MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1999 Regular Session

To: Finance

By: Senator(s) Hall, Horhn, Harden

AN ACT TO PROVIDE THAT IF ANY LAND USED FOR AGRICULTURAL PURPOSES IS CONVERTED TO ANOTHER USE, THE TAX ASSESSOR SHALL COMPUTE THE AMOUNT SAVED BY THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ITS USE VALUE FOR AGRICULTURAL PURPOSES AND ITS TRUE VALUE FOR THE USE TO WHICH IT IS CONVERTED FOR A CERTAIN NUMBER OF YEARS PRECEDING THE CONVERSION; TO PROVIDE THAT THE AMOUNT SO COMPUTED BY THE TAX ASSESSOR SHALL BE LEVIED AND COLLECTED ON THE FIRST YEAR SUBSEQUENT TO THE CONVERSION IN USE IN THE SAME MANNER AS ARE OTHER AD VALOREM TAXES; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. (1) As used in this section, "roll-back taxes" means the amount of back tax differential a landowner would be required to pay as a result of converting land used for agricultural purposes to some other use.

(2) If any land used for agricultural purposes is converted to another use, the tax assessor shall compute the amount saved by the difference between its use value for agricultural purposes and its true value for the use to which it is converted as follows:

(a) For the preceding year for land converted in calendar year 1999;

(b) For the preceding two (2) years for land converted in calendar year 2000;

(c) For the preceding three (3) years for land converted in 2001;

(d) For the preceding four (4) years for land converted in 2002; and

(e) For the preceding five (5) years for land converted in calendar year 2003 and thereafter.

The tax assessor shall notify the tax collector of the amount of such taxes which are payable by virtue of the change of use.

(3) The amount computed by the tax assessor, as provided in subsection (2) of this section, shall be the roll-back taxes to be levied and collected on the first year subsequent to the conversion in use in the same manner and at the same time as are other ad valorem taxes.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 1999.