Hansen, Gregory D.; Kinnucan, Henry; Otto, Daniel

North Central Journal of Agricultural Economics Vol. 8 no. 1 (January 1986): 69-81.

Farm survey data for Iowa and Alabama are analyzed and related to Internal Revenue Service sample data for these states and published tax statistics for the agricultural sector as a whole. The primary research objective was to characterize several categories of tax preparation and management costs associated with the three taxes levied on income in these states. Typical tax preparation costs were estimated to range from 650-1,000 for the two states when the cost of operator time was included with preparation fees. This compliance cost was estimated to represent as much as 40 percent of the income tax liabilities of commercial size farms, and a higher percentage for small farms. There was a clear perception among the farmers sampled that the income tax system strongly influenced farm investment, marketing and management decisions. Relationships between preparation costs and operator and farm characteristics were explored with regression analysis.