To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide an exclusion for gain from the sale of farmland which is similar to the exclusion from gain on the sale of a principal residence.

January 8, 2003

Mr. OSBORNE (for himself, Mr. BEREUTER, Mr. POMEROY, Mr. PAUL, Mr. NETHERCUTT, Mr. FLAKE, Mr. WAMP, Mr. KENNEDY of Minnesota, Mr. WHITFIELD, Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin, Mr. WILSON of South Carolina, Mr. FROST, Mr. SMITH of Michigan, Mrs. EMERSON, Mr. REHBERG, Mr. LEWIS of Kentucky, and Mr. SOUDER) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means

To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide an exclusion for gain from the sale of farmland which is similar to the exclusion from gain on the sale of a principal residence.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the `Farmland Capital Gains Equity Act of 2003'.

SEC. 2. EXCLUSION OF GAIN FROM SALE OF CERTAIN FARMLAND.

(a) IN GENERAL- Part III of subchapter B of chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to items specifically excluded from gross income) is amended by adding after section 121 the following new section:

`SEC. 121A. EXCLUSION OF GAIN FROM SALE OF QUALIFIED FARM PROPERTY.

`(a) EXCLUSION- In the case of a natural person, gross income shall not include gain from the sale or exchange of qualified farm property.

`(b) LIMITATION ON AMOUNT OF EXCLUSION-

`(1) IN GENERAL- The amount of gain excluded from gross income under subsection (a) with respect to any taxable year shall not exceed $500,000 ($250,000 in the case of a married individual filing a separate return), reduced by the aggregate amount of gain excluded under subsection (a) for all preceding taxable years.

`(2) SPECIAL RULE FOR JOINT RETURNS- The amount of the exclusion under subsection (a) on a joint return for any taxable year shall be allocated equally between the spouses for purposes of applying the limitation under paragraph (1) for any succeeding taxable year.

`(c) QUALIFIED FARM PROPERTY- For purposes of this section--

`(1) IN GENERAL- The term `qualified farm property' means real property located in the United States if, during periods aggregating 3 years or more of the 5-year period ending on the date of the sale or exchange of such real property--

`(A) such real property was used by the taxpayer or a member of the family of the taxpayer as a farm for farming purposes, and

`(B) there was material participation by the taxpayer (or such a member) in the operation of the farm.

`(2) OTHER DEFINITIONS- The terms `member of the family', `farm', and `farming purposes' have the respective meanings given such terms by paragraphs (2), (4), and (5) of section 2032A(e).

`(3) SPECIAL RULES- Rules similar to the rules of paragraphs (4) and (5) of section 2032A(b) and paragraphs (3) and (6) of section 2032A(e) shall apply.

`(d) OTHER RULES- For purposes of this section, rules similar to the rules of subsection (e) and subsection (f) of section 121 shall apply.'

(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT- The table of sections for part III of subchapter B of chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding after the item relating to section 121 the following new item:

`Sec. 121A. Exclusion of gain from sale of qualified farm property.'

(c) EFFECTIVE DATE- The amendment made by this section shall apply to any sale or exchange on or after May 7, 1997, in taxable years ending after such date.

END