By Ron Haugen
Agricultural producers have until March 2, to file their 2019 income tax returns without penalty if they have not made estimates.
“Producers have until April 15 to file without penalty if they have paid their estimated tax by Jan. 15,” says Ron Haugen, North Dakota State University Extension farm economist.
Items to note for 2019 income tax preparation:
- The standard deduction is $24,400 for those who are married and filing jointly and $12,200 for singles.
- The social security wage base for 2019 is $132,900.
- The standard mileage rate for 2019 is 58 cents per mile.
- Agricultural producers are allowed to use 200% declining balance depreciation for 3-year, 5-year, 7-year and 10-year property. The 150% declining balance method is still required for 15 and 20-year property.
- For most new agricultural machinery and equipment (except grain bins), the recovery period is 7 years.
- Like-kind exchanges are not allowed for personal property but are allowed for real property.
- The section 179 expense allows producers to deduct up to $1,020,000 on new or used machinery or equipment purchased in the tax year. There is a dollar-for-dollar phase-out for purchases above $2,550,000.
- The additional 100% first-year bonus depreciation is in effect. It is available for used and new property. It is equal to 100% of the adjusted basis after any section 179 expensing.
- Income averaging can be used by producers to spread the tax liability to lower income tax brackets in the three previous years. This is done on schedule J. North Dakota farmers who elect to use income averaging for federal purposes also may use Form ND-1FA, which is income averaging for North Dakota income tax calculations.
- Crop Insurance proceeds and government crop disaster payments can be deferred to the next tax year if a producer is a cash-basis taxpayer and can show that normally income from damaged crops would be included in a tax year following the year of the damage.
- A livestock income deferral is available for those who had a forced sale of livestock because of a weather-related disaster.
Source : ndsu.edu