Ohio House introduces bill to repeal Ohio estate tax

This was posted on Peggy Hall’s AG Law Blog yesterday.  Good update

Ohio House introduces bill to repeal Ohio estate tax

Posted: 24 Jan 2011 02:13 PM PST

A bill introduced in the Ohio House of Representatives proposes a complete repeal of the Ohio estate tax.  Representatives Grossman and Hottinger introduced H.B. 3 on January 11, 2011. The bill is simple:  it amends the estate tax provisions currently in Ohio law to state that the tax provisions apply only to estates of persons who died before January 1, 2011. Regardless of when the bill would become effective, persons dying after January 1, 2011 would not be subject to the estate tax. The bill also removes the estate tax return filing requirement for estates of persons dying after the January 1, 2011 date.

The Ohio estate tax is a graduated tax on a person’s gross taxable estate, less deductions and exemptions.  An estate valued at less than $338,333 pays no tax due to credits and exemptions included in the law.  Estates between the value of $338,334 and $500,000 pay a 6% estate tax while estates over $500,000 in value owe a 7% estate tax.  The state receives 20% of the estate tax revenue and the local government of the decedent’s residence receives the remaining 80% of the tax.  Ohio is one of 17 states that have an estate tax.

How is agriculture affected by the Ohio estate tax?  It’s not uncommon for a farm estate to be valued at the taxable threshold of $338,334.  However, qualifying farm properties that elect the special use valuation option in the estate tax law can further reduce the taxable amount of the estate up to an additional $500,000.  The special use valuation election provides that qualifying farmland will be valued at the lesser Current Agricultural Use Valuation amount; qualifications for the election relate to keeping the farm in the family.  Sound planning and proper use of special use valuation thus can reduce the Ohio estate tax burden for farms that intend to continue the farm business after the loss of an active farm family member.

The idea to repeal the estate tax is not a new one; several prior attempts have not met with success.  A bill identical to current H.B. 3 was proposed last year, but the bill never made it out of the House Ways and Means committee.   Will the change in Ohio’s elected officials yield different results?  The current House Ways and Means committee will hear sponsor testimony on the H.B. 3 at its hearing on January 26, 2011.

International Farm Transition Network Conference Coming to Ohio

The International Farm Transition Network will host their annual conference July 20-23, 2010 at the Sheraton Suites in Cuyahoga Falls, OH. This three day meeting will bring together agricultural professionals, farmers, citizens, and service providers to discuss and learn about exciting projects in farm transition.

During the conference, participants will hear panel discussions on farm labor, beginning farmer and farm succession research, and farm policy, and listen to interns, apprentices, and retiring farmers discuss their needs related to farm transition. Registration is still open! For registration, agenda, and more information, please visit: http://www.cvcountryside.org/farmland/IFTNConference.php