SEARCH SITE
VIRGINIA LAW PORTAL
- Code of Virginia
- Virginia Administrative Code
- Constitution of Virginia
- Charters
- Authorities
- Compacts
- Uncodified Acts
- RIS Users (account required)
SEARCHABLE DATABASES
- Bills & Resolutions
session legislation - Bill Summaries
session summaries - Reports to the General Assembly
House and Senate documents - Legislative Liaisons
State agency contacts
ACROSS SESSIONS
- Subject Index: Since 1995
- Bills & Resolutions: Since 1994
- Summaries: Since 1994
Developed and maintained by the Division of Legislative Automated Systems.
2009 SESSION
091203280Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That §§ 58.1-2217, 58.1-2249, 58.1-2701, as it is currently effective and as it may become effective, and 58.1-2706 of the Code of Virginia are amended and reenacted as follows:
§ 58.1-2217. Taxes levied; rate.
A. There is hereby levied a tax at the rate of seventeen and one-half cents per gallon on gasoline and gasohol.
B. (Contingent expiration date - see Editor's notes) There is hereby levied a tax at the rate of seventeen and one-half cents per gallon on diesel fuel.
B. (Contingent effective date - see Editor's notes) There is hereby levied a tax at the rate of sixteen cents per gallon on diesel fuel.
C. Blended fuel that contains gasoline shall be taxed at the rate levied on gasoline. Blended fuel that contains diesel fuel shall be taxed at the rate levied on diesel fuel.
D. There is hereby levied a tax at the rate of five cents per
gallon on aviation gasoline. Any person, whether or not licensed under this
chapter, who uses, acquires for use, sells or delivers for use in highway
vehicles any aviation gasoline shall be liable for the tax at the rate of
seventeen and one-half cents per gallon on a
per gallon basis at the same rate as the
tax levied on gasoline,
along with any penalties and interest that may accrue.
E. (Contingent expiration date - see Editor's notes) There is
hereby levied a tax at the rate of five cents per gallon on aviation jet fuel
purchased or acquired for use by a user of aviation fuel other than an aviation
consumer. There is hereby levied a tax at the rate of five cents per gallon
upon the first 100,000 gallons of aviation jet fuel, excluding bonded aviation
jet fuel, purchased or acquired for use by any aviation consumer in any fiscal
year. There is hereby levied a tax at the rate of one-half cent per gallon on
all aviation jet fuel, excluding bonded aviation jet fuel, purchased or
acquired for use by an aviation consumer in excess of 100,000 gallons in any
fiscal year. Any person, whether or not licensed under this chapter, who uses,
acquires for use, sells or delivers for use in highway vehicles any aviation
jet fuel taxable under this chapter shall be liable for the tax imposed at the rate of seventeen and
one-half cents per gallon on a
per gallon basis at the same
rate as the tax levied on diesel fuel, along with any penalties
and interest that may accrue.
E. (Contingent effective date - see Editor's notes) There is
hereby levied a tax at the rate of five cents per gallon on aviation jet fuel
purchased or acquired for use by a user of aviation fuel other than an aviation
consumer. There is hereby levied a tax at the rate of five cents per gallon
upon the first 100,000 gallons of aviation jet fuel, excluding bonded aviation
jet fuel, purchased or acquired for use by any aviation consumer in any fiscal
year. There is hereby levied a tax at the rate of one-half cent per gallon on
all aviation jet fuel, excluding bonded aviation jet fuel, purchased or
acquired for use by an aviation consumer in excess of 100,000 gallons in any
fiscal year. Any person, whether or not licensed under this chapter, who uses,
acquires for use, sells or delivers for use in highway vehicles any aviation
jet fuel taxable under this chapter shall be liable for the tax imposed at the rate of sixteen cents per
gallon on a per gallon basis at
the same rate as the tax
levied on diesel fuel, along with any penalties and interest that
may accrue.
F. 1. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, if the Commissioner determines at any time that the statewide weekly average wholesale price of a gallon of self-serve unleaded regular gasoline, excluding federal and state excise taxes, is less than $0.99 per gallon, then (i) the tax on gasoline and gasohol shall be levied at the rate provided under this subsection beginning on the date as determined under subdivision 4 (and thereafter), and not at the rate provided under subsection A, and (ii) the tax on diesel fuel shall be levied at the rate provided under this subsection beginning on the date as determined under subdivision 4 (and thereafter), and not at the rate provided under subsection B.
For purposes of making such determination, the Commissioner shall, on a weekly basis, compute the statewide weekly average wholesale price of a gallon of self-serve unleaded regular gasoline, excluding federal and state excise taxes.
