Fuel tax refunds

Who may request a refund?

You may be eligible for a refund of the Washington State fuel tax if:

• You're an individual or company who bought at least 41 gallons of Washington tax–paid fuel in the past 13 months
• and
• You used it for off road activities like:
  • boating
  • construction
  • farming
  • logging
  • landscape/lawn maintenance
  • export
  • auxiliary equipment such as the dumping mechanism on a dump truck, or the boom on a boom truck

If no Washington State fuel tax was paid, no refund can be issued.

A fuel tax refund permit

• Visit TAP – PRFT Taxpayer Access Point to complete the application online.
• or
• By mail:
  • Complete the Fuel Tax Refund Permit application and send to the address listed on the form.
  • Don't send fuel invoices with your refund application.
  • Once we process your application, we'll mail you a Fuel Tax Refund Claim form with instructions.

Filing refund claims online

Access your account through TAP and complete the claim form for the correct period. The average fuel tax rate is updated in January and July of each year. You must submit a separate claim for each period with a different rate.

To avoid entering each invoice separately in TAP, you may complete and import the appropriate template below. When claiming a refund for Power Take Off (PTO) use, complete the appropriate PTO tab on the template.

• Gas template
• Diesel claim template
• Av gas and jet fuel template

Filing a refund claim by mail

• Complete the Refund claim form mailed to you within 13 months of purchase date. The average fuel tax rate is updated in January and July of each year. You must submit a separate claim for each period with a different rate.
• Include supporting documents and copies of fuel invoices to verify purchases.

Once your refund is processed, we will mail you another refund claim form and the State Treasurer's office will mail your refund check.

How refund amounts are calculated

Unless exempted by law, we'll deduct use (sales) tax from your fuel tax refund amount and remit it to the Department of Revenue on your behalf. Refunds for marine use are also subject to Coastal Protection Fund fee.

You have 2 options to determine your refund:

• Have us calculate the deduction for you. We'll use the average fuel cost per gallon and average sales tax rate.
• Calculate the actual sales tax deduction. Submit a completed Actual Cost Computation Schedule with your claim. Contact us to receive this form.

Example of a refund claim amount calculated by the Department of Licensing:
Customer purchased 100 gallons of motor fuel at a total cost of $321 on July 1, 2019. They used this fuel off-road in their lawnmower and chainsaws.

1. Calculate the state tax, 100 gallons x $ .494 (state tax rate) = $49.40
2. Calculate the federal tax 100 gallons x. $ .184 = $18.40
3. Deduct the federal and state tax from the cost of the fuel to avoid double taxation. $321 - $49.40 (state tax) and $18.40 (federal tax) = $253.20
4. Apply the average sales tax, $253.20 x 8.5% = $21.52
5. Deduct the average sales tax from the state fuel tax, $49.40 - $21.52 = $27.88. This is the total refund due to the customer.

The following rates are averages and tax rates used for refunds. These rates usually change in January and July of the current year.

July 1 – December 31, 2018

Rates (per gallon): July 1 – December 31, 2018

Tax type	Motor fuel	Special fuel	Aircraft fuel
DOL average cost of fuel purchases	$3.09	$3.27	$3.09
State fuel tax	$0.494	$0.494	$0.11
Net use (sales) tax	$0.21	$0.22	$0.21
Federal fuel tax	$0.184	$0.244	Jet fuel: $.219 Aviation gas: $.194
Coastal Protection Fund fee	$0.01	N/A	N/A

For amending previously submitted claims, see prior tax rates:

July 1 - December 31, 2017

Rates (per gallon): July 1 - December 31, 2017

Tax type	Motor fuel	Special fuel	Aircraft fuel
DOL average cost of fuel purchases	$2.70	$2.76	$2.70
State fuel tax	$.494	$.494	$.11
Net use (sales) tax (based on average state rate of 8.2%)	$.17	$.17	$.17
Federal fuel tax	$.184	$.244	Jet fuel: $.219 Aviation gas: $.194
Coastal Protection Fund fee	$.01	N/A	N/A

January 1 - June 30, 2018

Rates (per gallon): January 1 - June 30, 2018

Tax type	Motor fuel	Special fuel	Aircraft fuel
DOL average cost of fuel purchases	$2.82	$2.99	$2.82
State fuel tax	$.494	$.494	$.11
Net use (sales) tax (based on average state rate of 8.2%)	$.18	$.18	$.18
Federal fuel tax	$.184	$.244	Jet fuel: $.219 Aviation gas: $.194
Coastal Protection Fund fee	$.01	N/A	N/A

Keep the following records on file for at least 5 years from date you bought the fuel:

• All fuel receipts
• Documentation of all refundable and nonrefundable gallons of fuel used.
• Documentation of the type of equipment used for refundable fuel. Examples include boats, tractors, power saws, etc.
• Fuel inventory readings in bulk storage.
• Detailed fuel records for all withdrawals from bulk storage.
• On–highway and off–highway mileage records for each licensed vehicle.

Related laws and rules

• RCW 82.38: Fuel tax law
• RCW 82.42: Aircraft fuel tax laws
• WAC 308–77: Fuel tax rules and regulations
• WAC 308–78: Aircraft fuel tax rules

Questions? Need help?

• Call us: 360.664.1838
• Email us: UnlicensedRefunds@dol.wa.gov