In the current BACTALK Marshal speaks of the Ca tax rule exemption. This exemption allows someone with an aircraft 35 years or older, an aircraft with 5 or less examples or a one of a kind aircraft (experimentials all qualify) to be exempt from Ca's personal property tax. The Tax runs 1.5% of value. The value is based off of several factors; purchase price, total time of airframe and engine, interior, paint and avionics. In my case they valued my plane at 70 + thousand. NOTE: I offered to sell it to the evaluator for a discount off that price but, he wasn't receptive ha ha.
Having valued the plane at that figure I had several options, fight the evaluation on next years bill, accept the estimate and pay the bill or spend 35 dollars to join the exempt program. I chose the later. The program has wording that must be carefully addressed. It doesn't allow for transportation or commercial use. It mandates that the aircraft if airworthy be shown 6 times at airshows and 6 open hangar displays. If not airworthy it must be displayed 12 times at its home base. ( Opening the hangar door qualifies.)
To overcome the transportation issue, each flight is a training or proficiency flight. That is allowed. The rules don't mandate where the fly-in has to take place so any cross country I do usually ends up as a training, flyin or display day of my aircraft. That said here is what I gained.
My tax bill is approx 800 bucks + or -. At 5.00 bucks a gallon that translates into 16 hours of flight time. To me it's a no brainer, give the money to the Government or use it to fly. Those who have tax bills less than mine should still concider this option. Even a bill of 200 bucks gives you 4 hours of flight time.
Just some food for thought. Other states may have similar or better options. The form is one page and very easy to fill out.
Having valued the plane at that figure I had several options, fight the evaluation on next years bill, accept the estimate and pay the bill or spend 35 dollars to join the exempt program. I chose the later. The program has wording that must be carefully addressed. It doesn't allow for transportation or commercial use. It mandates that the aircraft if airworthy be shown 6 times at airshows and 6 open hangar displays. If not airworthy it must be displayed 12 times at its home base. ( Opening the hangar door qualifies.)
To overcome the transportation issue, each flight is a training or proficiency flight. That is allowed. The rules don't mandate where the fly-in has to take place so any cross country I do usually ends up as a training, flyin or display day of my aircraft. That said here is what I gained.
My tax bill is approx 800 bucks + or -. At 5.00 bucks a gallon that translates into 16 hours of flight time. To me it's a no brainer, give the money to the Government or use it to fly. Those who have tax bills less than mine should still concider this option. Even a bill of 200 bucks gives you 4 hours of flight time.
Just some food for thought. Other states may have similar or better options. The form is one page and very easy to fill out.