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Key: (1) language to be deleted (2) new language

CHAPTER 12--H.F.No. 392

An act

relating to taxation; income, corporate franchise, and property; providing a federal update; modifying green acres program; creating rural preserve property tax program; requiring reports;

amending Minnesota Statutes 2008, sections 273.111, subdivisions 3, 3a, 9, 11a; 273.13, subdivision 23; 289A.02, subdivision 7; 290.01, subdivisions 19, 19a, 19c, 19d, 31, by adding a subdivision; 290.067, subdivision 2a; 290A.03, subdivisions 3, 15; 291.005, subdivision 1; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 273.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

ARTICLE 1

FEDERAL UPDATE

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 289A.02, subdivision 7, is amended to read:

Subd. 7.

Internal Revenue Code.

Unless specifically defined otherwise, "Internal Revenue Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended through deleted text begin February 13, 2008deleted text end new text begin December 31, 2008new text end .

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment, except the changes incorporated by federal changes are effective at the same time as the changes were effective for federal purposes. new text end

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 290.01, subdivision 19, is amended to read:

Subd. 19.

Net income.

The term "net income" means the federal taxable income, as defined in section 63 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended through the date named in this subdivision, incorporating the federal effective dates of changes to the Internal Revenue Code and any elections made by the taxpayer in accordance with the Internal Revenue Code in determining federal taxable income for federal income tax purposes, and with the modifications provided in subdivisions 19a to 19f.

In the case of a regulated investment company or a fund thereof, as defined in section 851(a) or 851(g) of the Internal Revenue Code, federal taxable income means investment company taxable income as defined in section 852(b)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code, except that:

(1) the exclusion of net capital gain provided in section 852(b)(2)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code does not apply;

(2) the deduction for dividends paid under section 852(b)(2)(D) of the Internal Revenue Code must be applied by allowing a deduction for capital gain dividends and exempt-interest dividends as defined in sections 852(b)(3)(C) and 852(b)(5) of the Internal Revenue Code; and

(3) the deduction for dividends paid must also be applied in the amount of any undistributed capital gains which the regulated investment company elects to have treated as provided in section 852(b)(3)(D) of the Internal Revenue Code.

The net income of a real estate investment trust as defined and limited by section 856(a), (b), and (c) of the Internal Revenue Code means the real estate investment trust taxable income as defined in section 857(b)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code.

The net income of a designated settlement fund as defined in section 468B(d) of the Internal Revenue Code means the gross income as defined in section 468B(b) of the Internal Revenue Code.

The Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended through deleted text begin February 13, 2008deleted text end new text begin December 31, 2008new text end , shall be in effect for taxable years beginning after December 31, 1996.

Except as otherwise provided, references to the Internal Revenue Code in subdivisions 19 to 19f mean the code in effect for purposes of determining net income for the applicable year.

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2007. new text end

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 290.01, subdivision 19a, is amended to read:

Subd. 19a.

Additions to federal taxable income.

For individuals, estates, and trusts, there shall be added to federal taxable income:

(1)(i) interest income on obligations of any state other than Minnesota or a political or governmental subdivision, municipality, or governmental agency or instrumentality of any state other than Minnesota exempt from federal income taxes under the Internal Revenue Code or any other federal statute; and

(ii) exempt-interest dividends as defined in section 852(b)(5) of the Internal Revenue Code, except the portion of the exempt-interest dividends derived from interest income on obligations of the state of Minnesota or its political or governmental subdivisions, municipalities, governmental agencies or instrumentalities, but only if the portion of the exempt-interest dividends from such Minnesota sources paid to all shareholders represents 95 percent or more of the exempt-interest dividends that are paid by the regulated investment company as defined in section 851(a) of the Internal Revenue Code, or the fund of the regulated investment company as defined in section 851(g) of the Internal Revenue Code, making the payment; and

(iii) for the purposes of items (i) and (ii), interest on obligations of an Indian tribal government described in section 7871(c) of the Internal Revenue Code shall be treated as interest income on obligations of the state in which the tribe is located;

(2) the amount of income or sales and use taxes paid or accrued within the taxable year under this chapter and the amount of taxes based on net income paid or sales and use taxes paid to any other state or to any province or territory of Canada, to the extent allowed as a deduction under section 63(d) of the Internal Revenue Code, but the addition may not be more than the amount by which the itemized deductions as allowed under section 63(d) of the Internal Revenue Code exceeds the amount of the standard deduction as defined in section 63(c) of the Internal Revenue Codenew text begin , disregarding the amount allowed under section 63(c)(1)(C) of the Internal Revenue Codenew text end . For the purpose of this paragraph, the disallowance of itemized deductions under section 68 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, income or sales and use tax is the last itemized deduction disallowed;

(3) the capital gain amount of a lump-sum distribution to which the special tax under section 1122(h)(3)(B)(ii) of the Tax Reform Act of 1986, Public Law 99-514, applies;

(4) the amount of income taxes paid or accrued within the taxable year under this chapter and taxes based on net income paid to any other state or any province or territory of Canada, to the extent allowed as a deduction in determining federal adjusted gross income. For the purpose of this paragraph, income taxes do not include the taxes imposed by sections 290.0922, subdivision 1, paragraph (b), 290.9727, 290.9728, and 290.9729;

(5) the amount of expense, interest, or taxes disallowed pursuant to section 290.10 other than expenses or interest used in computing net interest income for the subtraction allowed under subdivision 19b, clause (1);

(6) the amount of a partner's pro rata share of net income which does not flow through to the partner because the partnership elected to pay the tax on the income under section 6242(a)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code;

(7) 80 percent of the depreciation deduction allowed under section 168(k) of the Internal Revenue Code. For purposes of this clause, if the taxpayer has an activity that in the taxable year generates a deduction for depreciation under section 168(k) and the activity generates a loss for the taxable year that the taxpayer is not allowed to claim for the taxable year, "the depreciation allowed under section 168(k)" for the taxable year is limited to excess of the depreciation claimed by the activity under section 168(k) over the amount of the loss from the activity that is not allowed in the taxable year. In succeeding taxable years when the losses not allowed in the taxable year are allowed, the depreciation under section 168(k) is allowed;

(8) 80 percent of the amount by which the deduction allowed by section 179 of the Internal Revenue Code exceeds the deduction allowable by section 179 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended through December 31, 2003;

(9) to the extent deducted in computing federal taxable income, the amount of the deduction allowable under section 199 of the Internal Revenue Code;

(10) the exclusion allowed under section 139A of the Internal Revenue Code for federal subsidies for prescription drug plans;

(11) the amount of expenses disallowed under section 290.10, subdivision 2;

(12) deleted text begin for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2006, and before January 1, 2008,deleted text end the amount deducted for qualified tuition and related expenses under section 222 of the Internal Revenue Code, to the extent deducted from gross income; deleted text begin anddeleted text end

(13) deleted text begin for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2006, and before January 1, deleted text end deleted text begin 2008,deleted text end the amount deducted for certain expenses of elementary and secondary school teachers under section 62(a)(2)(D) of the Internal Revenue Code, to the extent deducted from gross incomedeleted text begin .deleted text end new text begin ; andnew text end

new text begin (14) the additional standard deduction for property taxes payable that is allowable under section 63(c)(1)(C) of the Internal Revenue Code. new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2007. new text end

Sec. 4.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 290.01, subdivision 19c, is amended to read:

Subd. 19c.

