Gov. Sam Brownback has signed a bill that will make it a little more affordable for people affected by wildfires to rebuild damaged fences.
The new Kansas law will create a sales tax exemption for materials purchased to replace burned fences. The bill moved incredibly fast, from a legislative perspective. The House and Senate approved it just last week.
There are programs at the federal level to help with recovery, but Gov. Brownback says this is something the state can do.
“It doesn’t make up for what they’ve lost, but it’s a way that we can help ease the recovery for our hardworking farmers and ranchers. Their resolve and their spirit has been inspiring throughout this crisis,” Brownback says.
Brownback says around 650,000 acres burned in Kansas and up to 8,000 cattle were killed. The Kansas Department of Agriculture estimates livestock and fence losses could total more than $50 million.
Visit www.ksrevenue.org/wildfiresfor more information on the refund and sales tax exemption certificates.
In addition to the sales tax exemptions, the Kansas Department of Revenue is also waiving some fines and fees for those in fire-affected-areas including:
- Those who lost a driver’s license or ID card in the wildfires can get a free replacement by visiting a state driver licensing office or a county treasurer’s office that offers driver’s license renewals.
- Those who need to replace vehicle titles lost in the wildfires can get a free replacement by visiting their local county treasurer’s office.
- People who need replacement copies of their tax returns can call 785-296-3081, and the department will provide a copy for free.
- For those who lost vehicles in the wildfires, they can bring in insurance claims to their local county treasurer’s office and apply for a refund for the vehicle’s tags.
- Homeowners may be eligible for a property tax abatement on destroyed or substantially destroyed dwellings due to fire. Contact your county appraiser's office for details.
- For businesses affected by the wildfires, which are busy trying to reopen, the department will waive any late filing fees they incur if they file those taxes late. The owner should call 785-368-8222 to coordinate with the department.
