Foreign owners of land should file FSA-153

BELFAST – The Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act of 1978 requires anyone who is not a U.S. citizen who has bought or sold agricultural land to complete an FSA-153 form. The form must be submitted to the secretary of agriculture no later than 90 days after the transaction.

Copies of the form can be picked up at the Waldo County FSA office on Waterville Road.

Any foreign person who holds, acquires or transfers interest in agricultural land who does not complete the form or submitted an incomplete, misleading or false form is subject to civil penalty of not more than 25 percent of the market value of the land.

For information, contact Waldo County FSA Office, 266 Waterville Road, Belfast 04915, or 338-1964, ext. 2.