Corporations; additions to federal taxable income.

For corporations, there shall be added to federal taxable income:

(1) the amount of any deduction taken for federal income tax purposes for income, excise, or franchise taxes based on net income or related minimum taxes, including but not limited to the tax imposed under section 290.0922, paid by the corporation to Minnesota, another state, a political subdivision of another state, the District of Columbia, or any foreign country or possession of the United States;

(2) interest not subject to federal tax upon obligations of: the United States, its possessions, its agencies, or its instrumentalities; the state of Minnesota or any other state, any of its political or governmental subdivisions, any of its municipalities, or any of its governmental agencies or instrumentalities; the District of Columbia; or Indian tribal governments;

(3) exempt-interest dividends received as defined in section 852(b)(5) of the Internal Revenue Code;

(4) the amount of any net operating loss deduction taken for federal income tax purposes under section 172 or 832(c)(10) of the Internal Revenue Code or operations loss deduction under section 810 of the Internal Revenue Code;

(5) the amount of any special deductions taken for federal income tax purposes under sections 241 to 247 and 965 of the Internal Revenue Code;

(6) losses from the business of mining, as defined in section 290.05, subdivision 1, clause (a), that are not subject to Minnesota income tax;

(7) the amount of any capital losses deducted for federal income tax purposes under sections 1211 and 1212 of the Internal Revenue Code;

(8) the exempt foreign trade income of a foreign sales corporation under sections 921(a) and 291 of the Internal Revenue Code;

(9) the amount of percentage depletion deducted under sections 611 through 614 and 291 of the Internal Revenue Code;

(10) for certified pollution control facilities placed in service in a taxable year beginning before December 31, 1986, and for which amortization deductions were elected under section 169 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, as amended through December 31, 1985, the amount of the amortization deduction allowed in computing federal taxable income for those facilities;

(11) the amount of any deemed dividend from a foreign operating corporation determined pursuant to section 290.17, subdivision 4, paragraph (g). The deemed dividend shall be reduced by the amount of the addition to income required by clauses (20), (21), (22), and (23);

(12) the amount of a partner's pro rata share of net income which does not flow through to the partner because the partnership elected to pay the tax on the income under section 6242(a)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code;

(13) the amount of net income excluded under section 114 of the Internal Revenue Code;

(14) any increase in subpart F income, as defined in section 952(a) of the Internal Revenue Code, for the taxable year when subpart F income is calculated without regard to the provisions of deleted text begin section 103 of Public Law 109-222deleted text end new text begin Division C, title III, section 304(a)(1)-(2) of Public Law 110-343new text end ;

(15) 80 percent of the depreciation deduction allowed under section 168(k)(1)(A) and (k)(4)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code. For purposes of this clause, if the taxpayer has an activity that in the taxable year generates a deduction for depreciation under section 168(k)(1)(A) and (k)(4)(A) and the activity generates a loss for the taxable year that the taxpayer is not allowed to claim for the taxable year, "the depreciation allowed under section 168(k)(1)(A) and (k)(4)(A)" for the taxable year is limited to excess of the depreciation claimed by the activity under section 168(k)(1)(A) and (k)(4)(A) over the amount of the loss from the activity that is not allowed in the taxable year. In succeeding taxable years when the losses not allowed in the taxable year are allowed, the depreciation under section 168(k)(1)(A) and (k)(4)(A) is allowed;

(16) 80 percent of the amount by which the deduction allowed by section 179 of the Internal Revenue Code exceeds the deduction allowable by section 179 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended through December 31, 2003;

(17) to the extent deducted in computing federal taxable income, the amount of the deduction allowable under section 199 of the Internal Revenue Code;

(18) the exclusion allowed under section 139A of the Internal Revenue Code for federal subsidies for prescription drug plans;

(19) the amount of expenses disallowed under section 290.10, subdivision 2;

(20) an amount equal to the interest and intangible expenses, losses, and costs paid, accrued, or incurred by any member of the taxpayer's unitary group to or for the benefit of a corporation that is a member of the taxpayer's unitary business group that qualifies as a foreign operating corporation. For purposes of this clause, intangible expenses and costs include:

(i) expenses, losses, and costs for, or related to, the direct or indirect acquisition, use, maintenance or management, ownership, sale, exchange, or any other disposition of intangible property;

(ii) losses incurred, directly or indirectly, from factoring transactions or discounting transactions;

(iii) royalty, patent, technical, and copyright fees;

(iv) licensing fees; and

(v) other similar expenses and costs.

For purposes of this clause, "intangible property" includes stocks, bonds, patents, patent applications, trade names, trademarks, service marks, copyrights, mask works, trade secrets, and similar types of intangible assets.

This clause does not apply to any item of interest or intangible expenses or costs paid, accrued, or incurred, directly or indirectly, to a foreign operating corporation with respect to such item of income to the extent that the income to the foreign operating corporation is income from sources without the United States as defined in subtitle A, chapter 1, subchapter N, part 1, of the Internal Revenue Code;

(21) except as already included in the taxpayer's taxable income pursuant to clause (20), any interest income and income generated from intangible property received or accrued by a foreign operating corporation that is a member of the taxpayer's unitary group. For purposes of this clause, income generated from intangible property includes:

(i) income related to the direct or indirect acquisition, use, maintenance or management, ownership, sale, exchange, or any other disposition of intangible property;

(ii) income from factoring transactions or discounting transactions;

(iii) royalty, patent, technical, and copyright fees;

(iv) licensing fees; and

(v) other similar income.

For purposes of this clause, "intangible property" includes stocks, bonds, patents, patent applications, trade names, trademarks, service marks, copyrights, mask works, trade secrets, and similar types of intangible assets.

This clause does not apply to any item of interest or intangible income received or accrued by a foreign operating corporation with respect to such item of income to the extent that the income is income from sources without the United States as defined in subtitle A, chapter 1, subchapter N, part 1, of the Internal Revenue Code;

(22) the dividends attributable to the income of a foreign operating corporation that is a member of the taxpayer's unitary group in an amount that is equal to the dividends paid deduction of a real estate investment trust under section 561(a) of the Internal Revenue Code for amounts paid or accrued by the real estate investment trust to the foreign operating corporation;

(23) the income of a foreign operating corporation that is a member of the taxpayer's unitary group in an amount that is equal to gains derived from the sale of real or personal property located in the United States; and

(24) deleted text begin for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2006, and before January 1, 2008,deleted text end the additional amount allowed as a deduction for donation of computer technology and equipment under section 170(e)(6) of the Internal Revenue Code, to the extent deducted from taxable income.

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2007. new text end

Sec. 5.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 290.01, subdivision 19d, is amended to read:

Subd. 19d.

Corporations; modifications decreasing federal taxable income.

