The USDA Forest Service would like your assistance in developing an action plan regarding timber taxation educational activities in the future.

The Northeastern Area and the Washington Office are currently rethinking
how we deliver Federal Timber Tax assistance.  To help us make informed
decisions, the Northeastern Area is gathering information on interest
in/demand for Federal Timber Tax assistance among the 20 States.

In coordination with the Washington Office and the national Timber Tax
Team, we moving toward a more coordinated, “planned” approach to delivery
of assistance, moving away from a “respond to calls for assistance as they
come in” approach, to a system where at the beginning of the FY we know
already (for the most part) where we will providing assistance, to what
audience, in what context, etc.  Leveraging existing efforts that may be
happening figures prominently in our thinking of how this will roll out.

We currently deliver Federal Tax assistance in three different ways – as
follow:
1.    1-2 hour presentations briefly describing the provisions in the IRS
code that benefit Forest Landowners from the aspect of income
taxes.  This presentation is designed to make attendees aware of the
provisions that are available and to let their tax preparers know of
these provisions.
2.    A full day workshop describing the provisions in much more detail.
This workshop is designed for professionals (Foresters, tax preparers,

lawyers, accountants etc.).  This workshop provides specific forestry examples

and references to the IRS code to   give the attendees
enough information to be able to research the IRS code, court cases and
revenue rulings to determine what parts their client may be able to
benefit from.
3.    A two-day workshop that includes the topic of estate planning for
forest landowners.  The first day is the full timber tax workshop
as described in #2 and the second day is devoted to estate planning.  The
first half of the day explains the federallaws that apply to estate
planning and the second half of the day is designed to focus on a specific
state or states estate planning laws.  The State estate planning
sessions are not presented by the Forest Service and require coordination
with an expert in the appropriate state.

With these different approaches in mind, we’re asking, through this letter,
for your expressions of interest, and information on opportunities where we
might supplement, enhance or other wise contribute to efforts you are aware
of for FY06 and beyond.  We ask that in preparing a response that you
consult closely with Cooperative Extension and with Forest Landowner
associations in your State.  With your responses we will assemble a list of

      how many sessions,  of what type, where, in coordination with who,
      to what audiences ….

would benefit from Federal technical assistance.  That list would then be
considered in the light of available resources.

It would also be very helpful to know about workshops, seminars,
conferences that you might be aware of, where Federal Tax information is to
bee presented, but a role for the USDA FS is not foreseen.

Please keep in mind that this is a request for information is not a tied to
additional funding for what is or could be done. This is to determine the
needs, abilities of non Forest Service staff, the need for technical
assistance in this area, and for coordination of the delivery of this
information.

Responses to this request should be sent to Neal Bungard:
nbungard@fs.fed.us