Washington to raise aviation fuel tax and registration fees under House Bill 2711

OLYMPIA — Aircraft operators in Washington state face upcoming tax and fee increases following the passage of House Bill 2711, Washington State Department of Transportation Aviation Division officials announced.

The legislation repeals a previously proposed 10 percent luxury aircraft tax, replacing it with rate hikes on existing aviation fees. Beginning Nov. 1, the state aviation fuel tax will rise from 18 cents to 25 cents per gallon. Effective Jan. 1, 2027, annual aircraft registration fees will double from $15 to $30, accompanied by revised excise tax schedules that introduce a new category for commercial uncrewed aircraft systems. Starting Jan. 1, 2028, registration fees and excise taxes will see automatic two percent annual adjustments.

The law also establishes the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Airport Infrastructure Account in the state treasury to fund airport preservation and infrastructure improvements aimed at sustainable fuel, subject to legislative appropriation.

In response to queries from the aviation community regarding revenue usage, the Washington State Department of Transportation Aviation Division detailed how these funds support the statewide aviation system. State law mandates that revenue from fuel taxes, registration fees, and excise taxes be deposited into dedicated accounts, requiring legislative approval before expenditure. Funding covers airport infrastructure grants, system studies, safety programs, and administrative costs.

With funding requests routinely exceeding available revenue, WSDOT Aviation relies on a competitive evaluation process outlined in its procedures manual to score and prioritize grant applications based on factors like safety, readiness, and matching funds.

Image courtesy WSDOT

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Elkhorn Media Group