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2003 SESSION

030979880
HOUSE BILL NO. 1577
Offered January 8, 2003
Prefiled December 20, 2002
A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 58.1-2204, 58.1-2212, 58.1-2218, 58.1-2225, 58.1-2230, 58.1-2238, 58.1-2242, and 58.1-2259 of the Code of Virginia, and to repeal §§ 58.1-2221 and 58.1-2264 of the Code of Virginia, relating to fuels tax.
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Patron-- Parrish
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Referred to Committee on Finance
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Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That §§ 58.1-2204, 58.1-2212, 58.1-2218, 58.1-2225, 58.1-2230, 58.1-2238, 58.1-2242, and 58.1-2259 of the Code of Virginia are amended and reenacted as follows:

§ 58.1-2204. Persons required to be licensed.

A. A person shall obtain a license issued by the Commissioner before conducting the activities of:

1. A refiner, who shall be licensed as a supplier;

2. A supplier;

3. A terminal operator;

4. An importer;

5. An exporter;

6. A blender;

7. A motor fuel transporter;

8. A bulk user of undyed diesel fuel;

9. A retailer of undyed diesel fuel;

10. An aviation consumer;

11. A bonded importer; or

12. An elective supplier.; or

13. A fuel alcohol provider.

B. A person who is engaged in more than one activity for which a license is required shall have a separate license for each activity, except as provided in subsection C.

C. 1. A person who is licensed as a supplier shall not be required to obtain a separate license for any other activity for which a license is required and shall be considered to have a license as a distributor.

2. A person who is licensed as an occasional importer shall not be required to obtain a license as a distributor.

3. A person who is licensed as a distributor shall not be required to obtain a separate license as an importer if the distributor acquires fuel for import only from an elective supplier or permissive supplier. Such licensed distributor shall not be required to obtain a separate license as an exporter.

4. A person who is licensed as a distributor or a blender shall not be required to obtain a separate license as a motor fuel transporter if he does not transport motor fuel for others for hire.

§ 58.1-2212. Grounds for denial of license.

A. The Commissioner may refuse to issue a license under this article to an applicant if (i) the applicant or (ii) any principal of the applicant that is a business entity has:

1. Had a license or registration issued under prior law or this chapter canceled by the Commissioner for cause;

2. Had a motor fuel license or registration issued by another state canceled for cause;

3. Had a federal Certificate of Registry issued under § 4101 of the Internal Revenue Code, or a similar federal authorization, revoked;

4. Been convicted of any offense involving fraud or misrepresentation; or

5. Been convicted of any other offense that indicates that the applicant may not comply with this chapter if issued a license.

B. For purposes of subdivisions 1, 2 and 3 of subsection A, it shall be sufficient cause for the Commissioner to refuse to issue a license if the canceled or revoked license, registration or Certificate of Registry was held by a business entity of which the applicant, or any principal of the applicant, was a principal.

§ 58.1-2218. Point of imposition of motor fuels tax.

The tax levied pursuant to § 58.1-2217 is imposed at the point that the motor fuel is:

1. Removed from a refinery or a terminal and, upon removal, is subject to the federal excise tax imposed by 26 U.S.C. § 4081;

2. Imported by a system transfer to a refinery or a terminal and, upon importation, is subject to the federal excise tax imposed by 26 U.S.C. § 4081;

3. Imported by a means of transfer outside the terminal transfer system for sale, use, or storage in Virginia and would have been subject to the federal excise tax imposed by 26 U.S.C. § 4081 if it had been removed at a terminal or bulk plant rack in Virginia instead of being imported;

4. If the motor fuel is gasohol, (i) removed from a terminal or another storage and distribution facility, unless the removed fuel is received by a supplier for subsequent sale or (ii) imported into Virginia outside the terminal transfer system by a means other than a marine vessel, a transport truck, or a railroad tank car;

5. If the motor fuel is blended fuel, made within Virginia or imported into Virginia; or

6. Transferred within the terminal transfer system and, upon transfer, is subject to the federal excise tax imposed by 26 U.S.C. § 4081.

§ 58.1-2225. Backup tax; liability.