For corporations, there shall be subtracted from federal taxable income after the increases provided in subdivision 19c:

(1) the amount of foreign dividend gross-up added to gross income for federal income tax purposes under section 78 of the Internal Revenue Code;

(2) the amount of salary expense not allowed for federal income tax purposes due to claiming the work opportunity credit under section 51 of the Internal Revenue Code;

(3) any dividend (not including any distribution in liquidation) paid within the taxable year by a national or state bank to the United States, or to any instrumentality of the United States exempt from federal income taxes, on the preferred stock of the bank owned by the United States or the instrumentality;

(4) amounts disallowed for intangible drilling costs due to differences between this chapter and the Internal Revenue Code in taxable years beginning before January 1, 1987, as follows:

(i) to the extent the disallowed costs are represented by physical property, an amount equal to the allowance for depreciation under Minnesota Statutes 1986, section 290.09, subdivision 7, subject to the modifications contained in subdivision 19e; and

(ii) to the extent the disallowed costs are not represented by physical property, an amount equal to the allowance for cost depletion under Minnesota Statutes 1986, section 290.09, subdivision 8;

(5) the deduction for capital losses pursuant to sections 1211 and 1212 of the Internal Revenue Code, except that:

(i) for capital losses incurred in taxable years beginning after December 31, 1986, capital loss carrybacks shall not be allowed;

(ii) for capital losses incurred in taxable years beginning after December 31, 1986, a capital loss carryover to each of the 15 taxable years succeeding the loss year shall be allowed;

(iii) for capital losses incurred in taxable years beginning before January 1, 1987, a capital loss carryback to each of the three taxable years preceding the loss year, subject to the provisions of Minnesota Statutes 1986, section 290.16, shall be allowed; and

(iv) for capital losses incurred in taxable years beginning before January 1, 1987, a capital loss carryover to each of the five taxable years succeeding the loss year to the extent such loss was not used in a prior taxable year and subject to the provisions of Minnesota Statutes 1986, section 290.16, shall be allowed;

(6) an amount for interest and expenses relating to income not taxable for federal income tax purposes, if (i) the income is taxable under this chapter and (ii) the interest and expenses were disallowed as deductions under the provisions of section 171(a)(2), 265 or 291 of the Internal Revenue Code in computing federal taxable income;

(7) in the case of mines, oil and gas wells, other natural deposits, and timber for which percentage depletion was disallowed pursuant to subdivision 19c, clause (9), a reasonable allowance for depletion based on actual cost. In the case of leases the deduction must be apportioned between the lessor and lessee in accordance with rules prescribed by the commissioner. In the case of property held in trust, the allowable deduction must be apportioned between the income beneficiaries and the trustee in accordance with the pertinent provisions of the trust, or if there is no provision in the instrument, on the basis of the trust's income allocable to each;

(8) for certified pollution control facilities placed in service in a taxable year beginning before December 31, 1986, and for which amortization deductions were elected under section 169 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, as amended through December 31, 1985, an amount equal to the allowance for depreciation under Minnesota Statutes 1986, section 290.09, subdivision 7;

(9) amounts included in federal taxable income that are due to refunds of income, excise, or franchise taxes based on net income or related minimum taxes paid by the corporation to Minnesota, another state, a political subdivision of another state, the District of Columbia, or a foreign country or possession of the United States to the extent that the taxes were added to federal taxable income under section 290.01, subdivision 19c, clause (1), in a prior taxable year;

(10) 80 percent of royalties, fees, or other like income accrued or received from a foreign operating corporation or a foreign corporation which is part of the same unitary business as the receiving corporation, unless the income resulting from such payments or accruals is income from sources within the United States as defined in subtitle A, chapter 1, subchapter N, part 1, of the Internal Revenue Code;

(11) income or gains from the business of mining as defined in section 290.05, subdivision 1, clause (a), that are not subject to Minnesota franchise tax;

(12) the amount of disability access expenditures in the taxable year which are not allowed to be deducted or capitalized under section 44(d)(7) of the Internal Revenue Code;

(13) the amount of qualified research expenses not allowed for federal income tax purposes under section 280C(c) of the Internal Revenue Code, but only to the extent that the amount exceeds the amount of the credit allowed under section 290.068;

(14) the amount of salary expenses not allowed for federal income tax purposes due to claiming the Indian employment credit under section 45A(a) of the Internal Revenue Code;

(15) for taxable years beginning before January 1, 2008, the amount of the federal small ethanol producer credit allowed under section 40(a)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code which is included in gross income under section 87 of the Internal Revenue Code;

(16) for a corporation whose foreign sales corporation, as defined in section 922 of the Internal Revenue Code, constituted a foreign operating corporation during any taxable year ending before January 1, 1995, and a return was filed by August 15, 1996, claiming the deduction under section 290.21, subdivision 4, for income received from the foreign operating corporation, an amount equal to 1.23 multiplied by the amount of income excluded under section 114 of the Internal Revenue Code, provided the income is not income of a foreign operating company;

(17) any decrease in subpart F income, as defined in section 952(a) of the Internal Revenue Code, for the taxable year when subpart F income is calculated without regard to the provisions of deleted text begin section 103 of Public Law 109-222deleted text end new text begin Division C, title III, section 304(a)(1)-(2) of Public Law 110-343new text end ;

(18) in each of the five tax years immediately following the tax year in which an addition is required under subdivision 19c, clause (15), an amount equal to one-fifth of the delayed depreciation. For purposes of this clause, "delayed depreciation" means the amount of the addition made by the taxpayer under subdivision 19c, clause (15). The resulting delayed depreciation cannot be less than zero; and

(19) in each of the five tax years immediately following the tax year in which an addition is required under subdivision 19c, clause (16), an amount equal to one-fifth of the amount of the addition.

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2007. new text end

Sec. 6.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 290.01, is amended by adding a subdivision to read:

new text begin Subd. 19h. new text end

new text begin Certain preferred stock losses. new text end

new text begin A taxpayer must compute net income by treating losses from the sale or transfer of certain preferred stock, which the taxpayer treated as ordinary losses pursuant to Division A, title III, section 301 of Public Law 110-343, as capital losses. The amount of net income under subdivision 19, taxable net income under subdivision 22, taxable income under subdivision 29, the numerator and denominator in section 290.06, subdivision 2c, paragraph (e), individual alternative minimum taxable income under section 290.091, subdivision 2, corporate alternative minimum taxable income under section 290.0921, subdivision 3, and net operating losses under section 290.095 must be computed for each taxable year as if those losses had been treated by the taxpayer as capital losses under the Internal Revenue Code, including the limitations under section 1211 of the Internal Revenue Code. new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective at the same time as Division A, title III, section 301 of Public Law 110-343, is effective and applies to losses incurred after December 31, 2007. new text end

Sec. 7.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 290.01, subdivision 31, is amended to read:

Subd. 31.

Internal Revenue Code.

