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Aircraft tax · United States

Michigan aircraft sales and use tax

Michigan charges 6 percent sales or use tax on aircraft, collected by the Treasury's aircraft unit, with short exemptions for aircraft in the state only to be bought or repaired. Aircraft based in Michigan register every year at 1 cent per pound, in place of property tax.

Every answer below quotes the state's own source. Last checked October 18, 2026. Estimate the tax on your aircraft

Do you pay sales tax on an aircraft bought in Michigan?

Taxed. 6 percent on an aircraft used, stored, registered or transferred in Michigan, due on the greater of the purchase price or the aircraft's retail value. The Treasury's aircraft unit collects it, using Aircraft Transfer Questionnaire Form 4281.

Do you owe use tax on an aircraft bought outside Michigan?

Depends. Use tax is due when the aircraft enters Michigan. A personal-use aircraft bought out of state by a nonresident and brought in more than 90 days later, or by a resident more than 360 days later, is taxed on its retail value on the first day used in Michigan instead of on the price. Tax paid to another state is credited if that state credits Michigan's tax, and the owner pays any difference.

What aircraft sales tax exemptions does Michigan have?

Depends. An aircraft in Michigan only to be sold and inspected, customized or repaired is exempt if it leaves within 15 days and is not based or registered in Michigan before or after. Domestic air carrier aircraft of at least 6,000 pounds are exempt, and so are transfers to close family members.

  • (a) The aircraft leaves this state within 15 days after the sale and the completion of any prepurchase evaluation, customization, improvement, maintenance, or repair that is associated with the sale, whichever is later.

    Michigan Compiled Laws, MCL 205.94k(3) · checked October 18, 2026

  • "Based in this state" means hangared or stored in this state for not less than 10 days in not less than 3 nonconsecutive months during the immediately preceding 12-month period.

    Michigan Compiled Laws, MCL 205.94k(6)(a) · checked October 18, 2026

  • The storage, use, or consumption of an aircraft by a domestic air carrier for use solely in the transport of air cargo, passengers, or a combination of air cargo and passengers, that has a maximum certificated takeoff weight of at least 6,000 pounds.

    Michigan Compiled Laws, MCL 205.94(1)(u) · checked October 18, 2026

  • A transaction or a portion of a transaction if the transferee or purchaser is the spouse, mother, father, brother, sister, child, stepparent, stepchild, stepbrother, stepsister, grandparent, grandchild, legal ward, or a legally appointed guardian with a certified letter of guardianship, of the transferor.

    Michigan Compiled Laws, MCL 205.93(3)(a) · checked October 18, 2026

Are aircraft rentals taxed in Michigan?

Depends. Either the owner pays tax when buying the aircraft and the rental receipts are then exempt, or a lessor elects to pay use tax on its rental receipts instead of on the purchase. The Treasury asks lessors making that election for their use tax registration and lease agreements.

Is flight instruction taxed in Michigan?

Not clearly published. We found no Michigan statute, rule or Treasury guidance on whether flight instruction, or the aircraft time inside a lesson, is taxed.

The state's published guidance does not clearly answer this.

Are aircraft parts and maintenance labor taxed in Michigan?

Depends. Parts are taxable. Parts installed on an aircraft that is not based or registered in Michigan are exempt if it leaves within 15 days of the work being finished, as are parts for domestic air carrier aircraft.

  • (a) The aircraft leaves this state within 15 days after the sooner of the issuance of the final billing or authorized approval for final return to service, completion of the maintenance record entry, and completion of the test flight and ground test for inspection as required under 14 CFR 91.407.

    Michigan Compiled Laws, MCL 205.54x(2) · checked October 18, 2026

Does Michigan register or tax aircraft every year?

Taxed. Aircraft tied down, hangared or based in Michigan register every year with the state, at 1 cent per pound of maximum gross or takeoff weight, whichever is greater. The fee replaces all property tax on the aircraft. A first registration after July 1 is 50% of the annual fee.

  • A registration fee shall be paid at the rate of 1 cent per pound of either maximum gross weight or maximum takeoff weight, whichever is greater, for which the aircraft is certified under the federal aviation administration airworthiness certificate.

    Michigan Compiled Laws, MCL 259.77(5) · checked October 18, 2026

  • A registration fee shall be in lieu of all property taxes on the aircraft, either general or local.

    Michigan Compiled Laws, MCL 259.77(4) · checked October 18, 2026

  • However, for an aircraft being registered for the first time, a registration certificate issued after July 1 shall be issued at the rate of 50% of the annual fee.

    Michigan Compiled Laws, MCL 259.77(3) · checked October 18, 2026

  • An aircraft tied down, moored, hangared, or based within this state and the number assigned to that aircraft by the federal aviation administration shall be registered annually with the commission and a registration fee paid.

    Michigan Compiled Laws, MCL 259.76(1) · checked October 18, 2026

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