A. There is hereby levied a tax at the rate specified in § 58.1-2217 on the following:

1. Dyed diesel fuel that is used to operate a highway vehicle for a taxable use other than a use allowed under 26 U.S.C. § 4082;

2. Motor fuel that was allowed an exemption from the motor fuel tax and was then used for a taxable purpose; and

3. Motor fuel that is used to operate a highway vehicle after an application for a refund of tax paid on the motor fuel is made or allowed on the basis that the motor fuel was used for an off-highway purpose.

B. The operator of a highway vehicle that uses motor fuel that is taxable under this section is liable for the tax. If the highway vehicle that uses the fuel is owned by or leased to a motor carrier, the operator of the highway vehicle and the motor carrier shall be jointly and severally liable for the tax. If the end seller of motor fuel taxable under this section knew or had reason to know that the motor fuel would be used for a purpose that is taxable under this section, the operator of the highway vehicle and the end seller shall be jointly and severally liable for the tax.

C. The tax liability imposed by this section shall be in addition to any other penalty imposed pursuant to this chapter.

D. Persons diverting motor fuel into Virginia that had an original destination outside of Virginia shall incur liability for the tax levied for such motor fuel, as specified in § 58.1-2217, and shall be subject to the reporting and payment requirements set forth in § 58.1-2230 E.

§ 58.1-2230. When tax return and payment are due.

A. A return for the tax on motor fuel and gasohol levied by this chapter shall be filed with the Commissioner and be in the form and contain the information required by the Commissioner. The return and the payment for the tax on motor fuel levied by this chapter shall be due for each full month in a calendar year. Any return and payment required under this section shall be deemed timely filed if received by the Commissioner by midnight of the twentieth day of the second month succeeding the month for which the return and payment are due. Each return shall report tax liabilities that accrue in the month for which the return is due.

B. Returns and payments shall be (i) postmarked on or before the fifteenth day of the second month succeeding the month for which the return and payment are due or (ii) received by the Department by the twentieth day of the second month succeeding the month for which the return and payment are due. However, a monthly return of the tax for the month of May shall be (i) postmarked by June 25 or (ii) received by the Commissioner by the last business day the Department is open for business in June.

If a tax return and payment due date falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or a state or banking holiday, the return shall be postmarked on or before the fifteenth day of the second month succeeding the month for which the return and payment are due or received by the Department by midnight of the next business day the Department is open for business. This provision shall not apply to a return of the tax for the month of May.

A return and payment shall be deemed postmarked if it carries the official cancellation mark of the United States Postal Service or other postal or delivery services.

C. The following shall file a monthly return as required by this section:

1. A refiner;

2. A terminal operator;

3. A supplier;

4. A distributor;

5. An importer to include a bonded importer;

6. A blender;

7. An aviation consumer;

8. A person incurring liability under § 58.1-2225 for the backup tax on motor fuel; and

9 8. An elective supplier; and

9. A fuel alcohol provider.

D. Notwithstanding the provisions of any other section in this chapter, the Commissioner may require all or certain licensees to file tax returns and payments electronically.

E. Persons incurring liability under § 58.1-2225 for the backup tax on motor fuel shall file a return together with a payment of tax due within thirty calendar days of incurring such liability.

§ 58.1-2238. Returns and discounts of importers.

A. A monthly return of a bonded importer or an occasional importer shall contain the following information concerning motor fuel imported during the period covered by the return and any other information required by the Commissioner:

1. The number of gallons of imported motor fuel acquired from a supplier who collected the tax due the Commonwealth on the fuel;

2. The number of gallons of imported motor fuel acquired from a supplier who did not collect the tax due the Commonwealth on the fuel, listed by source state, supplier, and terminal; and

3. The import confirmation number, as required under § 58.1-2264 of this chapter, of each import that is reported under subdivision 2 and was removed from a terminal; and

4.3. If he is an occasional importer, the number of gallons of imported motor fuel acquired from a bulk plant, listed by bulk plant.

B. An importer shall not deduct an administrative discount under subsection C of § 58.1-2233 from the amount remitted with a return. An importer who imports motor fuel received from an elective supplier or a permissive supplier may deduct the percentage discount allowed by subsection C of § 58.1-2233 when remitting tax to the supplier, as trustee, for payment to the Commonwealth. An importer who imports motor fuel received from a supplier who is not an elective supplier or a permissive supplier shall not deduct the percentage discount allowed by subsection C of § 58.1-2233 when filing a return for the tax due.