Unless specifically defined otherwise, "Internal Revenue Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended through deleted text begin February 13, 2008deleted text end new text begin December 31, 2008new text end .new text begin Internal Revenue Code also includes any uncodified provision in federal law that relates to provisions of the Internal Revenue Code that are incorporated into Minnesota law.new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment, except the changes incorporated by federal changes are effective at the same time as the changes were effective for federal purposes. new text end

Sec. 8.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 290.067, subdivision 2a, is amended to read:

Subd. 2a.

Income.

(a) For purposes of this section, "income" means the sum of the following:

(1) federal adjusted gross income as defined in section 62 of the Internal Revenue Code; and

(2) the sum of the following amounts to the extent not included in clause (1):

(i) all nontaxable income;

(ii) the amount of a passive activity loss that is not disallowed as a result of section 469, paragraph (i) or (m) of the Internal Revenue Code and the amount of passive activity loss carryover allowed under section 469(b) of the Internal Revenue Code;

(iii) an amount equal to the total of any discharge of qualified farm indebtedness of a solvent individual excluded from gross income under section 108(g) of the Internal Revenue Code;

(iv) cash public assistance and relief;

(v) any pension or annuity (including railroad retirement benefits, all payments received under the federal Social Security Act, supplemental security income, and veterans benefits), which was not exclusively funded by the claimant or spouse, or which was funded exclusively by the claimant or spouse and which funding payments were excluded from federal adjusted gross income in the years when the payments were made;

(vi) interest received from the federal or a state government or any instrumentality or political subdivision thereof;

(vii) workers' compensation;

(viii) nontaxable strike benefits;

(ix) the gross amounts of payments received in the nature of disability income or sick pay as a result of accident, sickness, or other disability, whether funded through insurance or otherwise;

(x) a lump-sum distribution under section 402(e)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended through December 31, 1995;

(xi) contributions made by the claimant to an individual retirement account, including a qualified voluntary employee contribution; simplified employee pension plan; self-employed retirement plan; cash or deferred arrangement plan under section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code; or deferred compensation plan under section 457 of the Internal Revenue Code;

(xii) nontaxable scholarship or fellowship grants;

(xiii) the amount of deduction allowed under section 199 of the Internal Revenue Code; deleted text begin anddeleted text end

(xiv) the amount of deduction allowed under section 220 or 223 of the Internal Revenue Codedeleted text begin .deleted text end new text begin ;new text end

new text begin (xv) the amount of tuition expenses required to be added to income under section 290.01, subdivision 19a, clause (12); and new text end

new text begin (xvi) the amount deducted for certain expenses of elementary and secondary school teachers under section 62(a)(2)(D) of the Internal Revenue Code. new text end

In the case of an individual who files an income tax return on a fiscal year basis, the term "federal adjusted gross income" means federal adjusted gross income reflected in the fiscal year ending in the next calendar year. Federal adjusted gross income may not be reduced by the amount of a net operating loss carryback or carryforward or a capital loss carryback or carryforward allowed for the year.

(b) "Income" does not include:

(1) amounts excluded pursuant to the Internal Revenue Code, sections 101(a) and 102;

(2) amounts of any pension or annuity that were exclusively funded by the claimant or spouse if the funding payments were not excluded from federal adjusted gross income in the years when the payments were made;

(3) surplus food or other relief in kind supplied by a governmental agency;

(4) relief granted under chapter 290A;

(5) child support payments received under a temporary or final decree of dissolution or legal separation; and

(6) restitution payments received by eligible individuals and excludable interest as defined in section 803 of the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001, Public Law 107-16.

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2007. new text end

Sec. 9.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 290A.03, subdivision 3, is amended to read:

Subd. 3.

Income.

(1) "Income" means the sum of the following:

(a) federal adjusted gross income as defined in the Internal Revenue Code; and

(b) the sum of the following amounts to the extent not included in clause (a):

(i) all nontaxable income;

(ii) the amount of a passive activity loss that is not disallowed as a result of section 469, paragraph (i) or (m) of the Internal Revenue Code and the amount of passive activity loss carryover allowed under section 469(b) of the Internal Revenue Code;

(iii) an amount equal to the total of any discharge of qualified farm indebtedness of a solvent individual excluded from gross income under section 108(g) of the Internal Revenue Code;

(iv) cash public assistance and relief;

(v) any pension or annuity (including railroad retirement benefits, all payments received under the federal Social Security Act, Supplemental Security Income, and veterans benefits), which was not exclusively funded by the claimant or spouse, or which was funded exclusively by the claimant or spouse and which funding payments were excluded from federal adjusted gross income in the years when the payments were made;

(vi) interest received from the federal or a state government or any instrumentality or political subdivision thereof;

(vii) workers' compensation;

(viii) nontaxable strike benefits;

(ix) the gross amounts of payments received in the nature of disability income or sick pay as a result of accident, sickness, or other disability, whether funded through insurance or otherwise;

(x) a lump-sum distribution under section 402(e)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended through December 31, 1995;

(xi) contributions made by the claimant to an individual retirement account, including a qualified voluntary employee contribution; simplified employee pension plan; self-employed retirement plan; cash or deferred arrangement plan under section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code; or deferred compensation plan under section 457 of the Internal Revenue Code;

(xii) nontaxable scholarship or fellowship grants;

(xiii) the amount of deduction allowed under section 199 of the Internal Revenue Code; deleted text begin anddeleted text end

(xiv) the amount of deduction allowed under section 220 or 223 of the Internal Revenue Codedeleted text begin .deleted text end new text begin ;new text end

new text begin (xv) the amount of tuition expenses required to be added to income under section 290.01, subdivision 19a, clause (12); and new text end

new text begin (xvi) the amount deducted for certain expenses of elementary and secondary school teachers under section 62(a)(2)(D) of the Internal Revenue Code. new text end

In the case of an individual who files an income tax return on a fiscal year basis, the term "federal adjusted gross income" shall mean federal adjusted gross income reflected in the fiscal year ending in the calendar year. Federal adjusted gross income shall not be reduced by the amount of a net operating loss carryback or carryforward or a capital loss carryback or carryforward allowed for the year.

(2) "Income" does not include:

(a) amounts excluded pursuant to the Internal Revenue Code, sections 101(a) and 102;

(b) amounts of any pension or annuity which was exclusively funded by the claimant or spouse and which funding payments were not excluded from federal adjusted gross income in the years when the payments were made;

(c) surplus food or other relief in kind supplied by a governmental agency;

(d) relief granted under this chapter;

(e) child support payments received under a temporary or final decree of dissolution or legal separation; or

(f) restitution payments received by eligible individuals and excludable interest as defined in section 803 of the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001, Public Law 107-16.

(3) The sum of the following amounts may be subtracted from income:

(a) for the claimant's first dependent, the exemption amount multiplied by 1.4;

(b) for the claimant's second dependent, the exemption amount multiplied by 1.3;

(c) for the claimant's third dependent, the exemption amount multiplied by 1.2;

(d) for the claimant's fourth dependent, the exemption amount multiplied by 1.1;

(e) for the claimant's fifth dependent, the exemption amount; and

(f) if the claimant or claimant's spouse was disabled or attained the age of 65 on or before December 31 of the year for which the taxes were levied or rent paid, the exemption amount.

