Program Schedule – 2025 NBAA Business Aviation Taxes Seminar

Networking Reception

Plaza Ballroom (Second Floor)

Registration

Grand Ballroom Lobby (Lower Level)

Breakfast

Plaza Ballroom (Second Floor)

Welcome and Washington Update

Kristie Greco Johnson, NBAA

Tax and Regulatory Complexities of Aircraft Ownership Structures

Sue Folkringa, Aviation CPAs
David Hernandez, Vedder Price PC

Any aircraft purchase will involve several questions regarding what type of entity will hold the title to the aircraft, and what options are available to maximize aircraft utilization and efficiencies. Those questions are often complex and ultimately have related tax and regulatory implications. This session will discuss the key questions that every buyer should be asking, and will analyze the acquisition planning considerations for new entities or owners who may be buying an interest in an existing entity.

Morning Break

Privacy and Tax Considerations for Advanced Ownership Structures

Lori McGee, Jetstream Aviation Law, P.A.
David Wall, TVPX

In this session, the speakers will outline common advanced aircraft ownership structures, including non-citizen trusts, double trusts and co-ownership, and highlight the key privacy and tax considerations associated with these structures. The discussion will include an overview of the actions owners can take to mitigate privacy concerns and the limits of current mitigation tools.

Aircraft Depreciation

Richard Farley, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
David Shannon, Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith LLP

In this presentation, attendees will learn the specific asset classifications that apply to aircraft for tax purposes. The speakers will also review how to qualify for bonus depreciation and any pitfalls that may disqualify the aircraft from eligibility. Lastly, the session will discuss any potential legislative updates regarding bonus depreciation.

Lunch

Plaza Ballroom (Second Floor)

Sales and Use Tax Planning & State Audits

Michael Cosby, Husch Blackwell LLP
Mike Grim, Cherry Bekaert Advisory LLC
Nel Stubbs, Stubbs Aviation Advisors

Planning for delivery and closing of an aircraft is only one aspect of your state tax strategy. As states become more aware of, and aggressive on, the taxation of aircraft, careful consideration of frequency and duration of time spent in a particular state needs to be considered as part of a comprehensive state tax strategy for aircraft ownership and operation. Developing and adhering to a strong strategy also puts owners in a strong position in the event of audit.

Identifying Business vs. Personal Use and Security Concern Rules

Deborah Bew Liu, Aircraft Acquisitions, Inc.
Letisha Sailor, AvTax Advisors, PLLC
Melissa Stanley, Barbera & Watkins, LLC

This session will include focus on defining the characteristics of deductible “business” flights in contrast to flights triggering limitations on deductibility (i.e., entertainment and commuting use) and key nuances and exceptions to distinguish between the two, including those arising from a security concern. To give clarity to the tax provisions and multifaceted analysis required to determine the proper treatment of flights, the panel will analyze representative flights commonly faced by companies. The panel will also discuss recordkeeping best practices to meet substantiation requirements and corroborate business use.

Afternoon Break

Advanced IRS Calculations

Robert Davis, Forvis Mazars LLP
Ryan DeMoor, MySky

This session will cover specific areas within personal use IRS calculations that are often not covered in depth, including intermediate stops, mixed use trips, seven-day international trips, middle deadhead calculations for the disallowance, and more!

Preparing for What’s Next

Katie DeLuca, Harper Meyer
Angel Houck, Houck & Christensen CPAs, LLC

With both houses of Congress nearly evenly divided, the prospects for ambitious tax legislation this year are less than crystal clear. This session will discuss strategies for preparing for what comes next, whether that’s an extension, expansion or expiration of the Tax Cuts & Jobs Act. Panelists will also review the impacts of tariffs and regulatory changes to the Corporate Transparency Act on business aircraft owners.