Tax Issues for Airplane Purchases: Planning Strategies, Complexities Under Current Tax Law

Course Details
- smart_display Format
On-Demand
- signal_cellular_alt Difficulty Level
Intermediate
- work Practice Area
Tax Law
- event Date
Tuesday, April 23, 2024
- schedule Time
1:00 p.m. ET./10:00 a.m. PT
- timer Program Length
90 minutes
-
This 90-minute webinar is eligible in most states for 1.5 CLE credits.
-
BARBRI is a NASBA CPE sponsor and this 110-minute webinar is accredited for 2.0 CPE credits.
-
BARBRI is an IRS-approved continuing education provider offering certified courses for Enrolled Agents (EA) and Tax Return Preparers (RTRP).
This CLE/CPE course will outline guidance to tax attorneys and advisers on the applicable tax rules and key considerations for business aircraft purchases and ownership. The panel will discuss available planning options for purchases and ownership, reduced or eliminated tax deductions, and opportunities for tax savings, federal air transportation, and fuel excise taxes.
Faculty

Ms. Bivins received her LL.M. in taxation from the University of Florida Levin College of Law, where she was a Graduate Tax Scholar. She received her J.D. from Florida State University College of Law in 2003 and was a member of the Trial Advocacy Team. Ms. Bivins has been involved in all aspects of state and federal tax examinations, including representing clients during the examination process; negotiating with IRS and state revenue personnel to resolve tax assessments; and representing clients before the U.S. Tax Court and state courts and administrative tribunals.

Mr. Mandarino's practice focuses on corporate, tax and finance law. He is involved with a wide variety of businesses and transactions, including experience with compliance, planning and M&A activities for partnerships, individuals and corporations. Mr. Mandarino’s practice also includes representation in tax controversy work. He writes and speaks extensively on a wide range of business, tax and finance topics.

Mr. Beninato, III is an Associate in GKG Law, P.C.’s Business Aviation Group. His practice entails representing C-suite executives, high net worth individuals, and other aviation industry businesses in negotiating, structuring, and closing tax efficient and FAA compliant acquisitions, leases, and dispositions of large long-range business aircraft and helicopters, as well as advising his clients in developing aircraft ownership and operating structure alternatives to ensure compliance with FAA regulations, maximize ownership/operating deductions, and minimize likelihood of future audits.
Description
The purchase and ownership of business aircraft come with significant federal, state, and local tax implications and offer opportunities for optimum tax benefits with careful planning. Tax attorneys and advisers must recognize the impact of key tax provisions on business airplane purchases and ownership and implement tax planning techniques to ensure the best results for taxpayers.
The bonus depreciation rules allow an immediate deduction of up to 100 percent of the purchase price of a new or used airplane. However, taxpayers no longer receive income tax deferral benefits from like-kind exchanges of aircraft. Also, business entertainment use of an aircraft is no longer deductible, which could potentially diminish the business value of owning an airplane. Current owners or potential buyers of business use airplanes, and their tax counsel, must wade through the numerous complexities under current tax law to determine their impact on business ownership of an aircraft.
In addition, tax counsel and owners must consider the hobby loss rules, personal use calculations, and federal excise taxes, along with many other federal tax issues.
Listen as our panel of experts discusses the tax considerations of owning an airplane. The panel will offer strategies for minimizing upfront state and excise taxes and ongoing concerns, including imputing personal use and avoiding classification as a hobby loss.
Outline
- Tax treatment of aircraft ownership under current tax law
- Key planning techniques to maximize tax benefits
- Application of the federal fuel and air transportation excise taxes
Benefits
The panel will review these and other key issues:
- What are the key considerations in structuring an aircraft purchase?
- What are the most effective methods for calculating travel, meals, and entertainment deductions?
- What are the hobby loss rules and traps to avoid?
NASBA Details
Learning Objectives
After completing this course, you will be able to:
- Identify key tax provisions that impact aircraft purchases and other business, entertainment, and travel expenses
- Establish the depreciation rules that govern aircraft purchases, the dates required to utilize these rules, and the phase-out periods
- Recognize the changes to business entertainment deductions, which could diminish the business value of owning aircraft
- Ascertain whether the costs of flights are deductible
- Determine the extent to which state sales and income taxes impact the business owner of an aircraft
- Field of Study: Taxes
- Level of Knowledge: Intermediate
- Advance Preparation: None
- Teaching Method: Seminar/Lecture
- Delivery Method: Group-Internet (via computer)
- Attendance Monitoring Method: Attendance is monitored electronically via a participant's PIN and through a series of attendance verification prompts displayed throughout the program
- Prerequisite: Three years+ business or public firm experience preparing complex tax forms and schedules, supervising other preparers or accountants. Specific knowledge and understanding of pass-through taxation, including taxation of partnerships, S corporations and sole proprietorships, qualified business income, net operating losses and loss limitations; familiarity with net operating loss carry-backs, carry-forwards and carried interests.

Strafford Publications, Inc. is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. State boards of Accountancy have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE Credits. Complaints regarding registered sponsons may be submitted to NASBA through its website: www.nasbaregistry.org.

Strafford is an IRS-approved continuing education provider offering certified courses for Enrolled Agents (EA) and Tax Return Preparers (RTRP).
Unlimited access to premium CLE courses:
- Annual access
- Available live and on-demand
- Best for attorneys and legal professionals
Unlimited access to premium CPE courses.:
- Annual access
- Available live and on-demand
- Best for CPAs and tax professionals
Unlimited access to premium CLE, CPE, Professional Skills and Practice-Ready courses.:
- Annual access
- Available live and on-demand
- Best for legal, accounting, and tax professionals
Related Courses

FBAR Investigations and Litigation: Compliance Traps, IRS Guidance, Defense Strategies, Recent Cases, Penalties
Thursday, May 29, 2025
1:00 p.m. ET./10:00 a.m. PT

2025 Tax Bill and Pass-Through Entities: Key Provisions, Planning Techniques, Loopholes, and Limitations
Tuesday, May 27, 2025
1:00 p.m. ET./10:00 a.m. PT

Income Tax Treatment of SAFEs and Convertible Debt: Navigating Sections 1202 and 1045, Section 368, Section 83
Tuesday, May 20, 2025
1:00 p.m. ET./10:00 a.m. PT
Recommended Resources
How CPE Can Bridge the Gap Between What You Know and What You Need to Know
- Career Advancement
Gain a Competitive Edge Through Efficient CPE Strategies
- Learning & Development
- Business & Professional Skills
- Career Advancement