Ontario Hunting Property owners question.

[Fire306]

Our hunting group/camp owns 400 acres and every year the property taxes climb. 400 acres in the middle of about 20,000 acres with no roads, no services, etc. We get essentially nothing for the taxes we pay. The only access is a road our camp built, approx 4 km from the nearest maintained road.
The taxes now are getting to the point of crippling our camp finances, without raising the amount of $ we each pay each year. It really isn't that expensive, but the cost each year to hunt one deer is expensive in that respect. It is just aggravating to see how much taxes we pay, for nothing in return.

I talked to another property owning in the WMU, who owns 500 acres, and they had their property inspected and got on a managed forest program to lower their taxes.

The question I have is, has anyone done this with their property? If so, is there a downside?
ontario.ca/page/managed-forest-tax-incentive-program

It drops taxes to 25% of municipal levels, but just wondering of long term implications, if property is sold, or changes hands (family). This property we have, is very unlikely to be sold, it was started as a hunting camp, to have for our children to hunt, and there is no end in sight for the camp, so really selling isn't really a worry.

 

[The ROC]

Have you Googled "Managed Forest". Before we bought our property we looked at one that was 300 acres of Managed Forest and a quick Google search on what it is revealed restrictions we didn't like.

We have 215 acres with a 600sq ft cabin, 3 km of unmaintained road from the main road, no hydro or water. Our yearly tax just went up to $925 a year.

 

[Superbrad]

I recently bought 62 acres.....been on the program and saved the cash...... There is a list of rules you must follow, and you must open your property to a an "auditor" for lack of a better word....

I am very happy with it.... I can still take deadfalls etc for firewood, trim saplings around my stands etc......

If you put the energy into meeting them and letting them walk the property with you and are courteous and ask questions you will be pleasantly surprised..... Met the guy at my gate, had hot coffee ready and brought in on my rhino and leant him a quad....

Treat them with respect, let them do their job and I wager you will be pleasantly surprised.... There is no obligation....

 

[LawrenceN]

Welcome to Wynne's Ontario! We'll pay more and more for less and less to fund the liberal deficit and her political stupidity! For sure, check out the managed forest program and you may want to look into the assessment appeals process while you're at it. Though it's not likely, you may be able to have your property re-assessed at a lesser rate if you appeal the decision.

 

[PEKS]

Only downside is the property, forest area, must be left alone. If you build or clear cut you must notify the managed-forest-tax-incentive-program of the changes. I believe they have the right to inspect the land. On another note, If you do any form of grievance or request a re-assessment of your property taxes be prepared. Do your homework on comparable properties in the area and taxes they pay. Nothing worse than having an evaluation of your taxes done, then they increase them.

 

[mrgoat]

Before I sold out my interest in the hunt camp we had 800 acres in Ontario. Our taxes were very little because a large portion of the land fell into an "ANSI" area (Area of Natural and Scientific Importance). If all or any part of your land is encompassed by one of these ANSI areas your exempt from paying property tax on the land. "But" you as the land owner have to find out if your land is in an ANSI area and then you have to apply for the tax break. If you don't apply you will not get the exemption and you have to reapply every year.
Your local MNR office that governs your land is where to inquire. As far as the Land Management Program. By all means look into it. If you can live with the stipulations and restrictions that you must to adhere to under the program great, if not the program is not for you.