The 2025 Tax Landscape: What Farmers Need to Know
Winning Tax Season: Ag CPAs Mackenzie Sprain & Hannah Mann Share the Secrets Farmers Need for 2025
Tax season doesn’t have to be a scramble — and this week’s Farm4Profit Podcast proves it. We’re joined by two powerhouse ag-focused CPAs: Mackenzie Sprain of LattaHarris and Hannah Mann of Pioneer Accounting LLC. One brings deep experience in ag taxation, the other specializes in building cleaner records and financial clarity — together, they give farmers a full, practical roadmap to win tax season long before it arrives.
The 2025 Tax Landscape: What Farmers Need to Know
2025 has its own unique financial climate:
• Persistent inflation pressures
• High interest rates affecting borrowing decisions
• Policy changes and shifting interpretations
• A growing list of specialized ag tax tools
Mackenzie and Hannah break down key areas farmers should keep an eye on, including:
Section 180 deductions
R&D credits (yes, many agronomy trials qualify!)
Conservation program rules
CRP tax treatment
Entity-structure considerations
Interest-rate impacts on tax strategies
Their message is clear: year-round planning always beats last-minute spending, and quarterly conversations with your accountant can easily save thousands.
Smarter Recordkeeping = Better Decisions
One of the biggest themes this episode hits is simple but game-changing: farmers who stay organized save money.
Tools like Ambrook give producers the power to:
Tag expenses by crop, field, or enterprise
Track breakevens in real time
Digitize receipts and eliminate paper chaos
Make land or equipment decisions backed by data
Understand profitability by enterprise — not assumptions
The CPAs share real-world stories of farmers who uncovered hidden savings, avoided tax penalties, and found new profitability simply because they kept cleaner, digital records.
Mistakes That Cost Farmers Money
Every year, Mackenzie and Hannah see the same issues pop up:
Outdated depreciation schedules
Misclassified wages
Partnership or ownership changes never reported
Misunderstood conservation payments
Handshake agreements with no tax planning behind them
Missing or sloppy documentation for energy credits, fuel use, or enterprise expenses
These mistakes don’t just create headaches — they cost real money.
Opportunities to Maximize 2025
The good news? There are more opportunities than ever for farms willing to plan ahead.
Areas they highlight include:
Section 179 planning for equipment and infrastructure
Bonus depreciation (with updated limits)
Energy tax credits tied to conservation and renewables
R&D credits increasingly applicable to agronomy trials
Strategies to reduce the impact of high interest rates
Farmers who think ahead can turn tax season into a profitability tool.
Your Action Plan for Winning Tax Season
If you want to reduce stress, avoid surprises, and make tax season work for your farm — start now.
Your CPA-approved blueprint:
Start early — fall planning saves winter stress.
Track continuously — don’t let receipts pile up.
Communicate often — quarterly beats crisis mode.
Use technology — modern tools turn compliance into strategy.
Review major decisions (land, equipment, entity changes) before you make them.
Tax season shouldn’t just be a deadline — it should be another profit tool for your operation.
🎧 Listen to the full episode on Apple Podcasts:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/farm4profit-podcast/id1470546918
