Estate Planning and Taxation
Overview
Estate planning is the development of a system to transfer the ownership of property to others in a manner that achieves the goals of the original property owner. These goals often include minimizing estate tax liability, succession of the family business or farm, equitable distribution of property among family members, donation to one or more charities, and ensuring the financial security of a surviving spouse. Agricultural estate planning can be an especially complex endeavor. The proper estate plan is unique to the facts and circumstances involved in each situation based on business goals, familial relationships, and tax considerations. While individual state laws may impact the effectiveness or availability of certain planning devices, business entities, and rules governing succession of property, the Internal Revenue Code primarily governs the major tax issues associated with estate planning. Read the full overview
Note: Recently added resources are posted at the top of the applicable sections.
Major Statutes
Internal Revenue Code (IRC) Estate and Gift Taxes, 26 U.S.C. §§ 2001-2704
United States Tax Court Rules of Practice and Procedure
Uniform Probate Code (UPC)
Regulations
Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Estate Tax Regulations, 26 C.F.R. pt. 20
IRS Gift Tax Regulations, 26 C.F.R. pt. 25
IRS Gift Tax Regulations, 26 C.F.R. pt. 26
Search Federal Register Regulations
Case Law
Case Law Index for Estate Planning and Taxation
Administrative Law Decisions
Internal Revenue Bulletins (IRS)
IRS Actions on Decisions (AOD)
Center Research Publications
Planning for the Future of Your Farm (Hall et al., 2022)
Heirs Property in Arkansas (R. Rumley & Keith, 2021)
Intestate Succession and Agriculture (Mitchell & R. Rumley, 2020)
Differential Tax Assessment of Agricultural Lands (Bachelor & Hall, updated through Jan., 2019)
Forms and Filing Information: Business Organizations (Nat’l Agric. Res. Ctr., 2019)
Managing Legal Risk for Alternative Uses of Forestland (R. Rumley, et al. 2012)
Agricultural Estate Planning – PowerPoint Presentation (R. Rumley, 2011)
An Overview of Special Use Valuation Under 26 U.S.C.A. § 2032A (R. Rumley, 2011)
Farm Transition Planning – PowerPoint Presentation (Springsteen, 2010)
Legal Risk Management: Protecting Your Farm and Family – PowerPoint Presentation (Mirus, 2009)
Agricultural Contracts and the Leasing of Land – PowerPoint Presentation (R. Rumley, 2009)
Proper Handling of Disaster Payments, Crop Insurance and Livestock Sold (McEowen, 2003)
Should Potential Long-Term Health Care Needs Be a Part of Your Farm Estate Plan? (McEowen, 2003)
An Overview of Organizational and Ownership Options Available to Agricultural Enterprises: Part 1; Part 2 (Goforth, 2002)
Congressional Research Service Reports
Reports– published and made available by CRS beginning in 2017
CRS Subjects:
Recent Changes in the Estate and Gift Tax Provisions (RS42959, Gravelle)
COVID-19 and USDA Farm Loan Flexibilities (IN11415, Monke)
COVID-19-Related Loan Assistance for Agricultural Enterprises (IN11357, Dilger, Lowry & Lindsay)
Federal Disaster Assistance for Agriculture (IF10565, Stubbs)
U.S. Farm Income Outlook: February 2020 Forecast (R46249, Schnepf)
U.S. Farm Programs: Eligibility and Payment Limits (R46248, Schnepf & Stubbs)
Agricultural Law Bibliography
Introduction | Keyword Search | Browse Categories
Legal publications on Estate Planning and Taxation:
Corporate Farming (Restrictions on Corporate Farming/Family Farm Preservation)
Farm Policy and Legislative Analysis
Land Sales/Real Estate Finance, Mortgages/Foreclosures
Organizational Forms for Agriculture (Business Law and Development)
Water Rights: Agriculturally Related
Reference Resources
Economic Research Service (Homepage)
Topics: Farmland Ownership and Tenure
Topics: Farm Household Well-being
Topics: Land Use, Land Value & Tenure
Economic Returns to Farming for U.S. Farm Households (Prager, Tulma & Durst 2018)
Estimated Effects of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act on Farms and Farm Households (Williamson & Bawa, 2018)
Farmland Values, Land Ownership, and Returns to Farmland, 2000-2016 (Burns, et al., 2018)
Tax Policy Can Alter Farm Asset Investment Decisions (Williamson, 2017)
U.S. Farmland Ownership, Tenure, and Transfer (Bigelow, Borchers, & Hubbs, 2016)
The Potential Impact of Tax Reform on Farm Businesses and Rural Households (Williamson, Durst &, Farrigan, 2013)
Trends in U.S. Farmland Values and Ownership (Nickerson, et al., 2012)
Federal Tax Policies and Low-Income Rural Households (Durst & Farrigan, 2011)
Tax-deferred Exchanges of Farmland Provide Valuable Savings to Some Farmers (Williamson, Durst, & Brady, 2011)
Beginning Farmers and Ranchers (Ahearn & Newton, 2009)
Federal Estate Taxes Affecting Fewer Farmers but the Future is Uncertain (Durst, 2009)
Federal Tax Policies and Farm Households (Durst, 2009)
How Will the Phaseout of Federal Estate Taxes Affect Farmers? (Durst, 2002)
Effects of Federal Tax Policy on Agriculture (Durst & Monke, 2001)
Policy Issues in Rural Development: How Would Fundamental Tax Reform Affect Farmers? (Durst, 1999)
The Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997: Provisions for Farmers and Rural Communities (Monke and Durst, 1998)
Partial Interests in Land: Policy Tools for Resource Use and Conservation (Wiebe, Tegene, & Kuhn, 1996)
Valuation of Partial Interests in Land (1996)
Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
IRS Forms and Publications to Assist Farmers
IRS Farmers’ Tax Guide (2021)
Tax Information for Businesses
Treasury, IRS issue guidance to farmers on uniform capitalization rules (2020)
Other Federal Resources
A Guide for Farmers, Growers, and Crew Leaders (esto es traducido en español también) (Social Security Administration, 2021)
Estate Planning Resources (USDA, Nat. Institute of Food & Agric.)
