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ValuationProperty_tax_assessmentHARD

Chen owns a 200-acre farm in Carroll County that he actively uses for agricultural production. He is concerned about his property tax burden as surrounding land values have increased dramatically due to suburban development. Which Maryland program is specifically designed to reduce property taxes for actively farmed agricultural land?

Correct Answer

B) The Maryland Agricultural Use Assessment, which values qualifying farmland based on its agricultural use rather than market value

Maryland's Agricultural Use Assessment program (also called Preferential Assessment for Agricultural Land) allows qualifying farmland to be assessed based on its value for agricultural production rather than its full market value. This can result in dramatically lower assessments — and therefore lower property taxes — for actively farmed land, even when surrounding market values have increased due to development pressure. The program is administered by SDAT and requires the land to be actively used for agriculture.

Answer Options
A
The Maryland Homestead Tax Credit, which caps annual assessment increases for all property types
B
The Maryland Agricultural Use Assessment, which values qualifying farmland based on its agricultural use rather than market value
C
The Maryland Critical Area Tax Exemption, which reduces taxes for properties near the Chesapeake Bay
D
The Maryland Brownfields Tax Credit, which applies to agricultural land remediated from contamination

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Related Topics & Key Terms

Key Terms:

agricultural_use_assessmentpreferential_assessmentfarmlandproperty_tax_relief

Related Concepts

Many states have laws to limit how much property taxes can increase each year, regardless of market value fluctuations.

Various programs and exemptions exist to reduce the property tax burden for specific groups, such as seniors, homesteaders, or veterans.

A transfer tax is a tax imposed on the transfer of ownership of real estate.

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