NBAA Seminars Deliver Critical Insights Into the Complexities of Aviation Tax Issues, Aircraft Transactions

Contact: Dan Hubbard, 202-431-5970, [email protected]

Denver, CO, April 30, 2026 - The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) this week hosted two highly successful programs designed to keep industry professionals informed on the latest developments in aviation tax law and provide strategic guidance for navigating the complexities of aircraft acquisition and sales.

The NBAA Business Aviation Taxes Seminar took place April 28, followed by the association's Aircraft Transactions Workshop on April 29. Held together for the first time, the co-located events offered a comprehensive, back-to-back educational experience - enabling attendees to address both tax compliance and the legal and deal-making aspects of aircraft ownership in a single trip.

Nearly 200 people took part in the events, including a record 110 professionals who attended the Aircraft Transactions Workshop, which was held for the second time this year.

"These premier events provide business aviation professionals with the critical, up-to-the-minute information they need to navigate the complexities of aircraft transactions and tax regulations, ensuring they are positioned for success in the year ahead," said Benjamin Schwalen, NBAA general counsel and corporate secretary.

"Co-locating these events creates a powerful synergy," he added. "When the worlds of aircraft transactions and tax planning intersect in one place, attendees gain a more complete picture of the opportunities and challenges shaping our industry."

NBAA Business Aviation Taxes Seminar

The seminar covered topics ranging from aircraft ownership structures to entertainment disallowance considerations for aircraft owners to security threats, including flight tracking.

"This year's tax conference covered several new changes to tax laws that impact aircraft owners, including the impact of the 'One Big Beautiful Bill Act,' evolving state and local tax rules and the latest news on tariff refunds," said Angel Houck, co-founder of Houck & Christensen CPAs, LLC, and secretary of the NBAA Tax Committee. "NBAA and the Tax Committee work hard to stay on top of changes that impact our industry. The tax seminar is designed to provide the most up-to-date information and industry knowledge to assist aircraft owners and their advisors in making smart, informed decisions."

A session led by David Shannon, Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith LLP, and Chris Younger, HCH Legal, LLC, took a deep look into bonus depreciation and other changes in the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act." In particular, the panel reviewed the specific asset classifications for aircraft, explained how to qualify for bonus depreciation and identified potential pitfalls that could disqualify eligibility.

The "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" marked a significant shift for those purchasing aircraft, permanently reinstating 100% bonus depreciation (also known as immediate expensing) for new and used aircraft acquired and placed in service on or after Jan. 20, 2025. This legislation replaced the phasedown approach introduced by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. Review an NBAA Tax Committee resource on the changes.

Other hot topics on the agenda included a session on the complexities of tariff refunds, which was led by Katie DeLuca, Harper Meyer. DeLuca's counsel on the refunds reflected recent guidance she provided in an April 22 edition of NBAA Instant Insight. During that discussion, DeLuca noted that if you imported aircraft or parts, and paid an International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) tariff, you may be entitled to a refund, outlining the specific process required to apply for a refund. Watch the April 22 NBAA Instant Insight on IEEPA refunds.

NBAA's tax team is now focused on preparing for the association's 2026 Tax, Regulatory & Risk Management Conference, which will be held Oct. 18-19 in Las Vegas, in conjunction with the NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA-BACE). Learn more about the 2025 NBAA Tax, Regulatory & Risk Management Conference.

View NBAA's tax resources.

Learn more about the NBAA Tax Committee

NBAA Aircraft Transactions Workshop

As the dynamic business aircraft transactions environment changes rapidly, the NBAA Aircraft Transactions Workshop brought together leading panelists and attendees to demystify the often-intricate worlds of aircraft finance, insurance, purchase agreements and more.

The workshop sessions looked at the entire aircraft buying process, from setting up the transaction to letters of intent and pre-purchase agreements to closing a transaction. Experts also explored potential roadblocks and how to navigate them.

"We were excited to build upon the success of last year's inaugural event and bring even better content this year. Our goal is to provide a practical aircraft transaction playbook," said VanAllen CEO Jeff Agur, a member of the NBAA Tax Committee and past chair of the NBAA Access Committee.

"This event, plus the newly published Aircraft Transactions Guide, provides attendees with a lot of knowledge they can apply immediately to their next transaction," he added. "Whether an attendee does hundreds of transactions or just one over their career, there is something for everyone. The most important takeaway is awareness of the risks and pitfalls in a highly complex process."

Plans are already underway for the 2027 NBAA Business Aviation Taxes Seminar and NBAA Aircraft Transactions Workshop, with the date and location to be announced later this year.

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Founded in 1947 and based in Washington, DC, the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) is the leading organization for companies that rely on general aviation aircraft to help make their businesses more efficient, productive and successful. The association represents more than 10,000 company and professional members and provides more than 100 products and services to the business aviation community, including the NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA-BACE), the world's largest civil aviation trade show. Learn more about NBAA at nbaa.org.

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