The taxes vary wildly from state to state. In Washington, they had state police touring the airports writing down registartion numbers. After my plane was seen twice on the same airport, they mailed me a sales tax bill for my Starduster based on a Bonanza value, even though it was registered in another state. It was negotiated down to something reasonable as I was living in the state most of that year.
In New Mexico, all aircraft registration fees are based on maximum gross weight. New aircraft cost $.02/lb. After 2 years it goes down to $.015/lb. After 4 years, they cost $.01/lb. So, my KR now costs me $12/year for the state registration. There is no sales tax for building an experimental or sale between individuals for aircraft in this state. Only for a purchase from a broker or other commercial vendor. Iowa also treated aircraft in a similar manner to New Mexico at the time that I lived there, although I don't know what their registration fee was based on. Might be time to get a NM PO Box for the first year you register your plane. ;o) -Jeff > For you who have registered your planes, did your state come after you for > sales tax? What did you do in that case? >
