(a)

Terms Used In Tennessee Code 67-5-1005

  • Agricultural land: means land that meets the minimum size requirements specified in subdivision (1)(B) and that either:
    (i) Constitutes a farm unit engaged in the production or growing of agricultural products. See Tennessee Code 67-5-1004
  • Agriculture: means :
    (i) The land, buildings and machinery used in the commercial production of farm products and nursery stock. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • Appeal: A request made after a trial, asking another court (usually the court of appeals) to decide whether the trial was conducted properly. To make such a request is "to appeal" or "to take an appeal." One who appeals is called the appellant.
  • Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
  • Gross agricultural income: means total income, exclusive of adjustments or deductions, derived from the production or growing of crops, plants, animals, aquaculture products, nursery, or floral products, including income from the rental of property for such purposes and income from federal set aside and related agricultural management programs. See Tennessee Code 67-5-1004
  • Owner: means the person holding title to the land. See Tennessee Code 67-5-1004
  • Person: means any individual, partnership, corporation, organization, association, or other legal entity. See Tennessee Code 67-5-1004
  • Property: includes both personal and real property. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • State: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the several territories of the United States. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • United States: includes the District of Columbia and the several territories of the United States. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • written: includes printing, typewriting, engraving, lithography, and any other mode of representing words and letters. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • Year: means a calendar year, unless otherwise expressed. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
(1) Any owner of land may apply for its classification as agricultural by filing a written application with the assessor of property. The application must be filed by March 15. Reapplication thereafter is not required so long as the ownership as of the assessment date remains unchanged. Property that qualified as agricultural the year before under different ownership is disqualified if the new owner does not timely apply. The assessor shall send a notice of disqualification to these owners, but shall accept a late application if filed within thirty (30) days of the notice of disqualification and accompanied by a late application fee of fifty dollars ($50.00).
(2) The assessor shall determine whether such land is agricultural land, and, if such a determination is made, the assessor shall classify and include it as such on the county tax roll.
(3) In determining whether any land is agricultural land, the assessor of property shall take into account, among other things, the acreage of such land, the productivity of such land, and the portion thereof in actual use for farming or held for farming or agricultural operation. The assessor may presume that a tract of land is used as agricultural land, if the land produces gross agricultural income averaging at least one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500) per year over any three-year period in which the land is so classified. The presumption may be rebutted, notwithstanding the level of agricultural income by evidence indicating whether the property is used as “agricultural land” as defined in this part.
(4) In determining whether land is agricultural land, the assessor of property shall take into account whether the land is enrolled in a conservation program administered by the United States department of agriculture, whether the land is in a conservation easement as defined by § 66-9-303, or whether the land is restricted by § 68-212-225, if, at the time of its enrollment, the land was classified as agricultural land by the assessor of property.
(b) An application for classification of land as agricultural land shall be made upon a form prescribed by the state board of equalization and shall set forth a description of the land, a general description of the use to which it is being put, and such other information as the assessor may require to aid the assessor in determining whether the land qualifies for classification as agricultural land.
(c) The assessor shall verify actual agricultural uses claimed for the property during the on-site review provided under § 67-5-1601. The assessor may at any time require other proof of use or ownership necessary to verify compliance with this part.
(d) Any person aggrieved by the denial of any application for the classification of land as agricultural land has the same rights and remedies for appeal and relief as are provided in the general statutes for taxpayers claiming to be aggrieved by the actions of assessors of property or boards of equalization.