§ 58.1-2242. Return of distributors and certain other licensees; exports.

A. A distributor who or any other licensee required to make monthly reports who exports motor fuel from a bulk plant located in Virginia shall file a monthly return with the Commissioner identifying the exports. The return is due by the twentieth day of the second month following the month covered by the return. The return shall serve as a claim for a refund by the distributor or such other licensee for tax paid to the Commonwealth on the exported motor fuel.

B. The return shall contain the following information and any other information required by the Commissioner:

1. The number of gallons of motor fuel exported during the month;

2. The destination state of the motor fuel exported during the month; and

3. A certification that the distributor or such other licensee has paid to the destination state of the motor fuel exported during the month, or will timely pay, the amount of tax due that state on the fuel.

§ 58.1-2259. Fuel uses eligible for refund.

A. A refund of the tax paid for the purchase of fuel in quantities of five gallons or more at any time shall be granted in accordance with the provisions of § 58.1-2261 to any person who establishes to the satisfaction of the Commissioner that such person has paid the tax levied pursuant to this chapter upon any fuel:

1. Sold and delivered to a governmental entity for its exclusive use;

2. Used by a governmental entity, provided persons operating under contract with a governmental entity shall not be eligible for such refund;

3. Sold and delivered to an organization described in subdivision 2 of § 58.1-2226 or subdivision 2 of § 58.1-2250 for its exclusive use in the operation of an aircraft;

4. Used by an organization described in subdivision 2 of § 58.1-2226 or subdivision 2 of § 58.1-2250 for its exclusive use in the operation of an aircraft, provided persons operating under contract with such an organization shall not be eligible for such refund;

5. Purchased by a licensed exporter and subsequently transported and delivered by such licensed exporter to another state for sales or use outside the boundaries of the Commonwealth if the tax applicable in the destination state has been paid, provided a refund shall not be granted pursuant to this section on any fuel which is transported and delivered outside of the Commonwealth in the fuel supply tank of a highway vehicle or an aircraft;

6. Used by any person performing transportation under contract or lease with any transportation district for use in a highway vehicle controlled by a transportation district created under the Transportation District Act of 1964 (§ 15.2-4500 et seq.) and used in providing transit service by the transportation district by contract or lease, provided the refund shall be paid to the person performing such transportation;

7. Used by any private, nonprofit agency on aging, designated by the Department for the Aging, providing transportation services to citizens in highway vehicles owned, operated or under contract with such agency;

8. Used in operating or propelling highway vehicles owned by a nonprofit organization that provides specialized transportation to various locations for elderly or disabled individuals to secure essential services and to participate in community life according to the individual's interest and abilities;

9. Used in operating or propelling buses owned and operated by a county or the school board thereof while being used to transport children to and from public school or from school to and from educational or athletic activities;

10. Used by buses owned or solely used by a private, nonprofit, nonsectarian school while being used to transport children to and from such school or from such school to and from educational or athletic activities;

11. Used by any county or city school board or any private, nonprofit, nonsectarian school contracting with a private carrier to transport children to and from public schools or any private, nonprofit, nonsectarian school, provided the tax shall be refunded to the private carrier performing such transportation;

12. Used in operating or propelling the equipment of volunteer firefighting companies and of volunteer rescue squads within this Commonwealth used actually and necessarily for firefighting and rescue purposes;

13. Used in operating or propelling motor equipment belonging to counties, cities and towns, if actually used in public activities;

14. Used for a purpose other than in operating or propelling highway vehicles, watercraft or aircraft;

15. Used off-highway in self-propelled equipment manufactured for a specific off-road purpose, which is used on a job site and the movement of which on any highway is incidental to the purpose for which it was designed and manufactured;

16. Proven to be lost by accident, including the accidental mixing of (i) dyed diesel fuel with tax-paid motor fuel, (ii) gasoline with diesel fuel, or (iii) undyed diesel fuel with dyed kerosene, but excluding fuel lost through personal negligence or theft;

