You are in the business of farming if you cultivate, operate, or manage a farm for profit, either as owner or tenant. A farm includes livestock, dairy, poultry, fish, fruit, and truck farms. It also includes plantations, ranches, ranges, and orchards.

This publication explains how the federal tax laws apply to farming. Use this publication as a guide to figure your taxes and complete your farm tax return. If you need more information on a subject, get the specific IRS tax publication covering that subject. We refer to many of these free publications throughout this publication. See chapter 16 for information on ordering these publications.

The explanations and examples in this publication reflect the Internal Revenue Service's interpretation of tax laws enacted by Congress, Treasury regulations, and court decisions. However, the information given does not cover every situation and is not intended to replace the law or change its meaning. This publication covers subjects on which a court may have made a decision more favorable to taxpayers than the interpretation of the Service. Until these differing interpretations are resolved by higher court decisions, or in some other way, this publication will continue to present the interpretation of the Service.

The IRS has created a page on IRS.gov for information about Publication 225, at  
www.irs.gov/pub225. Information about recent developments affecting Publication 225 will be posted on that page.

The following items highlight a number of administrative and tax law changes for 2012. They are discussed in more detail throughout the publication.

Standard mileage rate. For 2012, the standard mileage rate for the cost of operating your car, van, pickup, or panel truck for each mile of business use is 55.5 cents. See chapter 4.

Decreased section 179 expense deduction dollar limits. The maximum amount you can elect to deduct for most section 179 property you placed in service in 2012 is $139,000. This limit is reduced by the amount by which the cost of the property placed in service during the tax year exceeds $560,000. See chapter 7.

Expiration of special depreciation allowance for certain qualified property acquired after September 8, 2010. The 100% special depreciation allowance will only apply to certain property with a long production period and certain aircraft placed in service before January 1, 2013. See chapter 7.

Expiration of special depreciation allowance for certain qualified property acquired after December 31, 2007. . The 50% special depreciation allowance for certain qualified property acquired after December 31, 2007, will expire for most property placed in service after December 31, 2012. See chapter 7.

Tax rates. For tax years beginning in 2012, the social security part of the self-employment tax remains at 10.4%. The Medicare part of the tax remains at 2.9%. As a result, the self-employment tax is 13.3%. See chapter 12.

Maximum net earnings. The maximum net self-employment earnings subject to the social security part (10.4%) of the self-employment tax increased to $110,100 for 2012. There is no maximum limit on earnings subject to the Medicare part (2.9%). See chapter 12.

Social security and Medicare tax for 2012. The employee tax rate for social security is 4.2% and the employer tax rate for social security is 6.2%, unchanged from 2011. The Medicare tax rate is 1.45% each for employers and employees. See chapter 13.

VOW to Hire Heroes Act of 2011. On November 21, 2011, the President signed into law the VOW to Hire Heroes Act of 2011. This new law provides an expanded work opportunity tax credit to businesses that hire eligible unemployed veterans and, for the first time, also makes part of the credit available to certain tax-exempt organizations. Businesses claim the credit as part of the general business credit and tax-exempt organizations claim it against their payroll tax liability. See chapter 13.

Maximum net earnings. The maximum net self-employment earnings subject to the social security part of the self-employment tax for 2013 will be discussed in the 2012 Publication 334, Tax Guide for Small Business. See chapter 12.

Social security and Medicare tax for 2013. The employee and employer tax rates for social security and the maximum amount of wages subject to social security tax for 2013 will be discussed in Publication 51 (Circular A), Agricultural Employer's Tax Guide (For use in 2013). The Medicare tax rate for 2013 will also be discussed in Publication 51 (Circular A) (For use in 2013). There is no limit on the amount of wages subject to Medicare tax. See chapter 13.

The following reminders and other items may help you file your tax return.

IRS e-file (Electronic Filing)

You can file your tax returns electronically using an IRS e-file option. The benefits of IRS e-file include faster refunds, increased accuracy, and acknowledgment of IRS receipt of your return. You can use one of the following IRS e-file options.

For details on these fast filing methods, see your income tax package.

Principal agricultural activity codes. You must enter on line B of Schedule F (Form 1040) a code that identifies your principal agricultural activity. It is important to use the correct code because this information will identify market segments of the public for IRS Taxpayer Education programs. The U.S. Census Bureau also uses this information for its economic census. See the list of Principal Agricultural Activity Codes on page 2 of Schedule F (Form 1040).

Publication on employer identification numbers (EIN). Publication 1635, Understanding Your Employer Identification Number, provides general information on employer identification numbers. Topics include how to apply for an EIN and how to complete Form SS-4.

Change of address. If you change your home address, you should use Form 8822, Change of Address, to notify the IRS. If you change your business address, you should use Form 8822-B, Change of Address — Business, to notify the IRS. Be sure to include your suite, room, or other unit number.

Reportable transactions. You must file Form 8886, Reportable Transaction Disclosure Statement, to report certain transactions. You may have to pay a penalty if you are required to file Form 8886 but do not do so. Reportable transactions include (1) transactions the same as or substantially similar to tax avoidance transactions identified by the IRS, (2) transactions offered to you under conditions of confidentiality and for which you paid an advisor a minimum fee, (3) transactions for which you have or a related party has a right to a full or partial refund of fees if all or part of the intended tax consequences from the transaction are not sustained, (4) transactions that result in losses of at least $2 million in any single year or $4 million in any combination of years, and (5) transactions with asset holding periods of 45 days or less and that result in a tax credit of more than $250,000. For more information, see the Instructions for Form 8886.

Form W-4 for 2013. You should make new Forms W-4 available to your employees and encourage them to check their income tax withholding for 2012. Those employees who owed a large amount of tax or received a large refund for 2012 may need to file a new Form W-4. See Publication 919, How Do I Adjust My Tax Withholding.

Form 1099-MISC. Generally, file Form 1099-MISC if you pay at least $600 in rents, services, and other miscellaneous payments in your farming business to an individual (for example, an accountant, an attorney, or a veterinarian) who is not your employee.

Photographs of missing children. The Internal Revenue Service is a proud partner with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Photographs of missing children selected by the Center may appear in this publication on pages that would otherwise be blank. You can help bring these children home by looking at the photographs and calling 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678) if you recognize a child.