Public hearing on Dent legislation highlights economic risks of Washington’s luxury aircraft tax
CONTACT: Kurt Hammond, Senior Public Information Officer | 360-786-7794
Public hearing on Dent legislation highlights economic risks of Washington’s luxury aircraft tax
On Thursday, the House Transportation Committee held a public hearing on House Bill 2347, legislation sponsored by Rep. Tom Dent, R-Moses Lake, to stop the implementation of a “luxury” aircraft tax scheduled to begin April 1, 2026. A 10% sales and use tax is scheduled to be imposed on the sale or lease of non-commercial aircraft valued above $500,000. Testimony during the hearing raised serious concerns about the tax’s impact on Washington’s aviation industry, workforce, and broader economy.
“The hearing made it clear this tax is already changing behavior and putting Washington at a competitive disadvantage,” Dent said. “Aircraft owners and aviation businesses testified that purchases are being delayed, redirected, or moved out of state. Once that business leaves Washington, it’s extremely difficult to bring it back.”
Economic impacts raised during the hearing included:
- Aircraft buyers choosing to purchase, register, or base aircraft in other states to avoid the tax.
- Lost sales for Washington-based aircraft dealers, maintenance shops, and service providers.
- Reduced aviation-related employment, particularly in rural communities where aviation supports agriculture, emergency services, and small businesses.
Dent noted that general and business aviation supports thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in economic activity statewide, and that even a small decline in aircraft sales or operations can ripple across supply chains, airports, and local economies.
“This tax was intended to raise revenue, but the testimony shared showed it may do the opposite,” Dent said. “If aircraft are purchased elsewhere or relocated, Washington loses not only the tax revenue, but also the jobs, fuel sales, maintenance work, and long-term investment that come with them.”
House Bill 2347 would repeal the luxury aircraft tax in its entirety, preventing the tax from taking effect and avoiding what Dent described as “unintended but very real economic harm.”
The bill contains an emergency clause and would take effect immediately if passed.
