Current Use Taxes & Income Tax

Current use describes the present condition of undeveloped land and is an assessing and taxing method that considers the current use of the land to determine the assessed land-value and subsequent property tax, rather than using the "highest and best" use of the land to determine annual property tax.

State law (RSA-79) declares it to be in the public interest to preserve open space "...providing a healthful and attractive outdoor environment for work and recreation of the state's citizens, maintaining the character of the state's landscape, and conserving the land, water, forest, agricultural and wildlife resources...Open space land imposes few if any costs on local government and is therefore an economic benefit to its citizens...It is the intent of this chapter to encourage but not to require management practices on open space lands under current use assessment" (RSA 79-A:1).

Resources

• Forest Stewardship and Current Use: A Primer
• Overview of Current Use Assessment
• Current Use Criteria Booklet
• N.H. Dept. of Revenue Administration Current Use webpage

In addition to the public benefit, current use benefits individual woodlot owners by keeping land affordable. To learn more contact your County Extension Forester.