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

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.