2. If the Commissioner makes the determination described in subdivision 1, the tax on gasoline and gasohol shall be levied on a per gallon basis at the rate of (i) the cents-per-gallon rate provided under subsection A less $0.05 per gallon, plus (ii) an additional cents-per-gallon rate that is equal to five percent of the statewide average wholesale price of a gallon of self-serve unleaded regular gasoline as computed in subdivision 3. If such determination is made, the tax on diesel fuel shall be levied on a per gallon basis at the rate of (a) the cents-per-gallon rate provided under subsection B less $0.05 per gallon, plus (b) an additional cents-per-gallon rate that is equal to five percent of the statewide average wholesale price of a gallon of self-serve unleaded regular gasoline as computed in subdivision 3.
3. The $0.05 per gallon reduction in the rate of tax levied on gasoline, gasohol, and diesel fuel shall be replaced by an additional cents-per-gallon tax equal to five percent of the statewide average wholesale price of a gallon of self-serve unleaded regular gasoline for the applicable base period, excluding federal and state excise taxes, as determined by the Commissioner rounded up to the nearest one-tenth of one cent.
In computing the additional cents-per-gallon tax described under this subdivision, the Commissioner shall use four base periods. The period from July 1 through September 30 shall be the base period for purposes of determining the additional cents-per-gallon tax to be imposed for the immediately following period beginning January 1 and ending March 31, inclusive; the period from October 1 through December 31 shall be the base period for purposes of determining the additional cents-per-gallon tax to be imposed for the immediately following period beginning April 1 and ending June 30, inclusive; the period from January 1 through March 31 shall be the base period for purposes of determining the additional cents-per-gallon tax to be imposed for the immediately following period beginning July 1 and ending September 30, inclusive; and the period from April 1 through June 30 shall be the base period for purposes of determining the additional cents-per-gallon tax to be imposed for the immediately following period beginning October 1 and ending December 31, inclusive.
4. The rate of tax under this subsection on
gasoline and gasohol and the rate of tax under this subsection on diesel fuel
shall first be imposed on the January 1st, April 1st, July 1st, or October 1st immediately
following the month of the
Commissioner's determination with an intervening
period of at least five months.
FG. In
accordance with § 62.1-44.34:13, a storage tank fee is imposed on each gallon
of gasoline, aviation gasoline, diesel fuel (including dyed diesel fuel),
blended fuel, and heating oil sold and delivered or used in the Commonwealth.
§ 58.1-2249. Tax on alternative fuel.
A. (Contingent expiration date - see Editor's notes) There is
hereby levied a tax at the rate of
seventeen and one-half cents per gallon on a
per gallon basis at the same
rate as the tax levied on gasoline under §
58.1-2217 on liquid alternative fuel used to operate a highway
vehicle by means of a vehicle supply tank that stores fuel only for the purpose
of supplying fuel to operate the vehicle. There is hereby levied a tax at a
rate equivalent to seventeen and one-half cents per gallon on a
per gallon basis at the same
rate as the tax levied on gasoline under § 58.1-2217
on all other alternative fuel used to operate a highway vehicle. The
Commissioner shall determine the equivalent rate applicable to such other alternative
fuels.
A. (Contingent effective date - see Editor's notes) There is
hereby levied a tax at the rate of
sixteen cents per gallon on a
per gallon basis at the same
rate as the tax levied on diesel fuel under § 58.1-2217 on liquid
alternative fuel used to operate a highway vehicle by means of a vehicle supply
tank that stores fuel only for the purpose of supplying fuel to operate the
vehicle. There is hereby levied a tax at a
rate equivalent to sixteen cents per gallon on a
per gallon basis at the same
rate as the tax levied on diesel fuel under § 58.1-2217 on all
other alternative fuel used to operate a highway vehicle. The Commissioner
shall determine the equivalent rate applicable to such other alternative fuels.
B. In addition to any tax imposed by this article, there is hereby levied an annual license tax of fifty dollars per vehicle on each highway vehicle that is fueled from a private source if the alternative fuels tax levied under this article has not been paid on fuel used in the vehicle. If such a highway vehicle is not in operation by January 1 of any year, the license tax shall be reduced by one-twelfth for each complete month which shall have elapsed since the beginning of such year.
§ 58.1-2701. (Contingent expiration date - see Editor's notes) Amount of tax.
A. Except as provided in subsection B, every motor carrier
shall pay a road tax at a rate per gallon equivalent to $0.21 three
and one-half cents per
gallon greater than the total tax imposed on each gallon
of diesel fuel under § 58.1-2217 calculated on the amount of motor
fuel, diesel fuel or liquefied gases (which would not exist as liquids at a
temperature of sixty degrees Fahrenheit and a pressure of 14.7 pounds per
square inch absolute), used in its operations within the Commonwealth.
The tax imposed by this chapter shall be in addition to all other taxes of whatever character imposed on a motor carrier by any other provision of law.
