Fuel tax facts

Overview

We provide a wide variety of services related to fuel tax and commercial motor carriers, including:

• Fuel tax collection, audits, and refunds
• Investigation of illegal fuel imports and dyed diesel
• Commercial motor carrier registration

To learn about these services and more, check out our presentation about Prorate and Fuel Tax Services.

Where fuel tax money goes

All fuel taxes collected are placed in the Motor Vehicle Fund. The Motor Vehicle Fund is used to support highway programs including:

• Constructing and maintaining state, city, and county roads, bridges, and ferries.
• Purchasing rights of way.
• Installing, maintaining, and operating traffic and signal lights.
• Policing state public highways.
• Operating movable span bridges.

Tribal fuel tax information

• Fuel distributed to Yakama Nation licensed businesses
• Tribal Fuel Stations — 25% Fuel Tax Credit

Fuel tax evasion

Fuel tax evasion is a crime. Fuel tax evasion includes:

• the use of red-dyed diesel fuel in licensed vehicles.
• importing fuel into Washington without a Washington State fuel license.
• manufacturing biodiesel for sale without a license.

How to report suspected fuel tax evasion

Contact the Washington State Patrol/Department of Licensing Evasion Unit task force by:

• Phone: 1-800-497-FUEL (1-800-497-3835).
• Email: evasion@dol.wa.gov.
• Mail:
  
  Fuel Tax Investigations Unit
  Department of Licensing
  PO Box 9228
  Olympia, WA 98507-9228

You may remain anonymous. If you leave your name and phone number, a task force member will call you back. All information given will be investigated and remain confidential.

Where to find information about fuel tax evaders

Please see Disciplinary actions: Dyed diesel violators to see a list of fuel tax violators and the fines they paid.