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New Member
posted Jun 5, 2019 10:30:35 PM

If I sell farm land for less than the assessed value do I need to report the proceeds on my taxes?

Acquired 2005. Assessed 2005 @ $5K acre.  Selling for $2.8 acre.  Never used for profit.

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1 Best answer
Expert Alumni
Jun 5, 2019 10:30:36 PM

If you sold property that wasn't used for business or investment at a loss, you would need to report the sale if you received a 1099-S for the sale. You won't be able to claim a loss, and your taxes won't change, but you need to report the sale.

You say that you sold the land for less than the assessed value. But did you sell the property for less than your original cost basis?

Gain or loss isn't computed on the assessed value. It's computed on your cost basis, which can be what you originally paid for it, the fair market value of it as of the date of death (if you inherited  the property) or the giver's basis (if you received the property as a gift).

Please see this link for more information: https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p551.pdf

To report this sale in TurboTax  Premier:

Go to Federal Taxes and Choose Wages and Income (In TurboTax Home & Business choose the Personal tab)

Scroll to Investment income, and choose Stocks, Mutual Funds, Bonds, Other.

On the  screen Choose the type of investment you sold choose Everything Else.

On the screen Tell Us How You Acquired This Property choose Inheritance. And continue answering the interview questions.

3 Replies
Expert Alumni
Jun 5, 2019 10:30:36 PM

If you sold property that wasn't used for business or investment at a loss, you would need to report the sale if you received a 1099-S for the sale. You won't be able to claim a loss, and your taxes won't change, but you need to report the sale.

You say that you sold the land for less than the assessed value. But did you sell the property for less than your original cost basis?

Gain or loss isn't computed on the assessed value. It's computed on your cost basis, which can be what you originally paid for it, the fair market value of it as of the date of death (if you inherited  the property) or the giver's basis (if you received the property as a gift).

Please see this link for more information: https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p551.pdf

To report this sale in TurboTax  Premier:

Go to Federal Taxes and Choose Wages and Income (In TurboTax Home & Business choose the Personal tab)

Scroll to Investment income, and choose Stocks, Mutual Funds, Bonds, Other.

On the  screen Choose the type of investment you sold choose Everything Else.

On the screen Tell Us How You Acquired This Property choose Inheritance. And continue answering the interview questions.

New Member
Jun 5, 2019 10:30:37 PM

Property inherited and fair mkt value determined by professional assessor at time of inheritance.  Property sold for less than this fair mkt value this tax yr.  TurboTax will display sale on correct form and no extra tax consequences this year?

Expert Alumni
Jun 5, 2019 10:30:39 PM

Yes, that's correct. I am amending my answer to show the steps to report this sale, and a screenshot.