B. In lieu of the tax imposed in subsection A, motor carriers registering qualified highway vehicles that are not registered under the International Registration Plan shall pay a fee of $150 per year for each qualified highway vehicle. The fee is due and payable when the vehicle registration fees are paid pursuant to the provisions of Article 7 (§ 46.2-685 et seq.) of Chapter 6 of Title 46.2.
If a vehicle becomes a qualified highway vehicle before the end of its registration period, the fee due at the time the vehicle becomes a qualified highway vehicle shall be prorated monthly to the registration expiration month. Fees paid under this subsection shall not be refunded unless a full refund of the registration fee paid is authorized by law.
C. All taxes and fees paid under the provisions of this chapter shall be credited to the Highway Maintenance and Operating Fund, a special fund within the Commonwealth Transportation Fund.
§ 58.1-2701. (Contingent effective date - see Editor's notes) Amount of tax.
A. Except as provided in subsection B, every motor carrier
shall pay a road tax at a rate per gallon equivalent to nineteen and one-half three and one-half
cents per gallon greater than the total tax imposed on each gallon
of diesel fuel under § 58.1-2217 calculated on the amount of motor
fuel, diesel fuel or liquefied gases (which would not exist as liquids at a
temperature of sixty degrees Fahrenheit and a pressure of 14.7 pounds per
square inch absolute), used in its operations within the Commonwealth.
The tax imposed by this chapter shall be in addition to all other taxes of whatever character imposed on a motor carrier by any other provision of law.
B. In lieu of the tax imposed in subsection A, motor carriers registering qualified highway vehicles that are not registered under the International Registration Plan shall pay a fee of $100 per year for each qualified highway vehicle. The fee is due and payable when the vehicle registration fees are paid pursuant to the provisions of Article 7 (§ 46.2-685 et seq.) of Chapter 6 of Title 46.2.
If a vehicle becomes a qualified highway vehicle before the end of its registration period, the fee due at the time the vehicle becomes a qualified highway vehicle shall be prorated monthly to the registration expiration month. Fees paid under this subsection shall not be refunded unless a full refund of the registration fee paid is authorized by law.
C. All taxes and fees paid under the provisions of this chapter shall be credited to the Highway Maintenance and Operating Fund, a special fund within the Commonwealth Transportation Fund.
§ 58.1-2706. Credit for payment of motor fuel, diesel fuel or liquefied gases tax.
A. Every motor carrier subject to the road tax shall be
entitled to a credit on such tax at a rate per gallon equivalent to seventeen and one-half cents per gallon the total tax imposed on each gallon of diesel fuel under § 58.1-2217
on all motor fuel, diesel fuel and liquefied gases purchased by such carrier
within the Commonwealth for use in its operations either within or without the
Commonwealth and upon which the motor fuel, diesel fuel or liquefied gases tax
imposed by the laws of the Commonwealth has been paid by such carrier. Evidence
of the payment of such tax in such form as may be required by, or is
satisfactory to, the Department shall be furnished by each carrier claiming the
credit herein allowed.
B. When the amount of the credit to which any motor carrier is entitled for any quarter exceeds the amount of the tax for which such carrier is liable for the same quarter, the excess may: (i) be allowed as a credit on the tax for which such carrier would be otherwise liable for any of the eight succeeding quarters or (ii) be refunded, upon application, duly verified and presented and supported by such evidence as may be satisfactory to the Department.
C. The Department may allow a refund upon receipt of proper application and review. It shall be at the discretion of the Department to determine whether an audit is required.
D. The refund may be allowed without a formal hearing if the amount of refund is agreed to by the applicant. Otherwise, a formal hearing on the application shall be held by the Department after notice of not less than ten days to the applicant and the Attorney General.
E. Whenever any refund is ordered it shall be paid out of the Highway Maintenance and Construction Fund.
F. Whenever a person operating under lease to a motor carrier to perform transport services on behalf of the carrier purchases motor fuel, diesel fuel or liquefied gases relating to such services, such payments or purchases may, at the discretion of the Department, be considered payment or purchases by the carrier.
2. That the Commissioner of the Department of Motor Vehicles shall develop and issue guidelines no later than September 1, 2009, for purposes of developing processes and procedures implementing the provisions of this act. The development and issuance of the guidelines shall be exempt from the provisions of the Administrative Process Act (§ 2.2-4000 et seq. of the Code of Virginia).
3. That the Commissioner of the Department of Motor Vehicles shall periodically publish the rates of taxes on fuels taxable under Chapter 22 (§ 58.1-2200 et seq.) of Title 58.1 of the Code of Virginia for purposes of identifying the rates of taxes currently in effect under §§ 58.1-2217 and 58.1-2249 of the Code of Virginia.