Motor Fuels Tax Set for 1/1/2010 through 6/30/2010

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
December 17, 2009

FOR INFORMATION CONTACT:
Douglas A. Ewald, Tax Commissioner
(402) 471-5604

MOTOR FUELS TAX SET FOR JANUARY 1 THROUGH JUNE 30, 2010

LINCOLN — Based on the certification of the Director of the Department of Roads, the Nebraska Department of Revenue has calculated the motor fuels tax for January 1 through June 30, 2010 to be 26.8 cents per gallon. This is an increase from the current 26.4 cents per gallon. The January 1 through June 30 tax consists of the following components:

7.8 cents per gallon variable tax,
10.3 cents per gallon fixed tax, and
8.7 cents per gallon wholesale tax.

The Director of the Department of Roads sets the variable percentage rate at an amount sufficient to ensure adequate funding for highway projects, including maintenance and improvements. This percentage rate was set at 3.6% for the period January 1 through June 30, 2010. This percentage rate was applied to the base price of fuel purchased by the State in October 2009, establishing the January through June 2010 variable motor fuels tax to be 7.8 cents per gallon. Questions regarding the calculation of the variable percentage rate may be directed to the Department of Roads at
(402) 479-4635.

One cent of fuel tax results in approximately $12 million of revenue annually. Statistical information regarding the fuel tax receipts can be found on the Department of Revenue's Web site.

The Petroleum Release Remedial Action Fee is not included in the state motor fuel tax and remains unchanged at 0.9 cents per gallon on motor vehicle fuels and 0.3 cents per gallon on diesel fuels.

Current and historical motor fuels tax rates per gallon can be found at http://www.revenue.ne.gov/fuels/fuelrate.html. For questions about motor fuels tax, please contact Motor Fuels Taxpayer's Assistance at (800) 554-FUEL ([800] 554-3835) or locally, (402) 471-5730.

APPROVED:
Douglas A. Ewald
Tax Commissioner