Written by Mordy Miltz, CPYB — Senior Brokerage Director atYachts360, Founder of Miltz Maritime Team

This July, President Trump signed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1) into law, permanently restoring 100 percent bonus depreciation for qualifying business assets—including superyachts and private jets—placed into service after January 19, 2025. As someone who launched my maritime journey in 2004 at 19, earning Merchant Mariner credentials, opening brokerage offices in Long Island and South Florida, and building the Miltz Maritime Team of sportfishing captains, brokers, managers, and maritime pros, I’ve seen how transformative smart tax strategy can be for yacht buyers.

How the tax incentive works
Under this restored bonus depreciation framework, qualified buyers—those using their yachts for legitimate business purposes such as charters, corporate entertainment, or business-related sportfishing—can expense the entire cost of the yacht in the first year, instead of depreciating it over decades. For example, a $10 million yacht could yield $3.5 to $4 million in federal tax savings, depending on the owner’s effective tax rate, freeing up capital for operations, upgrades, or expansion.

Why structure and expertise matter
This isn’t a casual tax break—it demands precise planning, documentation, and coordination from day one. Over the years, I’ve assembled teams that include seasoned tax attorneys, sharp accountants, brokers familiar with charter logistics, yacht managers skilled in operational compliance, and maritime lawyers—all critical to building an audit-ready structure that holds up under scrutiny.

A yacht must meet multiple qualifying criteria: proper charter certification and construction, charter-friendly flagging, active marketing for charter, completion of sufficient charters (U.S. or international as needed), and, in some cases, a full-time U.S. citizen crew. Each requirement aligns operational reality with IRS compliance, and any weak link can unravel the strategy.

Legislative context
This provision reverses the phasedown that had reduced bonus depreciation to 40 percent in 2025 and eliminated it by 2027. Now, the full 100 percent write-off is back—and permanently restored for assets placed into service after Jan 19, 2025.

Featured listing: 2006 Marlow 72E LRC offered at $1,999,000 in Newport RI

Market impact and early insight
Early signals suggest this will significantly boost the American superyacht sector—particularly in charter, brokerage, refits, and marketing. Buyers who were previously on the fence are being drawn by the opportunity to structure their yacht as a strategic business asset. Based on patterns from the 2017 tax incentives, we expect a spike in year-end acquisitions—and my team is already preparing clients to plan accordingly.

Your advantage with Miltz Maritime
At Miltz Maritime, our approach is simple: we fuse decades of maritime know-how with business-savvy strategy and real-world relationships. From first conversation to post-sale service, we deliver seamless, compliant, and confidence-inspiring support. If you’re considering how to harness the One Big Beautiful Bill Act for your yacht venture, let’s connect. Reach me directly at mordy@miltzmaritime.com—I’m ready to chart your course toward smart, successful ownership.