NBAA Bestows Silk Scarf Award to Renowned Aviation Tax Attorney John Hoover

Contact: Dan Hubbard, 202-431-5970, dhubbard@nbaa.org

Washington, DC, Sept. 11, 2024 – The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) has presented its Silk Scarf Award to distinguished aviation tax attorney and past NBAA Tax Committee Chair John Hoover in recognition of his expert guidance to the business aviation community in navigating the complex aviation finance and taxation environment.

Hoover, who since 2018 has served as a partner in the law firm of Holland & Knight LLP, is regarded throughout the industry as an authority in structuring business aircraft arrangements, providing effective representation to address federal and state tax controversies and navigating aircraft transactions.

In addition to his work on the NBAA Tax Committee, Hoover regularly assists the association on complex tax regulatory initiatives. He is also a frequent presenter at the annual NBAA Tax, Regulatory & Risk Management Conference, held in conjunction with the NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA-BACE).

“Our entire industry has benefitted from John’s extensive knowledge of IRS tax codes and their impacts on our industry,” said NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen. “At a time when business aviation operations face renewed IRS targeting and scrutiny, we are thankful for John’s expert guidance and are pleased to acknowledge his longtime contributions with our Silk Scarf Award.”

In November 2018, Hoover testified on NBAA’s behalf in an IRS hearing regarding proposed bonus depreciation regulations under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. He asserted the final regulations, which went into effect in 2023, required clarification that a contract only need to be considered binding on the purchaser to qualify as a binding written contract.

Last year, Hoover assisted NBAA in clearing up confusion about entertainment disallowance allocation rules under Chief Counsel Advice (CCA) 2021-17-012 applicable to flights on employer-provided aircraft. In an article to NBAA members, Hoover clarified the CCA rules did not apply to flights on aircraft operated by a sole proprietorship, under Internal Revenue Code Section 274.

Hoover received an LL.M. in tax from the Georgetown University Law Center, a J.D. and an MBA from the University of Georgia, and a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Virginia. Following law school, Hoover served as a law clerk in the Federal Bankruptcy Court in Atlanta. He also is a certified public accountant.

The NBAA Silk Scarf Award is given to individuals for special contributions to the business aviation community during their careers. Learn more about the NBAA Silk Scarf Award.

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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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