For purposes of this subdivision, the "exemption amount" means the exemption amount under section 151(d) of the Internal Revenue Code for the taxable year for which the income is reported.

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective for property tax refunds based on property taxes payable after December 31, 2008, and rent paid after December 31, 2007, and thereafter. new text end

Sec. 10.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 290A.03, subdivision 15, is amended to read:

Subd. 15.

Internal Revenue Code.

"Internal Revenue Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended through deleted text begin February 13, 2008deleted text end new text begin December 31, 2008new text end .

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective for property tax refunds based on property taxes payable after December 31, 2008, and rent paid after December 31, 2007, and thereafter. new text end

Sec. 11.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 291.005, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Scope.

Unless the context otherwise clearly requires, the following terms used in this chapter shall have the following meanings:

(1) "Federal gross estate" means the gross estate of a decedent as valued and otherwise determined for federal estate tax purposes by federal taxing authorities pursuant to the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code.

(2) "Minnesota gross estate" means the federal gross estate of a decedent after (a) excluding therefrom any property included therein which has its situs outside Minnesota, and (b) including therein any property omitted from the federal gross estate which is includable therein, has its situs in Minnesota, and was not disclosed to federal taxing authorities.

(3) "Personal representative" means the executor, administrator or other person appointed by the court to administer and dispose of the property of the decedent. If there is no executor, administrator or other person appointed, qualified, and acting within this state, then any person in actual or constructive possession of any property having a situs in this state which is included in the federal gross estate of the decedent shall be deemed to be a personal representative to the extent of the property and the Minnesota estate tax due with respect to the property.

(4) "Resident decedent" means an individual whose domicile at the time of death was in Minnesota.

(5) "Nonresident decedent" means an individual whose domicile at the time of death was not in Minnesota.

(6) "Situs of property" means, with respect to real property, the state or country in which it is located; with respect to tangible personal property, the state or country in which it was normally kept or located at the time of the decedent's death; and with respect to intangible personal property, the state or country in which the decedent was domiciled at death.

(7) "Commissioner" means the commissioner of revenue or any person to whom the commissioner has delegated functions under this chapter.

(8) "Internal Revenue Code" means the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended through deleted text begin February 13, 2008deleted text end new text begin December 31, 2008new text end .

(9) "Minnesota adjusted taxable estate" means federal adjusted taxable estate as defined by section 2011(b)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, increased by the amount of deduction for state death taxes allowed under section 2058 of the Internal Revenue Code.

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment, except the changes incorporated by federal changes are effective at the same time as the changes were effective for federal purposes. new text end

Sec. 12.

new text begin WITHHOLDING ON DIFFERENTIAL PAY. new text end

new text begin The commissioner must not assess tax, penalty, or interest against an employer for failing to withhold tax from differential wages, as defined in section 3401(h)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code, paid before January 1, 2010, to an employee who has been called to active duty in the military services. new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment and applies to any failure to withhold that occurs after December 31, 2008, but before January 1, 2010. new text end

ARTICLE 2

GREEN ACRES

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 273.111, subdivision 3, is amended to read:

Subd. 3.

Requirements.

(a) Real estate consisting of ten acres or more or a nursery or greenhouse, and qualifying for classification as class 2a under section 273.13, shall be entitled to valuation and tax deferment under this section if it is primarily devoted to agricultural use, and either:

(1) is the homestead of the owner, or of a surviving spouse, child, or sibling of the owner or is real estate which is farmed with the real estate which contains the homestead property; or

(2) has been in possession of the applicant, the applicant's spouse, parent, or sibling, or any combination thereof, for a period of at least seven years prior to application for benefits under the provisions of this section, or is real estate which is farmed with the real estate which qualifies under this clause and is within four townships or cities or combination thereof from the qualifying real estate; or

(3) is the homestead of an individual who is part of an entity described in paragraph (b), clause (1), (2), or (3); or

(4) is in the possession of a nursery or greenhouse or an entity owned by a proprietor, partnership, or corporation which also owns the nursery or greenhouse operations on the parcel or parcels, provided that only the acres used to produce nursery stock qualify for treatment under this section.

(b) Valuation of real estate under this section is limited to parcels owned by individuals except for:

(1) a family farm entity or authorized farm entity regulated under section 500.24;

(2) deleted text begin a poultrydeleted text end new text begin annew text end entity deleted text begin other than a limited liability entitydeleted text end new text begin , not regulated under section 500.24,new text end in which the majority of the members, partners, or shareholders are related and at least one of the members, partners, or shareholders either resides on the land or actively operates the land; and

(3) corporations that derive 80 percent or more of their gross receipts from the wholesale or retail sale of horticultural or nursery stock.

The terms in this paragraph have the meanings given in section 500.24, where applicable.

(c) Land that previously qualified for tax deferment under this section and no longer qualifies because it is not primarily used for agricultural purposes but would otherwise qualify under Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 273.111, subdivision 3, for a period of at least three years will not be required to make payment of the previously deferred taxes, notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision 9. Sale of the land prior to the expiration of the three-year period requires payment of deferred taxes as follows: sale in the year the land no longer qualifies requires payment of the current year's deferred taxes plus payment of deferred taxes for the two prior years; sale during the second year the land no longer qualifies requires payment of the current year's deferred taxes plus payment of the deferred taxes for the prior year; and sale during the third year the land no longer qualifies requires payment of the current year's deferred taxes. Deferred taxes shall be paid even if the land qualifies pursuant to subdivision 11a. When such property is sold or no longer qualifies under this paragraph, or at the end of the three-year period, whichever comes first, all deferred special assessments plus interest are payable in equal installments spread over the time remaining until the last maturity date of the bonds issued to finance the improvement for which the assessments were levied. If the bonds have matured, the deferred special assessments plus interest are payable within 90 days. The provisions of section 429.061, subdivision 2, apply to the collection of these installments. Penalties are not imposed on any such special assessments if timely paid.

(d) Land that is enrolled in the reinvest in Minnesota program under sections 103F.501 to 103F.535, the federal Conservation Reserve Program as contained in Public Law 99-198, or a similar state or federal conservation program deleted text begin does not qualifydeleted text end new text begin qualifies new text end for valuation and assessment deferral under this sectionnew text begin if it was in agricultural use before enrollment and, provided that, in the case of land enrolled in the reinvest in Minnesota program, it is not subject to a perpetual easementnew text end . deleted text begin This paragraph applies to land that has not qualified under this section for taxes payable in 2009 or previous years.deleted text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective for assessment year 2009 and thereafter. new text end

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 273.111, subdivision 3a, is amended to read:

Subd. 3a.

Property no longer eligible for deferment.

(a) Real estate receiving the tax deferment under this section for assessment year 2008, but that does not qualify for the 2009 assessment year due to changes in qualification requirements under Laws 2008, chapter 366, shall continue to qualify until deleted text begin any part ofdeleted text end new text begin : (1)new text end the land is sold, transferred, or subdivided, new text begin or (2) the 2013 assessment, whichever is earlier, new text end provided that the property continues to meet the requirements of Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 273.111, subdivision 3.

