Virginia aircraft maintenance sales tax exemption extended
Extension continues to exclude small aircraft from savings
Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin signed an extension of the state’s sales tax exemption for aircraft maintenance into law on March 19. As a result, most aircraft owners will continue to save hundreds of dollars per year through June 30, 2030.
As a result of the effort co-led by AOPA and the Virginia Aviation Business Association (VABA), eligible aircraft owners will save between $175 and $500 on average in annual maintenance expenses—and significantly more on additional maintenance items, such as avionics upgrades and engine overhauls and replacements.
“AOPA thanks the bill’s sponsors, Delegate Karrie Delaney and Senator Bill DeSteph, for their bipartisan leadership in getting this extension over the finish line, as well as Governor Youngkin and the legislature for continuing to value the impact that the general aviation industry has on Virginia’s economy,” said AOPA Eastern Regional Manager Sean Collins. “Although it is not perfect, the passage of this legislation ensures level competition for Virginia’s airports with neighboring states while providing significant savings to aircraft owners.”
Collins noted that the bill’s original language called for a three-year extension while taking the existing weight restriction out of the statute. Ultimately, the legislature amended the bill; it kept the weight restriction but extended the sales tax exemption for five years instead.
AOPA will continue to work with VABA to chip away at the weight restriction so that one day, all aircraft operators will be incentivized to keep their maintenance investments local to Virginia.
AOPA’s team of six regional managers engage in airport and legislative advocacy across all 50 states, representing the interests of GA aircraft owners and pilots. Recent tax exemption efforts had similar successes in Maryland and West Virginia, as well as elsewhere across the country.
