A small private aircraft in a hangar. [Shutterstock]
Key Takeaways:
Washington State's proposed budget (SB 5801) includes a 10 percent tax on the sale of noncommercial aircraft, motor homes, and boats valued over $500,000, with proponents stating the revenue will support transportation infrastructure.
Aviation industry groups and nonprofits strongly oppose the tax, arguing it will negatively impact businesses, agricultural operators, pilot schools, and essential public services such as medevac, wildfire response, and volunteer patient transport, not just luxury assets.
Washington State could soon adopt a spending plan imposing a 10 percent tax on the sale of noncommercial aircraft worth over $500,000.
The state Senate last month signed off on the new fee as part of a broader budget proposal known as SB 5801. Backers say the tax is needed to support transportation infrastructure like roads and ferries.
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Zach Vasile is a writer and editor covering news in all aspects of aviation. He has reported for and contributed to the Manchester Journal Inquirer, the Hartford Business Journal, the Charlotte Observer, and the Washington Examiner, with his area of focus being the intersection of business and government policy.
