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NYS DEC LogoBruce Barnard's 480a Forest Tax Law Online Forms & Publications

Please click on the item's graphic or description below to link to the publication.. usually in Adobe PDF, fillable form, format.  These can be downloaded either by saving in Adobe after bringing up the publication or right-click on the image and "Save link/target as...."
480a Forest Tax LawNYS Real Property Tax Law §480a - AKA 480a Forest Tax Law (44 K)

This is the actual text of  §480a of the NYS Real Property Tax Law, otherwise known as the 480a Forest Tax Law.
Part 199 Rules and RegsNYS DEC Rules & Regulations Part 199 - Taxation of Forest Land (78 K)

This is the actual text of the NYS DEC Rules & Regulations Part 199 - Taxation of Forest Land which was promulgated by the Department under the auspices of Section 480a of the NYS Real Property Tax Law.
480a Penalties480a Penalties and Their Computation (64 K)
This covers the calculation of the penalties on lands that are to be removed from 480a, either voluntarily or by violation.  It covers the removal of the total parcel certified under the 480a Forest Tax Law as well as the removal of a portion of a parcel under 480a.
This was the first "Snowflake" from the Ray Brook Office to foresters in the field in 1997 - informational missives that covered a topic or situation in 480a.  They used to be statewide, and used internally in DEC, but that has long since ceased to be.  You have to be an "480a Old Timer" to remember these.
Application for Certificate of Approval FormApplication for Certificate of Approval form (97 K)
This is the form you will need, along with your 480a Management Plan with Type Maps, to apply for certification under Section 480a of the NYS Real Property Tax Law.

This form is provided as a fillable form, PDF format, document
Commitment of Land form Commitment of Land form (65 K)
You need to file this form with your assessor and local DEC office at time of inital application for exemption and also annually.
NOTE:  This is a NEW VERSION of this form.. as of 10/08 - This is the one you must now use - Note the optional section at the bottom.

This form is provided as a fillable form, PDF format, document
Real Property Application for Real Property ExemptionRP-480a Form - Application for Real Property Tax Exemption for Forest Land (82 K)
This is actually a form from the NYS Board of Real Property Services.  You need to file this form with your assessor initially, to receive the actual exemption granted under the 480a Forest Tax Law.

This form is provided as a fillable form, PDF format, document
Initial Exemption Process Flow Chart Initial 480a Exemption Process Flow Chart (38 K)
This form is provided as information on how the process of applying for 480a Certification and Exemption is carried out
Requirements for a 480a Management Plan480a Management Plan Requirements (41 K)
This form is the check-off sheet that I use to ascertain whether or not a management plan meets the requirements of the 480a program.  It was put together referencing the 480a RPTL, Part 199 of the Rules & Regulations, and the 480a Handbook


Boundary Line Requirements 480a Boundary Line Requirements (32 K)
This form is what we use in the Ray Brook office as a formal description of what is required for a property's boundary lines to comply with 480a.
NCC FormNotice of Commercial Cutting form (1.0 mb)
You need to file this form with your local DEC office at least 30 days before a planned harvest on lands under the 480a Forest Tax Law


This form is provided as a fillable form, PDF format, document
Certificate of Approval Form480a Certificate of Approval Form (690 K)
This form is aimed at, and for the use of, DEC 480a foresters as a quick, fillable form document for filling out, printing, and storing
480a Certificates of Approval for certified properties.

This form is provided as a fillable form, PDF format, document
Forest Land Classification & Treatment Rpt480a Forest Land Classification & Treatment Report Form (526 K)
This form is aimed at, and for the use of, foresters as a quick, fillable form document for filling out, printing, and storing
480a Forest Land Classification and Treatment Reports that are required in the 480a Management Plans for certified properties.
This form is provided as a fillable form, PDF format, document
Stand Diagnosis and Prescription FormStand Diagnosis and Prescription Form (30 K)
This form is aimed at, and for the use of, foresters as a quick, fillable form document for filling out, printing, and storing
Stand Diagnosis and Prescription forms that are suggested as examples in Exhibit 2-4 of the 480a FOREST TAX LAW CERTIFICATION HANDBOOK.

This form is provided as a fillable form, PDF format, document
480 Fisher Tax LawNYS Real Property Tax Law §480 - AKA Fisher Forest Tax Law (23 K)

This is the actual text of  §480 of the NYS Real Property Tax Law otherwise known as the Fisher Tax Law.

Note: Although this website contains NYS DEC information, this is not a NYS DEC authorized site....
Just trying to help the public with items that should be available online.
If you have suggestions for any other NYS DEC Lands & Forests items that should be online, please email me.

Responsible party:
Bruce Barnard
NYS DEC Senior Forester (Retired!)
Click to email: bruce@barnardclan.com
(518) 327-3705