California Code, Revenue and Taxation Code - RTC § 6366.1

(a) There are exempted from the taxes imposed by this part, the gross receipts from the sale of and the storage, use, or other consumption in this state of aircraft which are leased, or are sold to persons for the purpose of leasing, to lessees using such aircraft as common carriers of persons or property under authority of the laws of this state, of the United States or any foreign government, or to any foreign government as lessees for use by such government outside the state, or to persons as lessees who are not residents of this state and who will not use such aircraft in this state otherwise than in the removal of such aircraft from this state.

(b) There are exempted from the taxes imposed by this part, the gross receipts from the sale of and the storage, use, or other consumption in this state of tangible personal property sold to an aircraft manufacturer and incorporated into aircraft to be leased by the manufacturer under conditions set forth in subdivision (a) of this section.

(c) With respect to aircraft leased, or sold for the purpose of leasing, on or after January 1, 1997, it shall be presumed that the aircraft is not regularly used in the business of transporting for hire property or persons if the lessor's yearly gross receipts from the lease of that aircraft to persons using the aircraft as common carriers of property or persons do not exceed 20 percent of the cost of the aircraft to the lessor, or fifty thousand dollars ($50,000), whichever is less.This presumption may be rebutted by contrary evidence satisfactory to the board showing that the aircraft is regularly used as a common carrier of property or persons.

In no event shall “gross receipts” include compensation by the lessor or related parties for use of the aircraft as a common carrier.