Story ID: 1020613mxreports
Florida Considers Helo Maintenance Tax Exemption
By: David A. Lombardo
Caption: 
Word Count: 179
Florida state Sen. Thad Altman (R) has introduced Senate Bill 432, an act relating to exemptions from the sales, rental, use, consumption, distribution and storage tax for aircraft. The existing law exempts from the tax all labor charges for the repair and maintenance of qualified aircraft of more than 2,000 pounds mtow and rotary-wing aircraft of more than 10,000 pounds mtow.

Altman’s proposal would put helicopters on par with fixed-wing aircraft by lowering the rotary-wing mtow threshold to 2,000 pounds.

A provision taxing parts and equipment remains unchanged. However, it stipulates for those categories of aircraft an exemption from the tax when “such parts or equipment are installed on such aircraft that is being repaired or maintained in… [Florida].”

Roy Henley, owner of Universal Air Service of Apopka, Fla., told AIN, “Every time we turn around there’s something new to comply with. We’re buried in taxes and regulations so any relief is welcome. I think this is a great deal and I’m glad someone is trying to look out for us.”