Frequently, aircraft ownership changes between the assessment date, January 1, and the date tax bills are prepared and mailed. A former owner may be surprised to receive a tax bill for an aircraft after it was sold. Protesting to the tax assessor is usually of no avail, leaving the former owner to pay taxes on an aircraft then owned by someone else. This unfortunate result can be prevented if tax responsibility is contemplated prior to sale of the aircraft. The seller and the buyer can agree before ownership changes as to which will be responsible for any property taxes or sales taxes.
Sales taxes are normally the responsibility of the buyer as new registered owner.
The agreement could include other details also, and should be in a written memorandum signed by both buyer and seller.