An effort launched in January identified nearly 1,000 previously unassessed aircraft, which represent a combined $3.5 billion in new assessments for the 2026 tax year, Los Angeles County Assessor Jeff Prang announced Monday.
Prang is responsible for valuing all taxable property, both real and personal, which includes commercial aircraft such as those operating at Los Angeles International Airport, as well as privately owned planes used for general aviation that are based or regularly operated in the county.
In recent years, it’s been a challenge to accurately identify taxable aircraft. Additionally, Federal Aviation Administration rules have made it more difficult for local government agencies to identify aircraft activity and ownership, according to Prang’s office.
Some aircraft owners have exploited the complex registration process and data gaps to avoid detection — and taxes.
California law maintains that aircraft are taxable based on where they are primarily located and operated and not where they are registered, according to Prang’s office.
To address the issue, the office invested in software that analyzes multiple data sources to identify aircraft activity at local airports, making it easier for the county to locate and assess aircraft that previously avoided taxation.
Launched in January, the new system identified nearly 1,000 unassessed aircrafts. Prang’s office projected these discoveries to generate nearly $2.5 billion in assessed value from the prior year and more than $1 billion in new assessments for the 2026 tax year.
The assessor’s office anticipates these finds will produce roughly $38 million in additional property tax revenue, with funding to support schools, cities, public safety and other local services. That figure is expected to grow as further analysis continues.
“My responsibility is to make sure every piece of taxable property is assessed accurately, so no one pays more than their fair share, and so our communities receive the revenue they are entitled to,” Prang said in a statement. “This is a clear example of how smart technology investments can improve fairness, strengthen compliance, and generate resources for the public good.”