Washington aircraft owners are advised to mark their calendars – aircraft registrations are coming due in January.
For those who file late, changes are on the horizon to restructure state aircraft registration penalties to create “a more efficient and user-friendly process for customers,” according to state aviation officials.
On July 1, a new law went into effect establishing a one-time, $100 late fee for aircraft registrations that are 60 days or more past due. This replaces the former penalty structure, which imposed escalating penalties of up to $400 for late registration payments.
Along with the change to penalties, the Washington State Department of Transportation has simplified its requirements for an aircraft registration exemption. Those applying for an exemption will no longer be required to submit hardcopy documentation along with their application. This change will allow aircraft owners to apply for exemptions online from the WSDOT Aviation website.
These changes apply to all non-exempt aircraft based in Washington for the 2017 registration year. Registrations are due every January and expire at the end of the calendar year.
Aircraft registration fees go directly to support WSDOT Aviation’s airport preservation, maintenance and improvement programs, and air search and rescue operations.
Lived in Washington once. Loved the area. Got screwed by Washington revenue service for entering their state with my plane. Won’t go back. Tax wise, it’s an aviation unfriendly state.
The state really has no need to know where every aircraft is located.
This is just as dumb as registering all aircraft by the Federallies every 3 years.
That is just busy work for the gov’t employees giving them something to do.
It is a source of revenue and nothing else.
Someone will say that this is needed to plan for infrastructure etc.
More boloney.
All they need to do that is to count aircraft operations, take offs and landings.
And if you think I am wrong consider this.
Texas, for example, does not register OR TAX aircraft and has great airport infrastructure through out the state and near me has just built TWO beautiful privately owned but public use airports.