Do You Qualify for Michigan's Qualified Forest Program?

Name: Baird Forestry, LLC
Address: Mason, MI, US
Telephone: (517) 290-0043
Price range: $$

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Free checklist

Do You Qualify for Michigan's Qualified Forest Program?

QFP can take up to 18 mills of school operating tax off your forestland, in exchange for a 20-year commitment to manage it. It fits some parcels and not others. Run down this list before you apply. The application deadline is September 1 for the following tax year.

At least 20 acres of forestland in one parcel.
Most of it is productive forest: at least 80% on a parcel of 20 to 40 acres, at least half on a larger parcel.
The acres are outside your Principal Residence Exemption. The PRE already exempts the same school mills, so QFP saves little on homestead ground.
You are willing to manage it as a working forest, including harvests, for 20 years.
You have no plans to develop, split, or sell it for conversion inside that window. Withdrawing triggers a recapture tax, and that tax doubles if no harvest ever happened.
You want a written forest management plan from a qualified forester. It is required for the program, and you keep the plan either way.
You would value keeping the taxable value capped at transfer. Enrolled land that stays enrolled does not uncap when it passes to the next owner.
You can get the plan and application postmarked by September 1 for the savings to start the next tax year.

The net benefit is up to 18 mills minus the 2-mill program fee, about $16 a year for every $1,000 of taxable value on the enrolled acres. Your real number comes off your own tax bill. Confirm current rules, fees, and the deadline on MDARD's Qualified Forest Program page before you file.

Baird Forestry · Michigan Registered Forester · #47097 · (517) 290-0043 · https://bairdforestry.com

Baird Forestry · Brandon Baird, Michigan Registered Forester · #47097 · (517) 290-0043 · baird.forestry@gmail.com · bairdforestry.com