$36 billion and counting
iAbuse of the conservation easement tax incentive has ballooned in recent years from $6 billion in illicit claimed deductions in 2016, to $6.8 billion in 2017 to $9.2 billion in 2018 — for a total of $36 billion since 2010.
The 2018 IRS data, released by Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Ron Wyden (D-Oregon) on Sept. 21, reveal that aggressive actions by the land trust community, the IRS and U.S. Department of Justice in recent years have been unable to halt profiteering in the face of such massive profits for promoters of these deals.
But with your help, we now have a chance to stop the abuse once and for all.
The Land Trust Alliance has long advocated strong support for the permanent conservation easement tax incentive — a powerful tool that has helped tens of thousands of Americans with charitable intent conserve their land voluntarily.
Conservation easements are charitable donations in which donors give up something of value for the public good. Tax deductions for these donations are incentives to do the right thing, and there is evidence that they are an effective way to spur people to conserve their land — and a cost-effective way for the government to conserve lands.
Unfortunately, as the latest data make clear, in recent years, brazen and continued abuse of conservation donations by a few bad actors have cost taxpayers billions of dollars. These bad actors and these transactions must be stopped.
Luckily, a solution is ready for Congress to pass. The Charitable Conservation Easement Program Integrity Act will safeguard taxpayers by stopping these bad actors from their profiteering, all while allowing conservation donations motivated by charity to continue unimpacted. This legislation is concise, sensible, and ready for passage in the House and Senate.
But we can't do it without your help. Please, contact your members of Congress and ask them to cosponsor the Charitable Conservation Easement Program Integrity Act. Your support of this cause — and defense of taxpayers — is essential in securing the reputation of our community.
Together, we have a real opportunity to pass the Charitable Conservation Easement Program Integrity Act. The time to act is now.
Andrew Bowman is president and CEO of the Land Trust Alliance.