Success with MFTIP (Manged Forest Tax Incentive Program) on Your Land?

Anyone have experience or suggestions for successfully applying and receiving property taxes benefits (possibly 75% off) by taking part in the Ontario Managed Forest Tax Incentive Program (MFTIP)?

Louis

I researched the scheme its interesting

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) Managed Forest Tax Incentive Program recognises the importance of these lands.
The goal of the MFTIP program is to bring greater fairness to the property tax system by valuing forestland according to its current use.

The Managed Forest Law (MFL) program is a landowner incentive program that encourages sustainable forestry on private woodland.
... MFL is the only forest tax law that is open to enrollment.
Land enrolled in the MFL program must be managed according to a plan agreed to by the landowner.

We had these in Australia used by converting open farmland to tree plantations.
It turned out to be a huge tax rip off, that sucked many in who no owe 100,000's of dollars and the schemes have collapsed
The organisers charged huge management fees.

I'm interested in hearing people's experiences on this too.

As a starting point, you might want to find your local stewardship council:

http://www.ontariostewardship.org/

The Environmental Commissioner of Ontario (ECO) is cautioning the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) that assessment changes by the Municipal Property Assessment Commission (MPAC) are likely to be detrimental to the forests of Ontario. The MNRF manages a program called the Managed Forest Tax Incentive Program (MFTIP) which offers a property tax reduction for landowners who join the program in exchange for following the prescribed forest management practices of the MNRF. The program, introduced in 1997, is very popular with more than 10,700 landowners participating by 2004.

The problem, according to the ECO, is that another branch of the Ontario government is jeopardizing the program by changing the assessment rules. Around 2003, MPAC began changing its methods of assessing managed forests such that they were assessed for their potential value for residential or commercial development rather than at the same rate, as promised by MNRF in 1997, as farmlands.

https://ontariolandowners.ca/news/a-cautionary-tale-from-the-environmental-commissioner-of-ontario-by-shirley-dolan/

Roy Hinkley wrote:The Environmental Commissioner of Ontario (ECO) is cautioning the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) that assessment changes by the Municipal Property Assessment Commission (MPAC) are likely to be detrimental to the forests of Ontario. The MNRF manages a program called the Managed Forest Tax Incentive Program (MFTIP) which offers a property tax reduction for landowners who join the program in exchange for following the prescribed forest management practices of the MNRF. The program, introduced in 1997, is very popular with more than 10,700 landowners participating by 2004.

The problem, according to the ECO, is that another branch of the Ontario government is jeopardizing the program by changing the assessment rules. Around 2003, MPAC began changing its methods of assessing managed forests such that they were assessed for their potential value for residential or commercial development rather than at the same rate, as promised by MNRF in 1997, as farmlands.

https://ontariolandowners.ca/news/a-cautionary-tale-from-the-environmental-commissioner-of-ontario-by-shirley-dolan/

I'd imagine that the current government wouldn't give many hoots about woodlands...

This is a great discussion to have. The more personal insights we can collect, the better-armed we all are to use such programs.

As inclined as I would normally be to dive headlong into the stinking, flaming dumpster fire that is provincial politics, I am instead going to remind all involved here that discussions of a political nature are relegated exclusively to the Cider Press. Let's keep it out of there for as long as we can, eh?

-CK

We applied for MFTIP this spring and just received official acceptance. The tax benefits should start next year.

As part of the application process, you need to prepare a forest plan with a qualified preparer. Doubtless you can just go through the motions, and consider the cost of preparing the plan as just the upfront $ investment for the future tax benefit. We are happy we picked a preparer who went beyond that, worked with us, and taught us interesting stuff (and showed us interesting online sources) about our trees, our forest, and our wildlife. And who has been in touch, at no charge, to discuss issues like gypsy moth caterpillar infestation etc.

Incidentally, Ducks Unlimited has a program to reimburse the applicant for a significant part of the plan preparation fee, in return for a committment of sorts to preserve woodlands and wetlands.

Hello from South Georgian Bay.
We have had to get someone in to assess our forested areas, to see how much of the 104 acres would qualify for MFTIP. That report cost about $2200.
Turns out about 81 acres qualified, and our property taxes went from around $15k to just under $7k - big difference.
It is a 10 year commitment, with an update required at the 5 year mark. We didn't have many stipulations - basically don't hack it all down for profit.
We are able to remove about 15 cords of fire wood for our own use, and, of course, all the dead ash trees are fair game. We also comitted to some trail maintenance, and invasive species removal, such as buckthorn and phragmites. It is a "best effort" situation, nobody really checks up on you.
Can't recommend this program enough - four of our immediate neighbors are part of this, and it's nice to know that at least some our forested neighbourhood might endure.
Good luck to all of us...,...