Appraisal Institutions
One of the requirements for receiving the federal tax deduction for a
donated conservation easement is to have an appraisal of the gift, and the
Pension Protection Act (H.R. 4) requires appraisals for such non-cash
charitable contributions to be performed in conformance with generally accepted
appraisal standards and performed by a "qualified appraiser".
The new definition in the act recognizes professionally designated appraisers
or those meeting IRS requirements, and requires appraisers to present
verifiable education and experience of conservation easements.
In light of this, the three largest professional appraisal
organizations in the United
States and the Land Trust Alliance
entered into a formal agreement to help ensure the quality of appraisals used
in connection with conservation easements. The centerpiece of the collaboration
is a new certificate program for appraisers, which will raise the bar for
easement appraisals and increase understanding about the appraisal process for
such easements.
Download a list of appraisers who have completed this certificate course:
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By state [PDF 146MB]
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By last name of appraiser [PDF 149MB]
Appraising Easements, 3rd Edition is an Alliance book on the subject with selected revenue procedures, revenue rulings and cases relevant to easement violations, sample documents and a step-by step analysis of appraisal methodologies. The Appraisal Institute is publishing a completely new appraisal handbook in cooperation with the Alliance that is expected in Spring 2009.
The Appraisal Institute (AI)
550 W. Van Buren Street, Suite 1000
Chicago, IL 60607
Phone: (312) 335-4100
Fax: (312) 335-4400
American Society of Appraisers (ASA)
555 Herndon Parkway, Suite 125
Herndon, VA 20170
Phone: (800) 272-8258 or (703) 478-2228
Fax: (703) 742-8471
American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers (ASFMRA)
950 South Cherry Street, Suite 508
Denver, CO 80246-2664
Phone: (303) 758-3513
Fax: (303) 758-0190
Find an appraiser through ASFMRA
IRS Provides Guidance on "qualified appraiser" to the Land Trust Alliance
In late 2006, the Land Trust Alliance received guidance from the IRS on several questions regarding the reforms for appraisals and appraisers. The IRS clarified that appraisals made before August 17, 2006 did not need to meet the new requirements passed in the Pension Protection Act. It also further defines who is qualified as a "qualified appraiser" under the new law.
