Drought-sale tax flag: Lancaster County, VA
Information only; not financial, tax or legal advice. Ask your tax preparer. FSA decides program eligibility; the IRS and your preparer decide the tax side.
Is the Lancaster County region on the IRS drought list?
The IRS looks at your county plus every county that touches it: Lancaster County, VA, Accomack County, VA, Essex County, VA, Middlesex County, VA, Northumberland County, VA, Richmond County, VA.
| 12 months ending | IRS notice | Counties in your region on the list | Drought-free year? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 31, 2026 | Notice 2026-54 | Lancaster County, VA, Accomack County, VA, Essex County, VA, Middlesex County, VA, Northumberland County, VA, Richmond County, VA | No |
| Aug 31, 2025 | Notice 2025-52 | Lancaster County, VA, Accomack County, VA, Essex County, VA, Middlesex County, VA, Northumberland County, VA, Richmond County, VA | No |
| Aug 31, 2027 (running) | not out until September | no D2+ weeks so far in our Drought Monitor data | So far, yes through Nov 15, 2026 |
What a "No" means (Notice 2006-82): if your 4-year §1033(e) replacement period was set to end in that year, it is extended until the end of your first tax year ending after a drought-free year for the region. Drought Monitor map archive.
USDA disaster designations naming Lancaster County since Mar 25, 2025: S6314 (drought-fast track, primary, Jul 31, 2026); S6348 (frost and freeze, contiguous, Jun 26, 2026); S5955 (drought-fast track, primary, Mar 25, 2025). §451(g) deferral needs a federally designated area; bring these numbers to your preparer.
Your numbers
Plain arithmetic for the conversation with your preparer. Nothing is saved or sent.
Information only; not financial, tax or legal advice. Ask your tax preparer. FSA decides eligibility. Sources: IRS notices linked above, U.S. Drought Monitor, Census county adjacency, USDA FSA designations.