Aviation Tax Consultants

What Aviation Tax Consultants does

Aviation Tax Consultants, LLC (ATC) is a privately held, specialized aviation tax consulting firm founded in 2003 by Fred McCarter and headquartered in Columbus, Indiana. The firm serves individual aircraft buyers and owners, as well as businesses operating general aviation aircraft, providing consulting services designed to maximize income tax benefits through ownership structuring, depreciation planning, and bonus depreciation strategies while minimizing or eliminating state sales and use tax across all 50 states. Core service lines include income tax planning, sales and use tax planning, FAA compliance documentation, entity setup, audit defense, and state-specific Interstate Exemption Experts services for California, Texas, and Florida. Engagements follow a structured multi-year format — initial consultation, tax return review, plan formulation, implementation, and continual monitoring through a three-year ongoing service period — delivered by a team of CPAs and a dedicated attorney.

ATC distributes its services primarily through direct consulting engagements initiated via website, phone, and a referral network of aircraft brokers, dealers, attorneys, and finance professionals. The firm actively participates in major aviation events including EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, NBAA events, US Aircraft Expo, and owner-type association gatherings (COPA, Citation Jet Pilots, TBMOPA, PMOPA), and maintains affiliations with IADA, NAFA, NBAA, and GLADA. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed, with engagements tailored to aircraft type, purchase price, state of domicile, and structural complexity. Technology footprint is minimal: an Excel depreciation calculator and a client file-share/invoicing portal — ATC is fundamentally an expert advisory practice rather than a technology company. The firm has served over 4,400 clients across all 50 states and currently operates with approximately 12-15 employees across offices in Columbus, Indiana; Scottsdale, Arizona; and Glendale, Arizona.

Name

Aviation Tax Consultants

Legal name

Aviation Tax Consultants, LLC

Website

https://aviationtaxconsultants.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Aviation Tax Consultants is a privately held, Columbus-based advisory firm providing specialized aviation tax planning — income tax optimization, sales/use tax minimization, and FAA compliance — to aircraft buyers and owners across all 50 states, operating through multi-year consulting engagements delivered by a team of CPAs and a dedicated attorney.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Aviation Tax Consulting

NAICS

Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (54169), Management Consulting Services (54161)

SIC

Services-Legal Services (8111)

akta.pro primary industry

Air Program Management (Corporate Air) (THAKAMAH)

Keywords

• Aviation tax consulting
• Aircraft tax planning
• Sales use tax exemption
• FAA tax compliance
• Aviation tax advisory

Headquarters

HQ city

Columbus

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Aviation Tax Consulting Services: The company provides specialized aviation tax planning consulting services including income tax optimization through proper ownership structure, sales and use tax minimization, FAA compliance documentation, and ongoing tax monitoring. Services include initial consultation, tax return review, plan formulation, implementation (entity setup, corporate documents, FAA compliance), and continual monitoring during the three-year engagement period.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Aviation Tax Consultants is a specialized consulting firm that helps aircraft buyers and owners maximize income tax benefits and legally minimize or eliminate sales and use tax through tailored aircraft ownership structures. Services cover initial consultation, tax return review, plan formulation, entity setup, FAA compliance documentation, and ongoing monitoring during multi-year engagements, with dedicated expertise in state-specific exemptions (California, Texas, Florida) and audit defense.