17. Used in operating or propelling vehicles used solely for racing other vehicles on a racetrack;

18. Used in operating or propelling unlicensed highway vehicles and other unlicensed equipment used exclusively for agricultural or horticultural purposes on lands owned or leased by the owner or lessee of such vehicles and not operated on or over any highway for any purpose other than to move it in the manner and for the purpose mentioned. The amount of refund shall be equal to the amount of the taxes paid less one-half cent per gallon on such fuel so used which shall be paid by the Commissioner into the state treasury to the credit of the Virginia Agricultural Foundation Fund;

19. Used in operating or propelling commercial watercraft. The amount of refund shall be equal to the amount of the taxes paid less one and one-half cents per gallon on such fuel so used which shall be paid by the Commissioner into the state treasury to be credited as provided in subsection D of § 58.1-2289. If any applicant so requests, the Commissioner shall pay into the state treasury, to the credit of the Game Protection Fund, the entire tax paid by such applicant for the purposes specified in subsection D of § 58.1-2289. If any applicant who is an operator of commercial watercraft so requests, the Commissioner shall pay into the state treasury, to the credit of the Marine Fishing Improvement Fund, the entire tax paid by such applicant for the purposes specified in § 28.2-208;

20. Used in operating stationary engines, or pumping or mixing equipment on a highway vehicle if the fuel used to operate such equipment is stored in an auxiliary tank separate from the fuel tank used to propel the highway vehicle, and the highway vehicle is mechanically incapable of self-propulsion while fuel is being used from the auxiliary tank; or

21. Used in operating or propelling recreational and pleasure watercraft.

B. Any person purchasing fuel for consumption in a solid waste compacting or ready-mix concrete highway vehicle, or a bulk feed delivery truck, where the vehicle's equipment is mechanically or hydraulically driven by an internal combustion engine that propels the vehicle, is entitled to a refund in an amount equal to thirty-five percent of the tax paid on such fuel. For purposes of this section, a "bulk feed delivery truck" means bulk animal feed delivery trucks utilizing power take-off (PTO) driven auger or air feed discharge systems for off-road deliveries of animal feed.

C. Any person purchasing any fuel on which tax imposed pursuant to this chapter has been paid may apply for a refund of the tax if such fuel was consumed by a highway vehicle used in operating an urban or suburban bus line or a taxicab service. This refund also applies to a common carrier of passengers which has been issued a certificate of public convenience and necessity pursuant to §§ 46.2-2005 and 58.1-2204 providing regular route service over the highways of the Commonwealth. No refund shall be granted unless the majority of the passengers using such bus line, taxicab service or common carrier of passengers do so for travel of a distance of not more than forty miles, one way, in a single day between their place of abode and their place of employment, shopping areas or schools.

If the applicant for a refund is a taxicab service, he shall hold a valid permit from the Department to engage in the business of a taxicab service. No applicant shall be denied a refund by reason of the fee arrangement between the holder of the permit and the driver or drivers, if all other conditions of this section have been met.

Under no circumstances shall a refund be granted more than once for the same fuel. The amount of refund under this subsection shall be equal to the amount of the taxes paid, except refunds granted on the tax paid on fuel used by a taxicab service shall be in an amount equal to the tax paid less one cent per gallon on the fuel used.

Any refunds made under this subsection shall be deducted from the urban highway funds allocated to the highway construction district, pursuant to Article 1.1 (§ 33.1-23.01 et seq.) of Chapter 1 of Title 33.1, in which the recipient has its principal place of business.

Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, all provisions of law applicable to the refund of fuel taxes by the Commissioner generally shall apply to the refunds authorized by this subsection. Any county having withdrawn its roads from the secondary system of state highways under provisions of § 11 Chapter 415 of the Acts of 1932 shall receive its proportionate share of such special funds as is now provided by law with respect to other fuel tax receipts.

D. Refunds resulting from any fuel shipments diverted from Virginia shall be based on the amount of tax paid for the fuel less discounts allowed by § 58.1-2233.

E. Any person who is required to be licensed under this chapter and is applying for a refund shall not be eligible for such refund if the applicant was not licensed at the time the refundable transaction was conducted.

2. That §§ 58.1-2221 and 58.1-2264 of the Code of Virginia are repealed.