Drought-Stricken Farmers and Ranchers Have More Time to Replace Livestock; 30 States Affected
Farmers and ranchers who previously were
forced to sell livestock due to drought, like the one currently affecting much
of the nation, have an extended period of time in which to replace the
livestock and defer tax on any gains from the forced sales. Notice 2014-60.
Under Code Sec. 1033(e)(2), farmers and
ranchers who, due to drought, sell more livestock than they normally would may
defer tax on the extra gains from those sales. To qualify, the livestock
generally must be replaced within a four-year period. The IRS is authorized to
extend this period if the drought continues.
In Notice 2014-60, the IRS announced a
one-year extension of the replacement period that generally applies to capital
gains realized by eligible farmers and ranchers on sales of livestock held for
draft, dairy or breeding purposes due to drought. Sales of other livestock,
such as those raised for slaughter or held for sporting purposes, and poultry
are not eligible.
The IRS is providing this relief to any
farm located in a county, parish, city, borough, census area, or district
listed as suffering exceptional, extreme or severe drought conditions by the
National Drought Mitigation Center (NDMC), during any weekly period between
September 1, 2013, and Aug. 31, 2014. All or part of 30 states are listed. Any
county contiguous to a county listed by the NDMC also qualifies for this
relief.
As a result, farmers and ranchers in these
areas whose drought sale replacement period was scheduled to expire at the end
of this tax year, December 31, 2014 in most cases, will now have until the end
of their next tax year to replace livestock. Because the normal drought sale
replacement period is four years, this extension immediately affects drought
sales that occurred during 2010. But because of previous drought-related
extensions affecting some of these localities, the replacement periods for some
drought sales before 2010 are also affected. Additional extensions will be
granted if severe drought conditions persist.
Montana counties that have primary
designation include Big Horn County which will allow contiguous designation for
Powder River, Rosebud, Yellowstone, and Treasure Counties. Wyoming Counties with primary designation
include Sheridan and Campbell Counties which will allow Crook to have a
contiguous designation.