(1) Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, every owner or person in charge of an aircraft which shall be based and operated on or from any airport of any type in this state shall file an application for a certificate of registration by mail or otherwise with the tax collector of the county in which the aircraft is based for each such aircraft. The State Tax Commission shall prescribe the form of such applications and shall make them available to the county tax collectors. The county tax collector may charge a fee not to exceed Two Dollars ($2.00) per application mailed to registrants to defray the expense of the mailing process; and such fee shall be in addition to the registration fee and shall be deposited to the credit of the county general fund. The registration shall be valid for the calendar year. The application for a certificate of registration shall contain:

(a) A description of each aircraft to be registered including the name of the manufacturer, aircraft registration number, type and maximum certificated gross weight; and

(b) The name and address of the owner of such aircraft and the county and municipality where aircraft is based.

The State Tax Commission may prescribe the form of renewal applications after the initial year of registration and shall make them available to county tax collectors.

(2)

(a) All dealers in the sale of aircraft shall be exempt from registration requirements upon purchase of an “exemption license” from the tax collector of the county in which the business is located, cost of which shall be Two Hundred Fifty Dollars ($250.00). This exemption shall not apply to dealers’ personal aircraft.

(b) Dealers’ “sales aircraft” shall be exempt from payment of ad valorem taxes and registration fees as provided in Section 61-15-11 upon proof satisfactory to the tax collector of the county in which the business is located, that each particular aircraft is used for delivery and demonstration purposes only.

(3) All manufacturers of aircraft shall be exempt from registration requirements of inventory upon purchase of an “exemption license” from the tax collector of the county in which the business is located, the cost of which shall be Two Hundred Fifty Dollars ($250.00).

(4) Aircraft owners shall purchase the required certificate of registration within sixty (60) days after the date of purchase of the aircraft. Aircraft owners failing or refusing to purchase the required certificate of registration within the prescribed time shall be guilty of violating the provisions of this chapter, and shall be liable for the amount of the registration fee, plus a penalty as follows:

(a) For all aircraft registered pursuant to Section 61-15-11 with a maximum certified gross weight of three thousand six hundred (3,600) pounds or less, a penalty of Fifty Dollars ($50.00);

(b) For all aircraft registered pursuant to Section 61-15-11 with a maximum certified gross weight of more than three thousand six hundred (3,600) pounds but not more than ten thousand (10,000) pounds, a penalty of One Hundred Fifty Dollars ($150.00);

(c) For all other aircraft registered hereunder, a penalty of Three Hundred Dollars ($300.00).