Forestry (!)
Author
Discussion

UpTheIron

Original Poster:

4,057 posts

291 months

Thursday 15th December 2005
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When discussing investments (business and personal) with a few people over the past couple of years, woodland has now been mentioned to me on more than one occasion as a potentially good investment.

Does anyone have any knowledge of this sector?

Cheers
Paul

insurance_jon

4,091 posts

269 months

Thursday 15th December 2005
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www.woodlands.co.uk/

I think you will find this helps!

UpTheIron

Original Poster:

4,057 posts

291 months

Thursday 15th December 2005
quotequote all
insurance_jon said:
www.woodlands.co.uk/

I think you will find this helps!


Been there already . It is about owning woodland for the enjoyment of using it for leisure purposes...I want to know about owning woodland for the money

insurance_jon

4,091 posts

269 months

Friday 16th December 2005
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I just meant from the for sale point of view. Paintballing?

billsnemesis

817 posts

260 months

Friday 16th December 2005
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There was a tax dodge some years ago that made woodland attractive - I recall mention of Steve Davis having put a lot of money into it for that reason. Not being a tax expert I am a bit hazy on the details but it was something about choosing to have it taxed based on the income while the trees were growing (income being zero at that point) and then changing the basis of taxation just before the timber was felled and sold so that tax was calculated on land value.

I think they closed it off some time ago but I would guess that one of the accountants on this forum could fill in the specifics.

randlemarcus

13,646 posts

254 months

Friday 16th December 2005
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Eric Mc will be along just as soon as someonce suggests that this is a license to print money

Eric Mc

124,764 posts

288 months

Friday 16th December 2005
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Who said LICENSE?

Regarding Forestry (or Woodlands as the Inland Revenue call it - tax collectors have hated the word "Forest" since the days of Robin Hood).

Profits on woodland derived income are tax free (yipee). However, no loss relief or allowances for costs incurred during the initial phase of planting are available .

The is no Capital Gains Tax charged either on the sale of trees - felled or otherwise (double yipee). However, there might be a Capital Gain on the disposal proceeds relating to the "land" element of the original purchase. Therefore, having an accurate split of the original purchase cost between "Land " and "Wood" would be important.

Selling wood and wood related produce derived from a "Short Rotation Coppice" type development falls outside the normal "Woodland" tax exemptions.

D Stanley

97 posts

265 months

Sunday 18th December 2005
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I have a close friend who works for one of the big forrestry agencies. He has complained recently that they are srtuggling to make money. It is particularly difficult to make money out of smaller plots. It is true that money earned from forrestry is tax free, but I believe that the main dodge is buying large forrests and passing them on to relatives to avoid inherritance tax.

Eric Mc

124,764 posts

288 months

Sunday 18th December 2005
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Yep - concentrate on making profits first, then worry about the tax. You are guaranteed to pay no tax if you make no profits.