Terry Xiao Blog

Taxes are a fact; therefore, it is advantageous for everyone to have a general idea of the basic tax structure and other related aspects. We give below a synopsis of the tax laws applicable to Alabama State:

1. Personal Income Tax:
The following rates of taxes apply for single persons, married persons filing separate returns and heads of families:
-2% on the first $500 of taxable income
-4% on taxable income between $501 and $3000
-5% on all taxable income above $3000

For married persons filing joint returns, the following tax rates are applicable:
-2% on the first $1,000 of taxable income
-4% on taxable income between $1,001 and $6,000
-5% on all taxable income above $6,000

Taxpayers are required to file Form 40 by 15 April every year. However, if the 15th falls on a holiday or weekend, the filing can be done on the next business day. The Alabama Department of Revenue thus gives the taxpayers an extra day to file their returns. The income tax return forms can be downloaded from the websites. Taxpayers have the option of filing the returns online. Once all the data is entered in the form, the tax due for payment is computed by the system. The completed form can then be printed out and mailed to the Department of Revenue.  Read more...

Sacramento, CA – Aero-tax Compliance Experts, LLC (ACE) is California’s newest connection for anyone seeking professional and expert management for their aircraft, vessel and vehicle sales and use tax issues, including legal tax exemptions, refunds, appeals conferences and hearings.  ACE’s expert staff has over 24 years of combined experience and has been responsible for aiding over a thousand taxpayers, ranging from individuals to multi-national corporations, with legally avoiding sales and use taxes on purchases of aircraft, vessels and vehicles. 

ACE will utilize their experience and many exclusive resources to help you overcome the civil burdens of proof and presumptions prescribed by law.  They will carefully review your transaction details and/or records which will help them to develop a legal and defensible strategy to accomplish the goal…your exemption or refund!  In most instances, ACE will provide a customized, detailed, written exemption outline and exhibits that will be designed to guide you through the perplexing obstacles of California’s sales and use tax laws and regulations, policies, practices and procedures.  If ACE is hired prior to your purchase, they can guarantee success!   Read more...

Often it is believed that simply purchasing an aircraft outside of California eliminates the sales and use tax liability.  There is a half truth here; properly purchasing an aircraft outside of California does eliminate the sales tax obligation, however, it does not eliminate the use tax. 

Many people do not know how, or where to begin when going through the California sales and use tax exemption process.  The simple answer is that you must take delivery of the aircraft outside of California.  However, there is more detail behind the simple answer.  For example, the contract of sale (purchase agreement) must specifically reference the location where the aircraft will be delivered to the purchaser outside the state.  

As standard practice, we advise that the delivery occur in Oregon.  Oregon is the closest, non-sales tax state in proximity to California that will not have a jurisdictional claim for sales or use taxes simply because the sale occurs there.  Therefore, Oregon is often times the most convenient location.  However, it may not be convenient in every situation.  There are a total of five non-sales tax states:  Oregon, Alaska, Montana, New Hampshire, and Delaware.  Many other states have guidelines for non-resident purchasers taking delivery within their state without fearing tax repercussions.  Be sure you know the rules.  Read more...

The article written last month titled “Proper Delivery Outside of California Begins the “Use Tax” Exemption Process” explained the importance of, and how to, properly take delivery of an aircraft outside the state, which is the first step in the California sales and use tax exemption process.  If you didn’t get a chance to read that article you can contact Aero-tax Compliance Experts, LLC (ACE) for a copy or visit www.aero-tax.com.

Many aircraft owners and potential owners have contacted us for an explanation on California’s “first functional use” requirement.   We have learned that there is a lot of mis-information and confusion on this issue.  Our attempt is to clarify some of the confusion that exists and eliminate the mis-information with the “first functional use” requirement for the California use tax exemption process.

“First functional use” is a critical component of the California use tax exemption process.  California Sales and Use Tax Regulation 1620 defines first functional use as “use for which the property was designed.”  An aircraft is defined in Law section 6274 as “any contrivance designed for powered navigation in the air except a rocket or missile.”  Logically, one would conclude that first functional use of an aircraft is flight because aircraft are designed to fly; right?  Not necessarily.  In my experience with the sales and use tax law, one can not rely upon logic.   Read more...