| Fuel Taxes
How is gasoline taxed in Wyoming?
Wyoming has a $0.13/gallon motor fuel license tax on gasoline and undyed diesel/kerosene/biodiesel, and no tax on dyed diesel/kerosene/biodiesel. There is also an additional license tax of $0.01/gallon on all fuels that goes to the Leaking Underground Storage Tank account, which is used to clean up leaking underground storage tanks. Finally, there is a $0.184/gallon federal tax on gasoline and a $0.244/gallon federal tax on diesel.
This makes for a total combined tax on gasoline in Wyoming of $0.324/gallon, and a total tax on diesel of $.384/gallon.
When was the fuel tax implemented?
In 1923, the original tax on gasoline was $.01/gallon. It was raised in 1925 to $0.025/gallon, and reached $0.03/gallon in 1927. It continued to grow until it reached the highest level at $0.14/gallon in 1998, where $0.02/gallon was diverted to the School Foundation Program (to help until it reach $20 million). Funds were again diverted to the School Foundation Account from July 1, 2000 to June 30, 2002. The School Foundation Program provides a guaranteed minimum level of funding to all Wyoming school districts based on several conditions from the previous school year. It is also funded by recapture from richer school districts. Currently no funds are diverted and the tax remains at $0.13/gallon plus $0.01/gallon for the LUST fund.
How does Wyoming compare to neighboring States and the Nation?
Wyoming has the second lowest tax on gasoline in the nation. A comparison of state fuel tax rates is provided below.
Data from: http://www.api.org/statistics/fueltaxes/upload/April_2010_gasoline_and_diesel_summary_pages.pdf
Where do our Federal gasoline taxes go?
The federal tax goes directly to the Federal Highway Trust Fund, which was created in 1956 and provides funding to the states for highway and transit projects. Funding, however, is not based on how much tax is collected from a given state, but from a state's "need," which is calculated by several measures, including miles of road and number of licensed drivers. This means that some states are "winners" who receive more than they are taxed, and some are "losers" who receive less.
The federal tax revenue goes into three different federal accounts, $0.001 for each gallon of gasoline or diesel sold goes to the Leaking Underground Storage Tank Fund for the cleanup of leaking underground storage tanks. All other federal gas taxes go to the Highway Trust Fund which divides the revenue into a highway account that gets $0.1544 for each gallon of gasoline and $0.2144 for each gallon of diesel. The mass transit account gets $0.0286 for each gallon of gasoline or diesel sold.
Is Wyoming a "winner" or "loser" when it comes to Federal taxes?
Wyoming is a winner. As of 2008 for every $1/gallon that is collected in Wyoming, $1.75 is given to the state to fund its roads. There is also a minimum guarantee that all states must receive at least 90.5% of its contributions to the Highway Account of the Highway Trust Fund back in appointments.
Where do our state gasoline taxes go?
The Wyoming Department of Transportation gets 2/3 of state taxes to fund reconstruction, operation and maintenance while 1/3 is given to cities and counties. Diesel taxes are mostly directed to highways (75%), with the rest going to county and municipal roads. Revenues from the tax, up to $0.02/gallon, have gone to education in the past, but currently no revenue is diverted.
How much revenue does the tax bring in?
In the State Fiscal Year 2009, the tax on gasoline raised $41,614,484 for Wyoming. The tax on Diesel fuel brought in $55,945,525. Wyoming had the 49th highest fuel tax revenue as of January 4, 2010.
What rebates and exemptions are available?
There are two gasoline tax relief programs available in the state of Wyoming, the Agricultural Tax Exemption and the Off Road Refund.
The Agricultural Tax Exemption covers gasoline purchased in bulk (more than 35 gallons) for agriculture, excluding gas delivered to attached or auxiliary tanks of a motor vehicle, purchased from a Wyoming distributor or importer up to 70% of the $0.13 motor fuel license taxes imposed by the State. Forms are sent out by the WYDOT Fuel Tax Administration. The administration can be contacted at 307-777-4826.
The Off Road Refund covers undyed diesel fuel purchased and used in Wyoming not on highways. It is subject to a refund of the $0.13 motor fuel license tax, if the refund form is submitted within a year of purchase with a receipt or invoice for the fuel and can be submitted anytime after the last day of the month if the user is entitled to a refund of $250 or more. Forms are available on the WYDOT website at http://www.dot.state.wy.us/wydot/business_with_wydot/fuel_tax/off_road_refund
Along with these programs, the University of Wyoming, community colleges and schools can request a refund of the motor fuel license taxes at the end of each month if the fuel is purchased and used in Wyoming and the request is filed within one year. |
