In the US it is not defined by area, but by gross sales. If your gross sales of agricultural products exceed $1,000/yr, you are a farm.
That could include livestock, poultry, dairy, fish, vegetables, or fruit. On the other hand, a hobby farm — typically a few horses, other livestock, or crops used for leisure and enjoyment — probably won't qualify for tax breaks.
Make sure it's actually a small farm. In the eyes of the IRS, a small farm must be actively cultivating, operating, or managing land for profit. That could include livestock, poultry, dairy, fish, vegetables, or fruit.
As a beginning farmer you will need a federal tax ID number , also known as an Employer Identification Number (EIN). An EIN is used to identify a business entity, hire employees, apply for business licenses, permits, and more. The EIN is necessary for reporting to the IRS. You may apply for an EIN online .
Generally speaking, there is no minimum acreage for farm tax exemption. There may, however, be specific acreage minimums required to be considered for certain land classifications such as a “greenbelt” property.
Use Schedule F (Form 1040) to report farm income and expenses. File it with Form 1040, 1040-SR, 1040-SS, 1040-NR, 1041, or 1065. Your farming activity may subject you to state and local taxes and other requirements such as business licenses and fees. Check with your state and local governments for more information.
Farm – The IRC uses the word “farm” in several places but the main definition states that a farm “includes stock, dairy, poultry, fruit, fur-bearing animal, and truck farms, plantations, ranches, nurseries, ranges, greenhouses or other similar structures used primarily for the raising of agricultural or horticultural ...
A farm (also called an agricultural holding) is an area of land that is devoted primarily to agricultural processes with the primary objective of producing food and other crops; it is the basic facility in food production.
Another question that frequently comes up in this discussion is “how big does my farm have to be to be considered a farm?” Since property taxes are handled at the local level rather than the federal level, the answer will vary from state to state. Generally speaking, there is no minimum acreage for farm tax exemption.
Any parcel of land, or contiguous parcels, that are less than five acres devoted primarily to agricultural uses which has produced a gross income of fifteen hundred dollars or more each year for three of the five calendar years preceding the date of application for classification under this chapter.