Producers have until March 2011 to file their returns without penalty. If they made an estimated tax payment by Jan. 18, they have until April 18 to file.

For 2010 only, a deduction for health insurance can be made against self- employment income. Previously, you could take a deduction for family health insurance to adjust total income but not self-employment income.

The 179 expense election is $500,000. Generally, the 179 expense election allows producers to deduct up to $500,000 of machinery or equipment purchases for the year of the purchase. There is a dollar-for-dollar phase-out for purchases of more than $2 million. It is scheduled to remain at $500,000 for 2011.

The additional first-year bonus depreciation provision is in effect. It is equal to 50% of adjusted basis after 179 expensing. It only applies to new property purchased in 2010 and has a recovery period of 20 years or less. For new qualifying property purchased after Sept. 8, 2010, a 100% bonus depreciation is available.

The standard deduction is $11,400 for those who are married and filing jointly. The deduction is $5,700 for singles.

The personal exemption amount is $3,650.

Qualified dividend income is taxed at a 0% rate for individuals in the 10-15% tax brackets and at 15% for those in higher tax brackets.

Long-term capital gains are taxed at a 0% rate for individuals in the 10-15% tax brackets and at 15% for those in higher tax brackets.

The child tax credit is $1,000/qualifying child.

The annual IRA contribution is $5,000 for 2010 or $6,000 for individuals 50 or older.

The annual gift tax exclusion is $13,000.

The 2010 Social Security wage base is $106,800.

The business mileage rate for 2010 is 50¢/mile.

There is a new credit for those producers who pay health insurance for their employees. For those who qualify, the credit may be up to 35% of employer health insurance premiums paid. This is done on Form 8941, Credit for Small Employer Health Insurance Premiums.

Crop insurance proceeds, if received in 2010, may be deferred to 2011 if you qualify. You must use cash accounting and show that, under normal business practices, the sale of damaged crops would occur in a future tax year.

A livestock deferral can be made by those who had a forced sale of livestock because of a weather-related disaster. Two methods can be used. In the first method, income can be deferred to the next year for all types of livestock sold prematurely. In the second method, income from livestock held for draft, breeding or dairy purposes is not taxed if like-kind animals are repurchased within four years (or more depending on weather conditions or disaster declarations) from the end of the tax year in which the animals were sold. Only the gain on the sale of those animals beyond what normally was sold would qualify for postponement.

Remember that qualifying farmers can elect to compute their current tax liability by averaging, during a three-year period, all or part of the current year elected farm income. This is done on Schedule J.

Information on agricultural tax topics can be found in the "Farmers Tax Guide," publication 225. It is available at any IRS office or can be ordered by calling 800-829-3676. Any questions about these topics should be addressed to your tax professional or the IRS at 800- 829-1040 or www.irs.gov.
-- NDSU Agriculture Communications