Fuel Tax Refund Information Program

(kenteck) · (kenteck) **Join Date: Jan 2005** 10-12-2011, 12:44 PM

Not sure how much is involved for a refund or if it is even worth it, sounds like you have to jump through a lot of hoops, but who knows...

Recreational boaters who purchase taxed fuel for use in their boats may be able to get a refund of all or part of that 'highway use tax' depending on the state in which the fuel was purchased.

According to the Federal Highway Administration, almost 4 million gallons of gasoline were used for non-highway purposes in 2001. Of this, almost 25% (993,837 gallons) was used in marine activities. The cost of this fuel generally includes a highway use tax of anywhere from 7.5¢/gallon to close to 30¢/gallon depending on the state.

Many states apply the tax on marine fuel towards boating programs through the Aquatic Resources Trust Fund. But in other states the money does not get funneled into the marine community, and instead is put into the highway improvement fund. Since boats don't cause wear and tear on the highways, bridges, and ferries that benefit from that fund, applying marine fuel tax towards the highway improvement fund is widely viewed as unfair.

http://www.americanboating.org/fueltax.asp

(you_da_man) · (you_da_man) **Join Date: Sep 2009** 10-12-2011, 12:49 PM

Piece of cake to get back fuel tax in Texas. You can submit one calendar year at a time. Example - Jan 2010 to Jan 2011 or July 2010 to July 2011. It has nothing to do with state or federal income tax. In Texas just go to the Texas Comptrollers website for the form and check off Exemption #6

(tonyv420) · (tonyv420) **Join Date: Jul 2007** 10-12-2011, 1:57 PM

I have been doing this in Wa for the last 6 years. not hard at all, just save all your fuel reciepts and send them in with this form (my wife gets it for me) I'll have to ask where she gets it. But I have gotten at least $90 to $100 back each year. I put it right back in the tank LOL

(ottog1979) · (ottog1979) **Join Date: Apr 2007** 10-12-2011, 2:36 PM

Sweet! I'm ALL over this. Didn't know about it. Thanks for the tip!

(ottog1979) · (ottog1979) **Join Date: Apr 2007** 10-12-2011, 2:50 PM

Ooops, Nevermind (in CA)...

Is a refund available for the tax paid on gasoline used in a vessel?
Refunds of the tax paid on gasoline are available if the vessel is used in the ocean beyond the three (3) mile limit. Refunds of the tax paid also are available if used in propelling a vessel operated by its owner on waters located on private property owned or controlled by the claimant.
http://www.sco.ca.gov/ardtax_gastax_faq_gen.html

(nitrousbird) · (nitrousbird) **Join Date: Sep 2008** 10-12-2011, 5:09 PM

Checking the link, it is no shocker Ohio and it's lovely tax mismanagement is not one of the states you can apply for a refund..

(bigshow) · (bigshow) **Join Date: Feb 2005** 10-12-2011, 5:15 PM

Get back at them, buy an electric car and pay no road taxes via gasoline tax.

(Bumpass1) · (Bumpass1) **Join Date: Oct 2010** 10-13-2011, 4:05 AM

Va is the same way. Receipts + Form + DMV = Cash

(denverd1)

been writing it off for years on my personal 1040. no questions asked.

(k59) · (k59) **Join Date: Sep 2011** 11-01-2011, 3:59 PM

Damnit. I live in California and while initially investigating this I got all hyped up only to find out it does not apply to us fresh-water boaters (not on private lakes). Anyone know of a way around this in CA? Or if maybe we can have our Boat US lobbyists fight for it?