Analysis of a Proposal to Increase Land Access for Young, Beginning, Veteran, Women, and Minority Farmers

Summary -- • Capital gains step-up in basis can provide an incentive for landowners to hold onto assets until death. • Proposal to exempt from capital gains land sells to target population may increase land access. • However, current pattern of land transfer implies that majority of land transfers would be unaffected. • There are additional considerations regarding geographic distribution of target population and available land.