NEW YORK 
Yield Tax!. 
1933. Reenacted 1959. 
Real Property Tax Law, Sec. 480. 
Classification 
Qualification. The property must contain at 
least 15 acres of forest land (1) which has been 
planted with an average of not less than 800 trees 
per acre or underplanted with an average of not 
less than 300 trees per acre, exclusive of water, 
bog, or ledge areas or areas otherwise unsuitable 
for planting; or (2) from which the majority of the 
mature timber has been removed in such manner 
as to insure a yield of merchantable timber or 
pulpwood; or (3) which already supports a stand 
of immature trees sufficient to produce such a 
yield within 30 years. 
Procedure. The owner makes application to the 
assessors in duplicate describing the property and 
setting forth information as to planting or natural 
reproduction. The assessors send one copy to the 
Conservation Department. The Department, if it 
approves, files a certificate of classification with 
the assessors and with the county clerk, who 
records it in the book of miscellaneous records. 
Conditions governing continued classification. 
Lands must be managed in the manner prescribed 
by the Department. When the stand averages 
40,000 board feet of merchantable softwoods or 
20,000 board feet of merchantable hardwoods per 
acre, or a relative proportion of the two in mix- 
ture, the Department may notify the owner that 
the yield tax will become payable and that lands 
will be withdrawn from classification 2 years from 
date of notice. Should the owner, within the 2- 
year period, cut such timber as directed by the 
Department according to the principles of practi- 
cal forest management, the tax on the uncut tim- 
ber does not become due and the property remains 
classified. Transfer of ownership does not affect 
classification. 
Declassification 
This is effected automatically upon removal of 
the forest growth (subject to reclassification 
through the regular procedure if the owner wishes 
to remain subject to the Act). Declassification 
1 Known as the “Fisher Forest Tax Law.” 
44 
Optional. Enacted 1926. Amended 1927, 1930, 1931, and 
may also be effected by the owner’s voluntary 
withdrawal, by his failure to manage the property 
according to requirements of the Department, or 
by his failure to cut timber within 2 years after 
notice from the Department as described above. 
A declassification tax is imposed of 6 percent on 
the value of the standing timber at time of de- 
classification. Such tax is assessed and collected in 
the same manner as the yield tax. 
Tax treatment 
Land. Eligible tracts are separately assessed on 
the basis of the value of land, including the value 
of any buildings or structures thereon, but ex- 
cluding the value of such planted or underplanted 
trees or natural reproduction. The assessment of 
an eligible tract shall be no higher than the valua- 
tion of similar lands without substantial forest 
growth situated in the same town, and at no time 
shall it exceed the valuation fixed at the time the 
application for classification is filed. 
Timber. Forest growth is exempt from the prop- 
erty tax but is subject to a yield tax of 6 percent 
on its stumpage value at time of harvest. 
Exemption. Timber cut for the owner’s use and 
not exceeding a stumpage value of $25 in any one 
year, and also thinnings made with the approval 
of the Department to improve the stand, are 
exempt. 
Tax administration 
Reports. An owner proposing to cut timber must 
give at least 30 days notice to the assessors who 
then assess the amount of yield tax payable. In 
case of dispute as to the stumpage value, the 
appeal procedure is similar to that under the 
general property tax. 
Collection. The yield tax is collected by the 
supervisor of the town and payment is required 
before the timber is removed from the premises. 
Use of revenue 
Two-thirds of the revenue from the yield tax is 
distributed to the town and one-third to the school 
district in which the land is situated. 
