Relating to late applications for the appraisal of land for ad valorem tax purposes as qualified timber land following the death of the owner of the land.

Contracts

• Legal Engagement Letters: Estate planning and probate attorneys must revise engagement letters to clarify that while the April 30 filing deadline is soft for decedent estates under this law, the delinquency date is a hard stop for penalty waivers.
• Property Management Agreements: Review indemnification clauses with timber managers. If a manager misses the standard April 30 deadline due to an owner's death, they are no longer liable for the 10% penalty, provided they cure the filing before the delinquency date.

Hiring/Training

• Intake Protocols: Train tax agents and estate administrators to immediately verify the date of death for any new succession file. If the death occurred in the preceding tax year, the file must be flagged for "Penalty Waiver Eligibility."
• Staff Training: Junior associates must be trained to distinguish between a standard "Late Application" (subject to 10% penalty) and a "Post-Mortem Late Application" (penalty-free).

Reporting & Record-Keeping

• Documentation: To trigger the waiver, you must submit:
• 1. Form 50-167: The standard timber appraisal application.
• 2. Proof of Death: Certified death certificate showing death in the preceding tax year.
• 3. Proof of Capacity: Letters Testamentary or documentation proving status as a surviving spouse, child, or fiduciary.
• Calendar Updates: CRM systems must track the "Delinquency Date" (Feb 1) as the absolute final deadline for these specific files, rather than the standard late-filing deadline.

Fees & Costs

• Penalty Elimination: The 10% penalty on the difference between market tax and timber tax is eliminated for eligible applicants.
• Budget Impact: Positive. This prevents significant tax leakage during estate administration.