Posted: 1/4/2010 3:10:22 PM
Hanover County landowners who use their property for agricultural, horticultural or forestal uses or keep it in open space are invited to enroll in the Land Use Taxation Program. Under this program, qualified landowners can have their property assessed at “use value”, which may be lower than market value and reduce their taxes.

The application period for this program begins January 4, 2010 and extends through February 1, 2010.

In order to qualify for the tax deduction, the property must be zoned for agricultural uses and have been in agricultural, horticultural, forest or open space uses for at least five years. Property that has been zoned Rural Conservation (RC) also can qualify for the Land Use program.

The minimum qualifying acreages are five acres for agricultural, horticultural and open space and 20 acres for forest use. A one-acre house site is allowed in all categories. Requirements and values are established by the State Land Evaluation Advisory Council.

If the land use is changed, the tax reduction must be repaid with simple interest for the current tax year and a maximum of the previous five tax years. Participants with acreage or use changes must re-apply and re-validate their eligibility. Re-validation is also required after six years even if there is no change in land use. There is no charge for this re-validation.

A $10 filing fee is charged on each new application. Applications will not be accepted if there are any delinquent taxes on the property.

For more information about the Land Use Program or other tax relief programs offered by Hanover County, call the Commissioner of the Revenue at 804-365-6125