User Fees.

[Resasi]

While sorting out license validation I was interested to see the difference in user fees.

To validate my UK CAA gyro PPL in the US I had to apply to both FAA and CAA.

My applications to the FAA were for both the new replacement for my old US paper licence, and the Validation of my CAA licence. Cost $2.00.

In order for the CAA to simply respond by email to the request for verification by the FAA of the correct details on my CAA licence. £42.00. or $64.00.

Guess you guys get some serious value for money.

[bpearson]

Someones got to fund these quangos Leigh. You can't have all these good people creating more and more rules without being paid for it. Now bend over...theres a good boy!

[Resasi]

Brian while bending over I have made sure that my vote will be in. This present wrecking crew will certainly not be where my tick goes.

Unfortunately whoever gets in, CAA fees are unlikely to ever go down. Twas ever thus.

Having first learned to fly over here then subsequently going over to the US in the 60's I formed my opinion that we were a tad impractical, far more expensive, and very definitely NOT user oriented.

Here aviation users of any kind seem to be put on earth to be exploited and screwed around by the CAA rather than be served by them. The tail definitely wags the dog. And the dog pays for it to happen!!!

[Chuck Roberg]

Leigh, might I ask what kind of taxes do you have to pay on your aircraft. Although our FAA fees are low the State taxes in some cases are not.

[Resasi]

Chuck Stuart did get approached for state tax when we registered our Hornet. He talked to the lady in Tallahassee and told her we were a home-build and that he could show here all the invoices showing tax paid on the items we bought but she said she understood and we have heard no more.

I believe a number of Florida guys were approached and spoke to the State authorities and they now seem acquainted with home built gyros. I'm hoping anyway.

With regard to the taxes over here, the Bensen I have a part share in is about 30 years old. I am really not sure what tax if any applied then. Right now I know they have just closed a loophole on bring in European gyros tax free, not sure at all what it is but believe it is around 17%. Will Garton-Jones who posted a little while back on buying his Magni squeaked in before the door closed but did indicate it had been the difference between him buying or not buying.

[Chuck Roberg]

Sounds like they are catching up with the tax issue by you also.

A lot of people were caught unaware when Sport Pilot came about and all the "Fat" ultralights got registered.

Seems in our state (Illinois) they check the FAA database for Aircraft and cross check N numbers with their tax records. If they find no tax was paid they charge interest and penalty.

If you can not prove to them what the aircraft cost or what the parts cost. Then you get an estimated tax bill of what they think the aircraft is worth.

[Heron]

Wooooooooooooo . . . .political post alert . . .danger . .. danger Will Robinson!!!
Heron

[helipaddy]

€275 ($371.00)to put my Gyro FI rating onto my licence!
pot noodles for the next month...

[Resasi]

Pot noodles and a pint of the black stuff it is Padraic, all the very best for the new job.

So they skin your wallet over there as well then.

[WaspAir]

Tax for purchase (or importation into a state) is a one time event.

California also charges an annual personal property tax on the value of any aircraft or vessel, collected by the county where it is kept. You must file a "return" by April 1 each year, describing general condition, avionics on board, hours on components, etc., from which they estimate a taxable value. Then they tax you on their estimate. It cost me about $1300 for my Bell 47 last year for the privilege of owning it in California.

I also rent a hangar from the County, at high market pricing (nearly $700 per month for about 1400 sq. ft.). As the official holder of the lease, I am also charged property tax for the very same hangar for which I have already paid them rent, which adds a bit more every year.

The Feds are a real bargain by comparison. You pay the Doctor, but not the FAA, when you want a medical certificate. You pay the Designated Examiner, but not the FAA, when you want a practical test for a rating; if you get it from an FAA Inspector (as I did for my CFI-I helicopter rating), you pay nothing. You don't pay anything to the FAA to keep your pilot certificate and aircraft registration up to date and in force. Even a radio station license from the FCC (needed only if you will fly internationally) was only about $25 last time I got one, and they're good for years.

Landing fees at those places that charge them are a purely local revenue generator. Only the fuel taxes provide any real money stream from aircraft ownership to the Feds over here.

[Chuck Roberg]

""""I also rent a hangar from the County, at high market pricing (nearly $700 per month for about 1400 sq. ft.). As the official holder of the lease, I am also charged property tax for the very same hangar for which I have already paid them rent, which adds a bit more every year.""""

The local taxing authority, not sure if it was city, county or state, wanted to charge taxes for those who rent hangars. The airport manager worded the lease differently so none of the hangar renters would have to pay tax. That was pretty nice of the manager to look out for us.

[matt]

Chuck how do you know if you got exept from the ILL. tax? If they send you the ILL. sticker that you put on your machine does that mean the tax has been paid?

[Chuck Roberg]

Originally Posted by matt

Chuck how do you know if you got exept from the ILL. tax? If they send you the ILL. sticker that you put on your machine does that mean the tax has been paid?

Not sure which tax your asking about. I have two different posts here about two different taxes. Property tax on your hangar or sales tax on your aircraft.

If you mean sales tax on your aircraft that depends on how long the aircraft was registered in your name. Aircraft purchased from a private party used to be exempt from the sales tax. Aircraft purchased thru a dealer or broker, such as Air Command. You had to pay the tax.

The sales tax law was changed several years ago. I can't remember the exact year or month. Currently if you register an aircraft with an owner that has an Illinois address. The tax man assumes you purchased it, either whole or in parts from some where. They then want to know if any sales tax was paid. If not then they want their share.

The State of Illinois does check aircraft registration with the FAA. But they take their time about it. For one friend of mine it was over three years before he got a letter from the tax man. He also got charged a penalty and interest.

I would think since you have the Illinois registration sticker your OK. Since the Dept. of Aviation checks with the tax people before they will issue you a registration sticker.

[matt]

Thank's Chuck that what I was talking about the sale's tax.