For Immediate Release For More Information,
January 8, 2021 Call Ralph T. Meacham (330) 740-2010
Current Agricultural Usage Valuation and Agricultural District
Auditor Verifying Farmland Compliance
Mahoning County, Ohio – Auditor Ralph Meacham is reminding taxpayers that renewal notices for the Current Agricultural Usage Valuation (CAUV) program have been sent to property owners enrolled in the program. These annual notices are sent to verify that the property is for commercial agricultural purposes and must be returned to the Auditor’s Office before the first Monday in March each year. The deadline for renewal notices this year is Sunday, February 28, 2021. On the application, the taxpayer must sign that they “declare under penalties of perjury” that the application is “true, correct and complete.” Any incomplete applications are subject to removal from the program.
As permitted by Ohio law, the CAUV program allows farmland devoted exclusively to commercial agriculture to be valued according to its current use rather than at its "highest and best" potential use. By permitting values to be set well below true market values, the CAUV program normally results in a substantially lower tax bill for working farmers. Of the approximately 1,900 approved CAUV applications, 3,619 parcels are currently enrolled in the program.
When a property is removed from the CAUV program, in accordance with Ohio law, the Auditor must charge recoupment on all parcels involved. Recoupment is the difference between taxes paid and the taxes that would have been paid if they weren’t in the program. The County total estimated recoupment amount for Tax Year 2020 is $167,700 compared to $202,400 for Tax Year 2019.
Additionally, Agricultural District renewal forms will be sent soon. These forms are sent every five years to verify continued compliance with the Agricultural District program.
Taxpayers are encouraged to call the Mahoning County Auditor’s Office at 330-740-2010 for more information regarding the CAUV or Agricultural District programs.
The Ohio Department of Taxation updated the soil rates for Mahoning County for Tax Year 2020. Please visit their website at www.tax.ohio.gov for more information.
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