DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part of the
legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute part of the law
or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HB 502 Original 2023 Regular Session McFarland
Abstract: Removes the requirement that persons and entities seeking to qualify as commercial
farmers report income and expenses on a federal Schedule F form or other federal tax form
to the Department of Revenue.
Present law defines "commercial farmer" as those persons occupationally engaged in producing food
or agricultural commodities for sale. Further provides that these terms are limited to those persons
and entities regularly engaged in the commercial production for sale of vegetables, fruits, crops,
livestock, poultry, and other food or agricultural products that report farm income and expenses on
a federal Schedule F or similar federal tax form.
Proposed law modifies present law by removing the reference to reporting farm income and expenses
on a federal Schedule F or similar federal tax forms. Clarifies that individual and corporate entities
income and expenses are still to be reported to the Dept. of Revenue (DOR).
Present law specifies that the term "commercial farmer" may include a landowner who is a party of
a joint venture and who leases land to a commercial farmer. However, specifies that to qualify as
a commercial farmer, the lessee landowner must submit documentation of the joint venture
arrangement or a report of farm income and expenses from the joint venture on a federal Schedule
F form or similar federal tax form to the DOR so the secretary can determine if the taxpayer is a
commercial farmer.
Proposed law modifies present law by removing the requirement that the lessee landowner submit
documentation of the joint venture to the DOR on a federal Schedule F form or similar federal tax
form.
(Amends R.S. 47:301(30))