The Complete America's Great Trails Act creates a new federal income tax credit for landowners who donate conservation easements that include National Scenic Trails and the surrounding corridor. Landowners can claim a tax credit equal to the fair market value of their donation, with the trail corridor defined as up to 2,640 feet wide on either side of the trail, though with flexibility for properties with existing structures or limited space. The credit can be carried forward for up to ten years if it exceeds a taxpayer's annual tax liability, but once elected, it cannot be revoked and landowners must forgo any charitable deduction for the same property. The bill allows continued recreational and agricultural use of the property as long as such use does not damage conservation interests, and it requires the Secretary of the Interior to study the credit's effectiveness and report to Congress within four years on whether it should be made refundable or transferable.
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