Washington State

Office of the Attorney General

Attorney General

Bob Ferguson

AGO 1952 NO. 257 >

1. There is no legal basis for the valuation of timber for property tax assessment at less than fifty percent of its present true and fair market value where the timber is or can be made accessible for harvesting in the year of assessment merely by reason of the fact that the owner stipulates that the timber will not be harvested for a certain number of years in the future.  2. Where mature timber is so situated that it is physically impossible to harvest the same in the year of the assessment due to its inaccessibility, such factor should be considered by the assessor in determining its assessed valuation, the timber being of less value than similar timber which is accessible and is possible of harvesting in the year of assessment.