AA-Farm Land Identification Program (FLIP)

This document is based on information from the Government of New Brunswick (Services) Web site as of January 2008.

The program provides for the deferral of provincial property taxes on eligible farmland and outbuildings to encourage the preservation of real property for agricultural use.

Eligibility Criteria

Registration is open to all owners of real property. To be eligible, real property must meet certain criteria as established in the Farm Land Identification Program Regulation.

Summary

The Farm Land Identification Program (FLlP) is a voluntary program administered by the Department of Agriculture and Aquaculture, Finance and Service New Brunswick. The Department of Agriculture and Aquaculture evaluates applications and monitors the ongoing eligibility of registered properties. To be eligible, land must be in active use by an agricultural operation or if not in active use, it must be suitable (as defined in the Act) for use by an agricultural operation. Land will continue to be registered so long as it meets the above criteria.

The program provides for the deferral of the provincial tax rate of $1.50 per $100.00 of assessed value of registered farmland and farm outbuildings. The portion of the local or municipal tax rate that is above the average LSD rate for the province is also deferred. Owners of farm properties must submit an application to be considered for registration. Registration is a long term commitment to maintain land in agricultural use. There may be substantial financial costs to exiting the program.

When a property registered in the Farm Land Identification Program is deregistered or withdrawn from the program by the assessed owner, the deferred taxes to a maximum of 15 previous years together with associated interest becomes due and payable.

The total amount of interest added to the deferred taxes payable upon deregistration or withdrawal on or after September 1, 2007 from the Farm Land Identification Program is limited to a maximum of 50% of the total taxes deferred.

For additional information on the FLIP, contact your local office of the Department of Agriculture and Aquaculture or call 506-453-2109.

New Brunswick Contact(s):
Land and Environment
Agriculture and Aquaculture
P. O. Box 6000
Fredericton, New Brunswick  E3B 5H1
Telephone: 506-453-2109
Fax: 506-453-7406