(b) new text begin Except as provided in paragraph (c), and subdivision 9, paragraph (b), new text end when property assessed under this subdivision is withdrawn from the program or becomes ineligible, the property shall be subject to additional taxesdeleted text begin , in the amount equal to the average difference between the taxes determined in accordance with subdivision 4, and the amount determined under subdivision 5, for the current year and the two preceding years, multiplied by (1) three, in the case of class 2a property under section 273.13, subdivision 23, or any property withdrawn before January 2, 2009, or (2) seven, in the case of property withdrawn after January 2, 2009, that is not class 2a property. The number of years used as the multiplier must not exceed the number of years during which the property was subject to this section. The amount determined under subdivision 5 shall not be greater than it would have been had the actual bona fide sale price of the real property at an arm's-length transaction been used in lieu of the market value determined under subdivision 5. The additional taxes shall be extended against the property on the tax list for the current year, provided that no interest or penalties shall be levied on the additional taxes if timely paiddeleted text end new text begin as provided in subdivision 9new text end .

new text begin (c) If land described in paragraph (a) is sold or otherwise transferred to a son or daughter of the owner, it will continue to qualify for treatment under this section as long as it continues to meet the requirements of Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 273.111, subdivision 3, but no later than the 2013 assessment. new text end

new text begin (d) When property assessed under this subdivision is removed from the program and is enrolled in the rural preserve property tax law program under section 273.114, the property is not subject to the additional taxes required under this subdivision or subdivision 9. new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment. new text end

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 273.111, subdivision 9, is amended to read:

Subd. 9.

Additional taxes.

new text begin (a) new text end new text begin Except as provided in paragraph (b), new text end when real property which is being, or has been valued and assessed under this section no longer qualifies under subdivision 3, the portion no longer qualifying shall be subject to additional taxes, in the amount equal to the difference between the taxes determined in accordance with subdivision 4, and the amount determined under subdivision 5. Provided, however, that the amount determined under subdivision 5 shall not be greater than it would have been had the actual bona fide sale price of the real property at an arm's-length transaction been used in lieu of the market value determined under subdivision 5. Such additional taxes shall be extended against the property on the tax list for the current year, provided, however, that no interest or penalties shall be levied on such additional taxes if timely paid, and provided further, that such additional taxes shall only be levied with respect to the last three years that the said property has been valued and assessed under this section.

new text begin (b) Real property that has been valued and assessed under this section prior to May 29, 2008, and that ceases to qualify under this section after May 28, 2008, and is withdrawn from the program before May 1, 2010, is not subject to additional taxes under this subdivision or subdivision 3, paragraph (c). If additional taxes have been paid under this subdivision with respect to property described in this paragraph prior to the date of enactment of this act, the county must repay the property owner in the manner prescribed by the commissioner of revenue. new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment. new text end

Sec. 4.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 273.111, subdivision 11a, is amended to read:

Subd. 11a.

Continuation of tax treatment upon salenew text begin or other eventsnew text end .

new text begin (a) new text end When real property qualifying under subdivision 3 is soldnew text begin or transferrednew text end , no additional taxes or deferred special assessments plus interest shall be extended against the property provided the property continues to qualify pursuant to subdivision 3, and provided the new owner files an application for continued deferment within 30 days after the salenew text begin or transfernew text end .

new text begin (b) The following transfers do not constitute a change of ownership of property qualifying under subdivision 3: new text end

new text begin (1) death of a property owner when a surviving owner retains ownership of the property thereafter; new text end

new text begin (2) divorce of a married couple when one of the spouses retains ownership of the property thereafter; new text end

new text begin (3) marriage of a single property owner when that owner retains ownership of the property in whole or in part thereafter; new text end

new text begin (4) organization into or reorganization of a farm entity ownership under section 500.24, if all owners maintain the same beneficial interest both before and after the organizational changes; and new text end

new text begin (5) placement of the property in trust provided that the individual owners of the property are the grantors of the trust and they maintain the same beneficial interest both before and after placement of the property in trust. new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment. new text end

Sec. 5.

new text begin [273.114] RURAL PRESERVE PROPERTY TAX PROGRAM. new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Definitions. new text end

new text begin (a) In this section, the terms defined in this subdivision have the meanings given them. new text end

new text begin (b) "Conservation management plan" means a written document approved by the soil and water conservation district providing a framework for site-specific healthy, productive, and sustainable conservation resources. A conservation management plan must include at least the following: new text end

new text begin (1) conservation management goals for the land; new text end

new text begin (2) a reliable field inventory of the individual conservation practices and cover types; new text end

new text begin (3) a description of the soil type and quality; new text end

new text begin (4) an aerial photo or map of the vegetation and other natural features of the land clearly indicating the boundaries of the conservation land; new text end

new text begin (5) the proposed future conditions of the land; new text end

new text begin (6) prescriptions to meet proposed future conditions of the land; new text end

new text begin (7) a recommended timetable for implementing the prescribed practices; and new text end

new text begin (8) a legal description of the land encompassing the parcels included in the plan. new text end

new text begin (c) The Board of Water and Soil Resources shall develop and distribute guidance for conservation management plan preparation and approval. new text end

new text begin (d) The commissioner of revenue is the final arbiter of disputes arising over plan approvals. new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Requirements. new text end

new text begin Class 2a or 2b property that had been assessed under Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 273.111, or that is part of an agricultural homestead under section 273.13, subdivision 23, paragraph (a), is entitled to valuation and tax deferment under this section if: new text end

new text begin (1) the land consists of at least ten acres; new text end

new text begin (2) a conservation management plan for the land must be prepared by an approved plan writer and implemented during the period in which the land is subject to valuation and deferment under this section; new text end

new text begin (3) the land must be enrolled for a minimum of ten years; and new text end

new text begin (4) there are no delinquent property taxes on the land. new text end

new text begin Real estate may not be enrolled for valuation and deferment under this section and section 273.111, 273.112, or 273.117, or chapter 290C concurrently. new text end

new text begin No more than 50 percent of the total acreage of an agricultural homestead may be class 2b property enrolled in this program. new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Determination of value. new text end

new text begin Notwithstanding sections 272.03, subdivision 8, and 273.11, the value of any real estate that qualifies under subdivision 2 must, upon timely application by the owner in the manner provided in subdivision 5, not exceed the value prescribed by the commissioner of revenue for class 2a tillable property in that county. The house and garage, if any, and the immediately surrounding one acre of land and a minor, ancillary nonresidential structure, if any, shall be valued according to their appropriate value. In determining the value for ad valorem tax purposes, the assessor shall not consider the presence of commercial, industrial, residential, or seasonal recreational land use influences that may affect the value of real estate subject to this section. new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Separate determination of market value and tax. new text end

new text begin The assessor shall make a separate determination of the market value of the real estate based on its highest and best use. The tax based upon that value and the appropriate local tax rate applicable to the property in the taxing district shall be recorded on the property assessment records. new text end

