SHOW / EPISODE

The Tax Advantages of Owning Land

1h 24m | Sep 2, 2026

This week on Huntin’ Land, Joe Baya and Clint Flowers of National Land Realty break down the tax advantages of owning land, with a focus on timberland, farm property, recreational land, conservation easements, equipment deductions, and long-term estate planning. The episode is not meant as legal or tax advice, but as a practical guide to the questions landowners should be asking their CPA, attorney, forester, and land professional before tax season.

Joe and Clint start with one of the biggest overlooked advantages of timberland ownership: timber basis. Clint explains why timber income may not be taxable until a landowner has depleted the basis established when the property was purchased, and why a timber cruise, basis letter, or historical appraisal can help landowners avoid paying taxes they may not actually owe. They also discuss how consulting forester fees, property taxes, mileage, farm expenses, equipment, UTVs, tractors, roads, gates, culverts, food plots, cameras, and other legitimate land-management costs may fit into a landowner’s tax picture.

The conversation also covers larger planning tools, including Section 179 equipment deductions, Section 180 soil fertility deductions, cost-share income from programs like EQIP, carbon credit income, conservation easements, working forest easements, 1031 exchanges, reverse 1031 exchanges, and step-up in basis for inherited land. Clint explains how these tools can help landowners reduce taxable income, protect family land, reinvest into better property, or transition from large recreational acreage into other income-producing real estate. The episode closes with a reminder that good tax planning starts before year-end, and that landowners should work with professionals who understand both real estate investment and the specific tax issues tied to timber, farms, and recreational property.