GOP Urges Treasury to Police Conservation Easement Abuses

A pair of Republican Senate tax writers emphasized the importance of a 250% cap on conservation easement settlement values as the Treasury Department seeks to settle a backlog of cases on the tax break.

“This cap helps ensure conservation easement donations are made for charitable purposes and not to turn a profit,” said the May 28 letter sent to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent obtained by Bloomberg Tax.

The letter signals that while Republicans are encouraged by the move to clear US Tax Court dockets, there is concern that fraud safeguards Congress put in place back ...