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Application and covenant agreement. new text end

new text begin (a) Application for deferment of taxes and assessment under this section shall be filed by May 1 of the year prior to the year in which the taxes are payable. Any application filed under this subdivision and granted shall continue in effect for subsequent years until the termination of the covenant agreement under paragraph (b). The application must be filed with the assessor of the taxing district in which the real property is located on the form prescribed by the commissioner of revenue. The assessor may require proof by affidavit or otherwise that the property qualifies under subdivision 2. new text end

new text begin (b) The owner of the property must sign a covenant agreement that is filed with the county recorder and recorded in the county where the property is located. The covenant agreement must include all of the following: new text end

new text begin (1) legal description of the area to which the covenant applies; new text end

new text begin (2) name and address of the owner; new text end

new text begin (3) a statement that the land described in the covenant must be kept as rural preserve land, which meets the requirements of subdivision 2, for the duration of the covenant; new text end

new text begin (4) a statement that the landowner may terminate the covenant agreement by notifying the county assessor in writing five years in advance of the date of proposed termination, provided that the notice of intent to terminate may not be given at any time before the land has been subject to the covenant for a period of five years; new text end

new text begin (5) a statement that the covenant is binding on the owner or the owner's successor or assigns and runs with the land; and new text end

new text begin (6) a witnessed signature of the owner, agreeing by covenant, to maintain the land as described in subdivision 2. new text end

new text begin (c) After a covenant under this section has been terminated, the land that had been subject to the covenant is ineligible for subsequent valuation under this section for a period of three years after the termination. new text end

new text begin Subd. 6. new text end

new text begin Additional taxes. new text end

new text begin Upon termination of a covenant agreement in subdivision 5, paragraph (b), the land to which the covenant applied shall be subject to additional taxes in the amount equal to the difference between the taxes determined in accordance with subdivision 3 and the amount determined under subdivision 4, provided that the amount determined under subdivision 4 shall not be greater than it would have been had the actual bona fide sale price of the real property at an arm's-length transaction been used in lieu of the market value determined under subdivision 4. The additional taxes shall be extended against the property on the tax list for the current year, provided that no interest or penalties shall be levied on the additional taxes if timely paid and that the additional taxes shall only be levied with respect to the current year plus two prior years that the property has been valued and assessed under this section. new text end

new text begin Subd. 7. new text end

new text begin Lien. new text end

new text begin The additional tax imposed by this section shall be a lien upon the property assessed to the same extent and for the same duration as other taxes imposed on the property in this state. The tax shall be annually extended by the county auditor and if and when payable shall be collected and distributed in the manner provided by law for the collection and distribution of other property taxes. new text end

new text begin Subd. 8. new text end

new text begin Special local assessments. new text end

new text begin The payment of special local assessments levied after June 1, 2011, for improvements made to any real property described in subdivision 1 together with the interest thereon shall, on timely application as provided in subdivision 6, be deferred as long as the property meets the conditions contained in this section. If special assessments against the property have been deferred pursuant to this subdivision, the governmental unit shall file with the county recorder in the county in which the property is located a certificate containing the legal description of the affected property and of the amount deferred. When the property no longer qualifies under subdivision 1, all deferred special assessments plus interest shall be payable in equal installments spread over the time remaining until the last maturity date of the bonds issued to finance the improvement for which the assessments were levied. If the bonds have matured, the deferred special assessments plus interest shall be payable within 90 days. The provisions of section 429.061, subdivision 2, apply to the collection of these installments. Penalty shall not be levied on these special assessments if timely paid. This subdivision does not apply to special assessments levied at any time by a county or district court under chapter 116A or by a watershed district under chapter 103D. new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective for deferred taxes payable in 2012 and thereafter. new text end

Sec. 6.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 273.13, subdivision 23, is amended to read:

Subd. 23.

Class 2.

(a) An agricultural homestead consists of class 2a agricultural land that is homesteaded, along with any class 2b rural vacant land that is contiguous to the class 2a land under the same ownership. The market value of the house and garage and immediately surrounding one acre of land has the same class rates as class 1a or 1b property under subdivision 22. The value of the remaining land including improvements up to the first tier valuation limit of agricultural homestead property has a net class rate of 0.5 percent of market value. The remaining property over the first tier has a class rate of one percent of market value. For purposes of this subdivision, the "first tier valuation limit of agricultural homestead property" and "first tier" means the limit certified under section 273.11, subdivision 23.

(b) Class 2a agricultural land consists of parcels of property, or portions thereof, that are agricultural land and buildings. Class 2a property has a net class rate of one percent of market value, unless it is part of an agricultural homestead under paragraph (a). Class 2a property deleted text begin may containdeleted text end new text begin must also include anynew text end property that would otherwise be classified as 2b, new text begin but is interspersed with class 2a property, new text end including but not limited to sloughs, wooded wind shelters, acreage abutting ditches, new text begin ravines, rock piles, land subject to a setback requirement, new text end and other similar land new text begin that is new text end impractical for the assessor to value new text begin separately from the rest of the property or that is unlikely to be able to be sold new text end separately from the rest of the property.

An assessor may classify the part of a parcel described in this subdivision that is used for agricultural purposes as class 2a and the remainder in the class appropriate to its use.

(c) Class 2b rural vacant land consists of parcels of property, or portions thereof, that are unplatted real estate, rural in character and not used for agricultural purposes, including land used for growing trees for timber, lumber, and wood and wood products, that is not improved with a structure. The presence of a minor, ancillary nonresidential structure as defined by the commissioner of revenue does not disqualify the property from classification under this paragraph. Any parcel of 20 acres or more improved with a structure that is not a minor, ancillary nonresidential structure must be split-classified, and ten acres must be assigned to the split parcel containing the structure. Class 2b property has a net class rate of one percent of market value unless it is part of an agricultural homestead under paragraph (a), or qualifies as class 2c under paragraph (d).

(d) Class 2c managed forest land consists of no less than 20 and no more than 1,920 acres statewide per taxpayer that is being managed under a forest management plan that meets the requirements of chapter 290C, but is not enrolled in the sustainable forest resource management incentive program. It has a class rate of .65 percent, provided that the owner of the property must apply to the assessor to receive the reduced class rate and provide the information required by the assessor to verify that the property qualifies for the reduced rate. The commissioner of natural resources must concur that the land is qualified. The commissioner of natural resources shall annually provide county assessors verification information on a timely basis.

(e) Agricultural land as used in this section means contiguous acreage of ten acres or more, used during the preceding year for agricultural purposes. "Agricultural purposes" as used in this section means the raising, cultivation, drying, or storage of agricultural products for sale, or the storage of machinery or equipment used in support of agricultural production by the same farm entity. For a property to be classified as agricultural based only on the drying or storage of agricultural products, the products being dried or stored must have been produced by the same farm entity as the entity operating the drying or storage facility. "Agricultural purposes" also includes enrollment in the Reinvest in Minnesota program under sections 103F.501 to 103F.535 or the federal Conservation Reserve Program as contained in Public Law 99-198 or a similar state or federal conservation program if the property was classified as agricultural (i) under this subdivision for the assessment year 2002 or (ii) in the year prior to its enrollment. Agricultural classification shall not be based upon the market value of any residential structures on the parcel or contiguous parcels under the same ownership.

