Georgia Suspends Diesel, Gas Taxes
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Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp suspended through Oct. 12 the state's excise tax on diesel and gas to help residents offset 40-year high “rampant inflation” while declaring a state of emergency due to negative economic conditions.
“From runaway federal spending to policies that hamstring domestic energy production, all Bidenomics has done is take more money out of the pockets of the middle class,” Kemp asserted after signing Sept. 12 the “State of Emergency for Inflation” executive order.
The excise tax suspension is expected to save residents 35 cents per gallon on diesel and 31.2 cents a gallon on gasoline.
“When the gas tax was suspended from March through December of 2022, Georgians saved about $1.7 billion at the pump,” Kemp’s office noted. He has suspended fuel taxes in the past for state residents.
Gas prices are on the rise nationwide because of disastrous federal energy policies.
With the gas tax suspension officially in effect, relief at the pump for hardworking Georgians is on the way!https://t.co/jc4rcTina4 — Governor Brian P. Kemp (@GovKemp) September 13, 2023
The governor’s office predicted that it would take several days for consumers to see fuel prices come down after the temporary tax suspension.
“While high prices continue to hit family budgets, hardworking Georgians deserve real relief and that’s why I signed an executive order today to deliver it directly to them at the pump,” Kemp said. “Working with partners in the General Assembly, we’ll continue to help Georgians weather the economic headwinds.”
His office cited last month’s statistics from Moody’s Analytics indicating Americans are spending $709 more each month than two years ago and $202 more per month than last year.
“The benchmark oil price is currently at a 10-month high, and the average price for a gallon of gasoline has risen more than 30 cents in Georgia over the past year,” noted the emergency declaration.
As of Sept. 15, the average price in Georgia of diesel was $4.306 per gallon and gasoline went for $3.448. The national per-gallon average on Sept. 15 for diesel was $4.549 and $3.866 for gasoline.
The order acknowledged that the prices of everyday essentials such as fuel, housing and food have risen dramatically.
“I applaud Gov. Kemp’s suspension of motor fuel taxes to keep our people and our economy moving despite Washington’s inaction on rising fuel prices,” said Jon Burns, speaker of the House in Georgia’s General Assembly. “Georgia’s success story is no accident — it is the result of conservative policies enacted to keep Georgia the nation’s best state for business.”
The state Department of Revenue, which collects fuel taxes, listed eligible motor fuels during the suspension of tax include clear diesel, gasoline, aviation gasoline, liquid propane gas, gasohol, ethanol, liquefied natural gas and compressed natural gas. Motor fuels sold for off-highway use (jet fuel and dyed diesel) generally are not subject to state motor fuel excise taxes.
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“Distributors should not remit Georgia motor fuel excise tax on motor fuels sold during the suspension period,” according to the Revenue Department. Any fuel delivered to a retailer before the suspension went into effect is not considered exempt from motor fuel taxes.
All motor carriers licensed with the International Fuel Tax Association (IFTA) and traveling in Georgia are exempt from motor fuel excise tax from Sept. 13, 2023, at 12 a.m., through Oct. 12 at 11:59 p.m.
Motor carriers will be able to purchase qualifying motor fuel tax-free and travel nontaxable miles in Georgia during this suspension period. IFTA returns still must be filed for the quarters included in the tax-free period. All fuel purchases must be reported on IFTA returns to accurately reflect a motor carrier driver’s miles per gallon for the suspension period. Reporting should include both tax-free and tax-paid fuel purchases.
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