U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines today sponsored the bipartisan Charitable Conservation Easement Program Integrity Act, legislation to target tax scammers who threaten a critical conservation program used in Montana.
“As Montanans, we value the natural beauty of the outdoors,” said Daines. “We must protect the integrity of conservation incentives meant to encourage public enjoyment by prohibiting scammers from taking advantage of taxpayers.”
Background:
Current law allows taxpayers who place their property into a conservation easement to receive a tax deduction for the market value of the land. This encourages land conservation for the public’s enjoyment. Senator Daines cosponsored the Conservation Easement Incentive Act of 2015 during the 114th Congress to permanently increase the deductible amount to 100 percent of the land value.
The Charitable Conservation Easement Program Integrity Act would prevent dishonest investment firms from manipulating the charitable conservation deduction by using inflated appraisals to turn a profit on the backs of taxpayers.
To read the full text of the bill, click HERE.
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