(f) Real estate of less than ten acres, which is exclusively or intensively used for raising or cultivating agricultural products, shall be considered as agricultural land. To qualify under this paragraph, property that includes a residential structure must be used intensively for one of the following purposes:

(i) for drying or storage of grain or storage of machinery or equipment used to support agricultural activities on other parcels of property operated by the same farming entity;

(ii) as a nursery, provided that only those acres used to produce nursery stock are considered agricultural land;

(iii) for livestock or poultry confinement, provided that land that is used only for pasturing and grazing does not qualify; or

(iv) for market farming; for purposes of this paragraph, "market farming" means the cultivation of one or more fruits or vegetables or production of animal or other agricultural products for sale to local markets by the farmer or an organization with which the farmer is affiliated.

(g) Land shall be classified as agricultural even if all or a portion of the agricultural use of that property is the leasing to, or use by another person for agricultural purposes.

Classification under this subdivision is not determinative for qualifying under section 273.111.

(h) The property classification under this section supersedes, for property tax purposes only, any locally administered agricultural policies or land use restrictions that define minimum or maximum farm acreage.

(i) The term "agricultural products" as used in this subdivision includes production for sale of:

(1) livestock, dairy animals, dairy products, poultry and poultry products, fur-bearing animals, horticultural and nursery stock, fruit of all kinds, vegetables, forage, grains, bees, and apiary products by the owner;

(2) fish bred for sale and consumption if the fish breeding occurs on land zoned for agricultural use;

(3) the commercial boarding of horses if the boarding is done in conjunction with raising or cultivating agricultural products as defined in clause (1);

(4) property which is owned and operated by nonprofit organizations used for equestrian activities, excluding racing;

(5) game birds and waterfowl bred and raised for use on a shooting preserve licensed under section 97A.115;

(6) insects primarily bred to be used as food for animals;

(7) trees, grown for sale as a crop, including short rotation woody crops, and not sold for timber, lumber, wood, or wood products; and

(8) maple syrup taken from trees grown by a person licensed by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture under chapter 28A as a food processor.

(j) If a parcel used for agricultural purposes is also used for commercial or industrial purposes, including but not limited to:

(1) wholesale and retail sales;

(2) processing of raw agricultural products or other goods;

(3) warehousing or storage of processed goods; and

(4) office facilities for the support of the activities enumerated in clauses (1), (2), and (3),

the assessor shall classify the part of the parcel used for agricultural purposes as class 1b, 2a, or 2b, whichever is appropriate, and the remainder in the class appropriate to its use. The grading, sorting, and packaging of raw agricultural products for first sale is considered an agricultural purpose. A greenhouse or other building where horticultural or nursery products are grown that is also used for the conduct of retail sales must be classified as agricultural if it is primarily used for the growing of horticultural or nursery products from seed, cuttings, or roots and occasionally as a showroom for the retail sale of those products. Use of a greenhouse or building only for the display of already grown horticultural or nursery products does not qualify as an agricultural purpose.

The assessor shall determine and list separately on the records the market value of the homestead dwelling and the one acre of land on which that dwelling is located. If any farm buildings or structures are located on this homesteaded acre of land, their market value shall not be included in this separate determination.

(k) Class 2d airport landing area consists of a landing area or public access area of a privately owned public use airport. It has a class rate of one percent of market value. To qualify for classification under this paragraph, a privately owned public use airport must be licensed as a public airport under section 360.018. For purposes of this paragraph, "landing area" means that part of a privately owned public use airport properly cleared, regularly maintained, and made available to the public for use by aircraft and includes runways, taxiways, aprons, and sites upon which are situated landing or navigational aids. A landing area also includes land underlying both the primary surface and the approach surfaces that comply with all of the following:

(i) the land is properly cleared and regularly maintained for the primary purposes of the landing, taking off, and taxiing of aircraft; but that portion of the land that contains facilities for servicing, repair, or maintenance of aircraft is not included as a landing area;

(ii) the land is part of the airport property; and

(iii) the land is not used for commercial or residential purposes.

The land contained in a landing area under this paragraph must be described and certified by the commissioner of transportation. The certification is effective until it is modified, or until the airport or landing area no longer meets the requirements of this paragraph. For purposes of this paragraph, "public access area" means property used as an aircraft parking ramp, apron, or storage hangar, or an arrival and departure building in connection with the airport.

(l) Class 2e consists of land with a commercial aggregate deposit that is not actively being mined and is not otherwise classified as class 2a or 2b. It has a class rate of one percent of market value. To qualify for classification under this paragraph, the property must be at least ten contiguous acres in size and the owner of the property must record with the county recorder of the county in which the property is located an affidavit containing:

(1) a legal description of the property;

(2) a disclosure that the property contains a commercial aggregate deposit that is not actively being mined but is present on the entire parcel enrolled;

(3) documentation that the conditional use under the county or local zoning ordinance of this property is for mining; and

(4) documentation that a permit has been issued by the local unit of government or the mining activity is allowed under local ordinance. The disclosure must include a statement from a registered professional geologist, engineer, or soil scientist delineating the deposit and certifying that it is a commercial aggregate deposit.

For purposes of this section and section 273.1115, "commercial aggregate deposit" means a deposit that will yield crushed stone or sand and gravel that is suitable for use as a construction aggregate; and "actively mined" means the removal of top soil and overburden in preparation for excavation or excavation of a commercial deposit.

(m) When any portion of the property under this subdivision or subdivision 22 begins to be actively mined, the owner must file a supplemental affidavit within 60 days from the day any aggregate is removed stating the number of acres of the property that is actively being mined. The acres actively being mined must be (1) valued and classified under subdivision 24 in the next subsequent assessment year, and (2) removed from the aggregate resource preservation property tax program under section 273.1115, if the land was enrolled in that program. Copies of the original affidavit and all supplemental affidavits must be filed with the county assessor, the local zoning administrator, and the Department of Natural Resources, Division of Land and Minerals. A supplemental affidavit must be filed each time a subsequent portion of the property is actively mined, provided that the minimum acreage change is five acres, even if the actual mining activity constitutes less than five acres.

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective for assessments in 2010 for taxes payable in 2011, and thereafter. new text end

Sec. 7.

new text begin [273.1108] ANNUAL REPORT ON AGRICULTURAL VALUATION AND CLASSIFICATION. new text end

new text begin The commissioner of revenue must study and, by March 1 each year, report to the chairs and ranking minority members of the committees on taxes of the senate and the house of representatives on: new text end

new text begin (1) trends in market values of class 2a and 2b properties; new text end

new text begin (2) green acres value methodology and determinations; and new text end

new text begin (3) assessment and classification practices pertaining to class 2a and 2b property. new text end

Presented to the governor April 1, 2009

Signed by the governor April 3, 2009, 10:51 a.m.

Official Publication of the State of Minnesota
Revisor of Statutes