Registering Aircraft in a Montana LLC:
What to Know
February 27, 2026
Whether you're buying a corporate jet for your growing company or a light aircraft to take to the skies for fun, private aviation is as popular as ever. However, many aviators balk at the liabilities and taxes associated with purchasing an aircraft. This makes the idea of forming a Montana LLC for purchasing and registering aircraft very appealing. But you may be wondering: How difficult is the process, and what are the downsides?
A Surprisingly Easy Process
Fortunately, setting up the LLC and using it to buy and register your aircraft is a lot simpler than it sounds. Montana Corporate streamlines the LLC formation process — All we need from you is your name, contact information, and a great name for your LLC. Once you submit the convenient form on our website, we file everything with Montana's Secretary of State immediately, and get you up and running (Or flying) in as little as one day!
How Does it Work?
When purchasing an aircraft, you will need to provide a copy of your LLC's Articles of Organization (Which we send to you when your LLC filing is approved by Montana's Secretary of State) at the time of purchase and ensure that all purchasing documents list your LLC as the purchaser. If you do not have the articles available, we can provide you with a copy.
Once the purchase is completed, you will just need to complete the attached forms (FAA 8050-1 Aircraft Registration Application and 8050-2 FAA Bill of Sale) with the aircraft information, and your signature and the seller's signatures on the respective documents.
If you purchase the aircraft through a broker or escrow company, many work with title companies and will complete these forms on your behalf and send them to the FAA directly.
If the broker/title company does not register with the FAA on your behalf, send the signed forms along with a copy of your LLC's Articles of Organization and the $5.00 application fee payable to the Federal Aviation Administration to the following:
USPS/US Mail:
FAA Registration Branch
PO Box 25504
Oklahoma City, OK 73125-0504
Courier (FedEx, UPS, etc.):
FAA Aircraft Registration Branch
6425 S Denning Ave
Oklahoma City, OK 73169
Once the FAA processes your registration, it's time to sit back and wait! The FAA will notify the Montana Department of Transportation: Aeronautics Division, who will in turn notify us that the aircraft is ready to be registered in Montana. The FAA registration certificate will be sent to our office and forwarded to you with tracking via FedEx 2-day, and your Montana registration will follow shortly! Once the Montana registration is completed and received in our office, we will invoice you for the registration fees.
How Much Will it Cost?
The fee for registering an aircraft is $250 + Montana state fee (See below).
| Aircraft Type | 2021–2026 | 2016–2020 | 2006–2015 | 1996–2005 | 1986–1995 | 1985 & Earlier |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type 0: Glider, ultralight, gyrocopter, balloon, homebuilt, or experimental | $30.00 | $30.00 | $30.00 | $30.00 | $30.00 | $30.00 |
| Type 1: Single piston electric engine, fixed gear, 200 HP and under | $450.00 | $262.50 | $150.00 | $75.00 | $37.50 | $30.00 |
| Type 2: Single piston engine, fixed gear, over 200 HP | $750.00 | $375.00 | $225.00 | $112.50 | $75.00 | $30.00 |
| Type 3: Single piston engine, retractable gear, 200 HP and under | $900.00 | $450.00 | $262.50 | $150.00 | $112.50 | $30.00 |
| Type 4: Single piston engine, retractable gear, over 200 HP | $1,050.00 | $600.00 | $300.00 | $187.50 | $150.00 | $30.00 |
| Type 5: Multi-engine, piston | $1,200.00 | $750.00 | $375.00 | $262.50 | $225.00 | $30.00 |
| Type 6: Helicopter, piston (Single and multi-engine) | $1,050.00 | $675.00 | $337.50 | $225.00 | $187.50 | $30.00 |
| Type 7: Single engine turboprop/prop jet, fixed wing or helicopter | $2,250.00 | $1,050.00 | $675.00 | $450.00 | $262.50 | $30.00 |
| Type 8: Multi-engine turboprop/prop jet, fixed wing or helicopter | $3,000.00 | $1,500.00 | $900.00 | $600.00 | $300.00 | $30.00 |
| Type 9: Jet engine, turbofan, turbojet (Single and multi-engine) | $4,500.00 | $2,250.00 | $1,200.00 | $750.00 | $375.00 | $30.00 |
MDT Aeronautics Division: 2026 Aircraft Registration Fee Schedule — fees based on aircraft type and manufacture date.
What Else Should I Know?
Aircraft renewal notices are mailed to our office in December/January of each year, and must be paid by March 1st or a 500% late penalty will be assessed by the state. You can request Montana Corporate to renew the aircraft on your behalf for $45 + state fee (Including tracked shipping), or you may renew the aircraft yourself online or by mail, in which case you will not be charged the $45 and the renewed registration will be forwarded to you via standard mail.
Please be aware that while your aircraft is legally owned by your LLC and registered in Montana, some states use FAA flight data to determine where the aircraft is used most frequently and/or hangared and may assess usage fees in that state. While many states have no problem with the aircraft being owned and registered in Montana as long as usage fees are paid to the state in question, it is always best to consult an accountant or tax attorney in your home state to be aware of what fees and liabilities you may be subject to before forming your LLC and registering your aircraft.
While it is important to do your own research and due diligence based on the laws and requirements where you and your aircraft are actually located, Montana LLCs remain a great option for registering aircraft both liability- and savings-wise! If this sounds like a good fit for you and you would like to know more, give us a call at (406) 204-2167 or shoot us an email at aircraft@montanacorporate.com today!
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