TB testing translates to tax breaks

ST. PAUL, MINN. — Minnesota cattle owners paying for bovine tuberculosis (TB) testing for their cattle can offset testing costs with a new tax credit.

The bovine TB testing credit is a refundable credit available to individuals, trusts, partnerships and corporations. Legislation passed in 2006 allows cattle owners to claim a credit against their taxes for an amount equal to one half of the expenses incurred to conduct TB testing on those animals. The eligible testing includes producer-funded Caudal-Fold Tuberculin (CFT) tests performed by an accredited veterinarian certified to conduct bovine TB testing in Minnesota.

There are no limits on how much can be claimed. Testing and resulting expenses must be incurred before Dec. 31, 2006, to be claimed on 2006 tax returns.

Officials report nearly 96,000 bovine TB tests completed in Minnesota. State leaders seek to resume Minnesota's former TB-free status to maintain interstate business.

The credit applies to the following expenses incurred to conduct qualified tests:

• Veterinarian fees, including call charges and injection costs paid by the herd owner;

• Labor expenses that the cattle owner would not have otherwise incurred but necessary to present a cattle herd for testing;

• Equipment rental expenses incurred by the cattle owner to inject and read bovine TB tests.

For more information about the tax credit, visit http://www.taxes.state.mn.us.