farmers.gov (USDA)
Small and Mid-Sized Farmer Resources (USDA)
Transition Incentives Program (USDA Farm Service Agency)
USDA New Farmers Page (USDA New Farmers)
USDA Fund Homepage (USDA)
Publications
Planning the Future of Your Farm: A Workbook Supporting Farm Transfer Decisions, Virginia Edition (Virginia Cooperative Extension, 2017)
Update on the Use of Sec. 1031 and Sec. 1033 Like Kind Exchanges in Agriculture (Rattikin, 2017)
Farm Transition Planning: Helping Clients Deal with the Expected and the Unexpected (Ferrell, Jones & Hobbs, 2016)
Farm Transitions Toolkit (MN Institute for Sustainable Agriculture, 2013)
Farmland Preservation: An Estate Planning Tool (Lynch, MD Cooperative Extension, 2013)
Planning the Future of Your Farm: A Workbook Supporting Farm Transfer Decisions (Pennsylvania Farmlink, 2013)
Estate Planning for Farm Families (U. MD Ctr. for Agric. & Nat. Resource Pol’y, Mar., 2013)
Planning the Future of Your Farm and Forest: A Workbook Supporting Farm Transfer (NC Farm Transition Network )
Basic Estate Planning: Introduction (Skeeles & Cunningham, OH St. U., 2012)
Estate Planning for Forest Landowners: What Will Become of Your Timberland? (Siegel, Haney, & Greene, 2009)
Federal Tax Research Guide (Georgetown U. Law Ctr., 2009)
Glossary of Estate Planning Terms (Farmers’ Legal Action Group, 2006)
Managing Debt to Prepare for a Farm Transfer (Shoemaker, Farmers’ Legal Action Group, 2006)
Overview of 1031 Like-Kind Exchanges for Farmers (Shoemaker, Farmers’ Legal Action Group, 2006)
Topical Library (U. MN Nat. Ag Risk Edu. Library)
Additional Resources
Be Aware of Current Laws on Estate Taxes (Williamson, Successful Farming, 2022)
Keys to Successful Farm Transition Planning (Vyhnalek, Ctr for Agric. Profitability, U. NE, 2021)
Your Complete Guide to Farm Succession Planning (Farm Bureau Fin. Serv., 2020)
Farm and Ranch Estate and Business Planning in 2020 (Through 2025) (McEowen, 2020)
Farm Estate Planning — What You Need to Know (Baker, Open Advisors, Jan. 14, 2020)
Planning for the Future of Your Land (FL Land Steward, 2020)
Estate Planning Publications (MT St. U. Extension)
Law and Taxation: A Retrospective of 20 Years (Endres, Uchtmann, & Hoff, Dep’t of Agric. & Consumer Econ., U. IL farmdocDAILY, 2019)
Easements 101 (Conoly, 2018)
Highlights of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act for Agricultural Producers (Tidgren, 2018)
Succession Planning for Lawyers: The Ten Commandments (Ferrell, 2018)
Estate Planning and Potential Pitfalls (Vasser-Jenkins, Talk Business & Politics, 2017)
The Ag & Food Law Update (The Nat. Agric. Law Ctr. Blog) (Search “Estate Planning,” “Taxation,” and similar terms for relevant entries)
AgTransitions (U. MN Ctr for Farm Fin. Mgmt.)
Beginning Farmer Center (IA St. U. Extension & Outreach)
Beginning Farmers: An Online Resource for Farmers, Researchers and Policy Makers
Center for Agricultural Law and Taxation (IA St. U.)
Dying Without a Will in Montana Interactive Page (MT St. U.)
Estate and Gift Tax: An Overview (Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School)
Estate Planning (SD St. Extension)
Estate Planning: An Overview (Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School)
Estate Planning and Business Succession (MI St. U. Extension)
Estate Planning Defined (Hendrix, U. AR Div. of Agric. Research & Extension)
Estate Planning in North Dakota (ND St. U.)
Farm Succession and Estate Planning (Agric. & Natural Resources, U. DE)
Farm Transition and Estate Planning Program (U. MD Extension)
Financial Risk: Estate Planning (U. of WY Western Risk Mgmt LIbrary)
Florida Land Steward Program (FL Land Steward, U. FL)
Getting Ready for Estate Planning (Purdue Agric.)
Illinois Farmland Leasing and Rental Forms (U. IL farmdoc, Agric. Law)
Key Concepts & Steps in Agricultural Estate Planning (College of Agric., Biotech. & Natural Resources, U. NV, Reno)
Legacy Planning for Forest Landowners (VA Cooperative Extension)
National Association of Estate Planners & Councils
International Farm Transition Network
Planning for a Secure Retirement (Purdue Agric.)
Resources for Farm Transition Planning (VA Cooperative Extension Services)
State Statutes Dealing with Taxation (Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School)
Succession & Estate Planning (Farm Mgmt., MI St. U.)
Transfer and Estate Planning (U. MN Extension)
Who Will Get Grandpa’s Farm? (Purdue Agric.)