Product overview

Aviation Tax Consultants is a consulting firm (not a software company) that offers aviation tax planning services. Their core offering is tax consulting and advisory services for aircraft owners, focusing on maximizing income tax savings and minimizing sales/use tax. The main service is aviation tax consulting, supplemented by specialized interstate exemption experts for California, Texas, and Florida. They also provide tools such as a depreciation calculator and client resources including file sharing and invoicing capabilities. All offerings are service-based consulting rather than software products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Aviation Tax Consulting Services Customized aviation tax consulting engagement designed to maximize income tax savings and minimize or eliminate sales and use tax for aircraft operators while maintaining FAA and IRS compliance. The engagement includes initial consultation, tax return review, plan formulation, implementation (entity setup, corporate documents, FAA compliance documentation), and ongoing monitoring over a multi-year period.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $90,000 in tax savings on a single Cirrus aircraft acquisition
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• EAA Aviation Tax Consultants Fred McCarter Scholarship FundcoreOthers · 1 November 2023ATC established a scholarship fund in partnership with the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) Foundation to support the next generation of aviation enthusiasts. The scholarship was created to honor Fred McCarter's legacy after his passing in September 2022.
• Angel Flight WestcoreOthers · 1 January 2023Daniel Cheung, ATC Co-Founder, joined the Board of Directors of Angel Flight West in January 2023. Angel Flight West coordinates donated flights for patients and others with compelling needs. ATC actively supports this charitable aviation organization.
• International Aircraft Dealers Association (IADA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerATC maintains an affiliation with IADA, displaying their logo on the website and participating in IADA webinars and industry events. IADA is a leading trade association for aircraft dealers that provides education, certification, and networking for its members.
• National Aircraft Finance Association (NAFA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerATC is affiliated with NAFA, displaying their logo and collaborating on industry education. NAFA represents aircraft finance professionals and provides resources for aviation financing and lending.
• National Business Aviation Association (NBAA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerATC maintains membership and active participation with NBAA, attending and exhibiting at NBAA Tax Conference and NBAA Las Vegas events. NBAA is the leading trade association for business aviation.
• Global Licensed Aircraft Dealers Association (GLADA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerATC displays GLADA affiliation on their website. GLADA is an international organization supporting licensed aircraft dealers worldwide.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• National Business Aviation Association (NBAA): The leading trade association for business aviation, of which ATC is an active member and exhibitor. Not a competitor, but a key channel and ecosystem partner for ATC's go-to-market motion.
• International Aircraft Dealers Association (IADA): Trade association of accredited aircraft dealers that ATC partners with for referrals and joint webinars. Provides pipeline to aircraft buyers at the point of purchase, where ATC's tax advisory is most relevant.

Direct peers

• The General Aviation Law Firm, P.C. A specialized aviation legal practice that represents general aviation owners and operators and actively refers clients to ATC for tax matters. Operates in the same niche (aviation-specific advisory for owners), with complementary rather than overlapping expertise.
• Aerlex Legal Group: An aviation-focused legal and tax advisory firm serving aircraft owners, operators, and brokers on ownership structuring, FAA compliance, and tax planning. Closely comparable specialty focus and client base as ATC.

Emerging players

• Conklin & de Decker: An aviation cost-analysis and consulting firm serving aircraft owners and operators with operating cost benchmarking, fleet planning, and tax-related advisory. Adjacent specialty with partial overlap in serving aircraft owner/operator decision-making.

Broad incumbents

• PwC (Aviation Tax Practice): Big 4 firm serving aircraft owners and operators with tax planning, depreciation, and ownership structuring services. Competes for larger enterprise aviation clients rather than ATC's mid-market core.
• EY (Aviation Tax Practice): Big 4 firm with an aviation tax practice advising corporate flight departments, fractional operators, and individual aircraft owners. Provides similar services to ATC within a broader portfolio.
• KPMG (Aviation Tax Practice): A Big 4 firm whose aviation tax practice serves corporate aircraft owners, fractional programs, and airlines. ATC draws talent from this kind of incumbent, and they compete for the largest, most complex aircraft-owning entities.
• Deloitte (Aviation Tax Practice): Big 4 firm with a dedicated aviation tax group advising on aircraft ownership structuring, depreciation, and international tax issues for corporate and high-net-worth clients. Overlaps with ATC on the high end of the market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/AviationTaxCo
• Facebookfacebook.com/AviationTaxConsultants
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/aviation-tax-consultants
• Instagraminstagram.com/aviationtaxconsultants

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Aviation Tax Consultants