Aviation and Aerospace Tax Credit

INCOME TAXPAYERS – Effective for tax years beginning after December 31, 2021, and prior to January 1, 2027.

A tax credit for certain qualified aviation and aerospace employers for tuition or certain program-specific course fee reimbursements paid to a qualified employee, for compensation paid to qualified employees in each of the first five years of employment, and for individuals who become qualified employees of aviation or aerospace employers.

Qualifications

Qualified employer is a sole proprietorship, general partnership, limited partnership, limited liability company, corporation, other legally recognized business entity or public entity whose principal business activity involves the aviation sector.

Qualified employee is any person newly employed on a full-time basis by or first contracting with a qualified employer on a full-time basis on or after January 1, 2022, who has been rewarded an undergraduate or graduate degree, or a technical degree or certificate from a qualified program by an institution.

Credit Amount

The credit amount for a qualified employer:

  • 10% of the compensation paid to a qualified employee in each of the first five years of employment, not to exceed $15,000 per year. This is a nonrefundable credit and cannot be claimed after the fifth year of employment.
  • 50% of the tuition reimbursed to a qualified employee during the tax year. The credit shall not be refundable and cannot be carried forward.

The credit amount for a qualified employee:

A taxpayer who becomes a qualified employee during the taxable year shall be allowed a credit equal to $5,000. The credit may be claimed each year a taxpayer achieves the status of a qualified employee for the four taxable years succeeding the tax year in which the credit was first allowed.

Procedures to Claim the Credit

You may download Schedule K-26 to claim the Aviation and Aerospace tax credit. This schedule must be completed and submitted with the income return. You may also call the Department of Revenue voice mail system at 785-296-4937 to request Schedule K-26. You will be asked to give your name, address, phone number and form(s) you desire. Please allow two weeks for delivery of your forms.

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