480-a Update Incentive

480-a, New York’s Forest Tax Law, requires enrolled landowners to update their plans every 5 years to keep receiving their tax break. If you have land enrolled in 480-a in the New York City Watershed and your update is coming due, the Watershed Agricultural Council has funding to help offset the cost of that update.

To find out if your property is in the NYC Watershed, please contact our office at 607-865-7790.

To receive the 480-a Update Incentive, do the following:

  1. Complete an application for WAC funding for updating your 480-a management plan and send it to us.
  2. Contact your Watershed Qualified Forester to make any necessary updates to your plan and submit them to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.
  3. Send WAC a copy of your 480-a update certificate, management plan, and work schedule. WAC will send you a check for your cost-share amount within 30 days.