Private jet sales are poised for takeoff thanks to a revived tax break

A new federal spending bill just gave wealthy business owners a pretty compelling reason to hit “buy” on that private jet they’ve been eyeing.

Tucked into the legislation is a revived tax perk called “bonus depreciation,” which lets businesses write off 100% of the cost of a jet — new or used — in the first year it’s put into service. The only catch: It has to be used for business, not for personal jet-setting. But that’s rarely a problem when most jets are technically purchased through holding companies or corporate entities.

The provision brings back a rule from the 2017 Trump tax cuts that had started phasing out. Now, instead of just being able to deduct 40% of a plane’s cost in 2025, companies can once again write off the whole thing. It’s basically the IRS equivalent of a green light to upgrade your G650.

This tax shift couldn’t come at a better time for the private aviation industry. After the post-pandemic boom of 2020 and 2021 — when private flying briefly became the new Uber Black — the market had cooled. A wave of first-time buyers jumped in during COVID, only to realize later that jet ownership comes with a lot of hidden costs: maintenance, pilots, hangars, scheduling headaches.

Now, many of those early buyers are selling their planes or moving to fractional ownership models, which offer more flexibility and fewer headaches. In fact, CNBC reports the average number of days a used jet sits on the market has been creeping up.

But this new tax advantage could change that. Jet brokers are already seeing signs of life — especially from high-net-worth buyers who had been holding off on purchases until the bill passed. And with tax season always looming, many are expected to make their move in the back half of the year, when companies and individuals start looking for big write-offs.

Timing will be key. Historically, private jet sales spike in Q4, as buyers try to close deals before December 31 to take full advantage of incentives. And with demand expected to climb again, experts say savvy buyers may want to get ahead of the rush — before availability tightens and inspection slots become scarce.