Charleston, WV — A new law dramatically reduces the property tax paid on business aircraft based in . The tax code enacted in 2008 assesses corporate, commercial and other business aircraft at the lower of fair market salvage value or five percent of the aircraft’s original cost.
The Special Aircraft Property Valuation Act drops the assessed value of business aircraft subject to the property tax by as much as 95 percent. The act is effective for property tax assessment years beginning on and after July 1, 2009.
For example, under the previous property tax law, an aircraft with a market value of $10 million would be taxed at $130,200. Under ’s new Special Aircraft Property Valuation Act, the same aircraft would be taxed at only $6,510, with a resulting average tax savings (depending on the jurisdiction) of approximately $123,690. That is 95 percent of the tax that would be payable absent the special valuation.
West Virginia's Special Aircraft Property Valuation Act applies to airplanes and helicopters owned or leased by commercial airlines and charter carriers.
West Virginia’s public and private airports are typically located close to other intermodal forms of transportation, allowing greater access and more cost-effective transportation opportunities to businesses and individuals. The state’s airports with commercial airline service include Yeager Airport, Charleston; Tri-State Airport, Huntington; Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Airport, Parkersburg; North Central West Virginia Airport, Clarksburg; Morgantown Municipal Airport; Greenbrier Valley Airport, Lewisburg; and Raleigh County Memorial Airport, Beckley.
Bridgeport hosts the Mid-Atlantic Aerospace Complex (MAAC), major aviation and aerospace industry leaders and the . The state’s capital city of is host to and the 130th Airlift Wing. ’s Martinsburg is base for the , several aviation and aerospace firms and the 167th Air National Guard.
For more information on the Special Aircraft Property Valuation Act, contact the West Virginia Development Office, 800-982-3386 or visit www.wvopenforbusiness.com.