On November 25, 2020, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) updated its Conservation Easement Audit Technique Guide with a revision date of November 9, 2020. The Guide is a reference document for IRS staff for the examination of charitable contributions of conservation easements. Although the IRS is quick to point out that the Guide is not a comprehensive training manual, the Guide does provide information about conservation easements generally and more specific information regarding the requirements for a valid charitable contribution, including citations to recent cases on relevant topics. Land trusts, landowners, and their attorneys can all benefit from reviewing the Guide as a checklist of the issues IRS auditors will be looking for when reviewing a conservation easement charitable contribution.
