Don Hofstrand Agricultural Economist Co-Director, Ag Marketing Resource Center
Critical Success Factors (can you answer YES to these questions?) Are the parents ready for a partner? Is the child committed to farming? Is the business large enough? Do you have a Common Vision of your future together? Can you live and work together? Are the non-farming children supportive?
Transfer Plan TestingCommitmentEstablishedWithdrawal Sale, Gift, Inheritance General Manager, Equal Voice Transfer Ownership Transfer Mgmt Transfer Mgmt. Divide Income Transfer Stages Wage, Contributions, Division, Lease
Business Arrangements Transfer Stages TestingCommitmentEstablishedWithdrawal WageLease Wage & Incentive Farm or Enterprise Operating Agreement Partnership Corporation Wage & Income Sharing Labor & Machinery Sharing Separate Operations Multi-Person Spin-Off
Transfer Period older party younger party time Short Transfer Period
Transfer Period Long Transfer Period older party younger party time
Two Basic Choices Multi-Person Arrangement Spin-Off Arrangement
Multi-Person Approach PC Business P & C Business P C
Spin-Off Approach Business C C C P P P
Tax Implications of Asset Transfers 1. Federal gift tax, no Iowa gift tax 2. Federal estate tax, Iowa inheritance tax 3. Federal & state income taxes Income Tax 3 Sales TaxesGift Taxes 1Death Taxes 2 Transfer Taxes Transfers SaleGiftInheritance
Income Tax Implications Machinery Example $50,000 fair market value $30,000 income tax basis
Income Tax Implications Sale – tax paid Seller$50,000 sale value 30,000 basis $20,000 taxable gain* Buyer$50,000 basis *depreciation recapture & capital gains
Income Tax Implications Gift – tax postponed Donor$50,000 gift value (gift tax) 0 taxable gain Donee$30,000 basis
Income Tax Implications Farmland Example $100,000 fair market value 60,000 income tax basis
Income Tax Implications Sale – tax paid Seller$100,000 sale value 60,000 basis $ 40,000 taxable gain Buyer$100,000 basis
Income Tax Implications Gift – tax postponed Donor$100,000 value (gift tax) 0 taxable gain Donee$ 60,000 basis
Income Tax Implications Inheritance – tax eliminated Decedent$100,000 value (death taxes) 0 taxable gain Recipient$100,000 basis
General Considerations Valuation Appraiser Dealer Auctioneer Disposal of machinery not wanted by successor
Transferring Ownership (personal property) Sale Leasing Gifting Combinations
Outright Sale Simple Tax consequences of seller Depreciation recapture Capital gains Cash flow needs of buyer (third party financing) New income tax basis for buyer
Installment Sale Payments spread over period of years Spreads buyers cash-flow commitment Tax consequences of seller Depreciation recapture Capital gains Seller financed New income tax basis for buyer
Piecemeal Sale Spread tax consequences of seller Depreciation recapture Capital gains New income tax basis for buyer Spreads buyers cash-flow commitment Flexible—can vary sale amount from year to year May use with a lease If retired and not leasing out unsold machinery, cannot claim depreciation
Gift No compensation received by donor (giver) No cash-flow commitment by donee (receiver) Financial needs of donor Equity issue with non-farm heirs Gift tax consequences $10,000 annual exclusion No income tax consequences of donor Donor’s income tax basis carries over to donee
Combination Sale/Gift Buyer cannot afford to pay full value for assets Seller cannot afford to give away asset Better utilization of annual gift tax exclusion Minimize sellers tax liability Lease/Sale
Order of Asset Transfer Operations & Feeder Livestock11 Breeding Livestock22 Machinery33 Buildings & Facilities44 Land55 Asset Younger Party Older Party
Decision Making Authority A. General Manager 1. On-going decisions Both parties 2. Major decisions Final authority
Decision Making Authority B. Equal Voice 1. Both parties 2. Final authority One party Vote Arbitration
Transferring Management Child’s goal = Develop management Parent’s goal = Protect financial interest and desire for control Traditional parent-child roles “Taking Things Easier” Training ground Written arrangement Consistency of goals
Tranferring Management 1. Division of Responsibility Enterprise division Functional division 2. Management Styles Analytical vs. interpersonal Competitor vs. peacemaker 3. Withdrawing from Management
Income Sharing Arrangements 1. Contributions approach – share income based on contributions 2. 50/50 approach – pay a return to resources and share residual
Contributions Approach ParentChild Resources (Annual value=$100) Resources (Annual value=$50) Joint Operation 67% contributed by parent 33% contributed by child
Contributions Approach Gross Income $300 67% to parent = $200 33% to child = $100 Direct Expenses $10067% to parent = $67 33% to child = $33 Net $200Parent = $133 Child = $67
50/50 Approach Gross Income$300 Direct Expenses$100 Net Return$200 Parent’s Resources (an. value)$100 Child’s Resources (an. value)$ 50 Net$ 50 ParentChild$ 25 $100$ 50 $125$ 75
Business Concept Opportunity Cost Assume I can use a resource in both Enterprise A and B. If I invest in A, the opportunity cost is the income I forgo by not investing in B. If I invest in B, the opportunity cost is the income I forgo by not investing in A.
Income Sharing Arrangement What is the annual value (cost) of a resource used in a business venture? Land Comparable cash rent Machinery & Livestock Return on investment Depreciation, etc. Operating Capital Return on investment
Contributions Approach Parent Child Total Land$52,000 Machinery24,0006,00030,000 Labor23,00033,00056,000 Management10,000 $109,000 8,000 $47,000 18,000 $156,000 Total Parent’s Share 109, ,000 = 70% Child’s Share 47, ,000 = 30%
Contributions Approach (allocating income) Parent’s Child’s Gross Income $186,200$79,800 Prod. Expenses -65, ,200 Return $120,400 $51,600
Contributions Approach (cash flow) Parent’s Child’s Return$120,400$51,600 Land Taxes -8,000 0 Land Debt -35,000 0 Machinery Debt -4,000 -3,000 Net Cash Flow $73,400$48,600
50/50 Approach Gross Receipts $266,000 Production Expenses -94,000 Net Return $172,000 Parent’s Land -52,000 Parent’s Machinery -24,000 Child’s Machinery -6,000 Parent’s Labor & Mgmt. -33,000 Child’s Labor & Mgmt. -41,000 Profit $ 16,000
50/50 Approach (allocating income) Parent Child Land $52,000$ 0 Machinery 24,000 6,000 Labor 23,000 33,000 Management 10,000 8,000 Profit 8,000 8,000 Total Return $117,000 $55,000
50/50 Approach (cash flow) Parent Child Total Return $117,000 $55,000 Land Taxes -8,000 0 Land Debt -35,000 0 Machinery Debt -4,000 -3,000 Net Cash Flow$70,000 $52,000
Problem Areas Parent’s Perspective Transfer their dreams Inspection tour Advice on raising children Social life Daughter-in-law Son-in-law
Problem Areas Adult Child’s Perspective Accept parent’s lifestyle Marriage spats Confidant Baby sitting Carrying stories
Keys to Success Strengthen Family Relationships Improve Communication Skills Recognize Individual Differences Allow for Management Participation Practice Family Decision Making Encourage Diversionary Activities Separate Housing is Required Fit the Agreement to the Situation
Keys to Success (continued) Develop a Written Agreement Update the Business Arrangement More than One Child Concerns of Off-Farm Heirs Parents Without an Interested Child
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