Value Added Tax (VAT) and import duties for aircraft currently stand at zero percent in Denmark. This allows international operators to avoid tax by basing their aircraft in Denmark. However, zero-rated VAT is in contradiction with European law and pressure is mounting on Danish legislators to adjust their taxes upward.

According to Lasse Rungholm, lawyer and CEO of OPM Aviation Services, a first attempt to amend Denmark’s tax law at the beginning of this year was postponed until after the elections. A second attempt in April also failed and the law is now scheduled for introduction on Jan. 1, 2010. Until that date OPM offers assistance to aircraft buyers eager to avoid taxes.