Measure Provides Sales Tax Exemption On Maintenance, Parts To Aircraft With MCTOW Above 2,000 Pounds

The Florida House of Representatives has voted to expand the state’s sales tax exemption on aviation maintenance parts and labor to include lighter turbine and piston aircraft.

House Bill 7087, an economic development package backed by AOPA and the Florida Aviation Trades Association (FATA), passed Wednesday with provisions making aircraft with a maximum certified takeoff weight of more than 2,000 pounds eligible for the tax exemption. The exemption is currently given to aircraft weighing more than 15,000 pounds, along with rotary-wing aircraft weighing more than 10,000 pounds maximum certified takeoff weight.

The bill was introduced by Rep. Stephen L. Precourt (R-Orlando), chairman of the Finance and Tax Committee, and moved directly to the full House, bypassing the committee referral process. The bill combined parts of two bills supported by AOPA and FATA into a larger economic development measure.

Final passage would put Florida among a growing number of states with tax exemptions boosting aircraft-repair businesses and jobs. “This legislation is another step toward creating jobs in Florida,” said Rep. Steve Crisafulli (R-Merritt Island), the bill’s co-sponsor. “For too long Florida has lost aircraft maintenance and repair business to other states because it hasn't remained competitive in its tax policy.”

“We are very encouraged with the House passage of this significant legislation,” said Mark Kimberling, AOPA’s director of state government affairs.  “We are now one step closer to finally extending the state sales tax exemption on maintenance to GA aircraft in the state.  Lighter single and multi-engine GA aircraft are the heart of the aviation industry in Florida,” he said. “We will now turn our attention to the Senate as we continue to work to get this important measure signed into law.”

A similar bill was introduced last year in the Florida Senate, but the state legislature was unable to get it through both chambers before the session expired.

FMI: www.myfloridahouse.gov