Taxes explained
Washington fuel taxes
Fixed duties and percentage taxes work differently. These records preserve effective dates and unresolved checks.
| Tax / fuel | Rate | Effective from | Through | Status and source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Excise Fixed gasoline | USD 0.2076/L | 2026-07-01 | Open / check source | Source verified Oil Spill Administration Tax: $0.0400/bbl ($0.0009523/gal). Oil Spill Response tax: $0.0100/bbl ($0.000238/gal). Hazardous Substance tax on petroleum products that can be measured on per-barrel basis: $1.4900/bbl ($0.0355/gal). "Border Zone Area Motor Fuel Tax" $0.01/gal in counties bordering Canada. Petroleum Products Tax (PPT) reinstated as of 1/1/20: rate is based on the wholesale value of the petroleum product multiplied by .0030. Rate observed at the EIA reporting snapshot; verify legislative effective date. Federal tax included. |
| Excise Fixed diesel | USD 0.2313/L | 2026-07-01 | Open / check source | Source verified Oil Spill Administration Tax: $0.0400/bbl ($0.0009523/gal). Oil Spill Response tax: $0.0100/bbl ($0.000238/gal). Hazardous Substance tax on petroleum products that can be measured on per-barrel basis: $1.4900/bbl ($0.0355/gal). "Border Zone Area Motor Fuel Tax" $0.01/gal in counties bordering Canada. Petroleum Products Tax (PPT) reinstated as of 1/1/20: rate is based on the wholesale value of the petroleum product multiplied by .0030. Rate observed at the EIA reporting snapshot; verify legislative effective date. Federal tax included. |
| Excise Fixed gasoline | USD 0.2046/L | 2026-01-01 | Open / check source | Source verified Oil Spill Administration Tax: $0.0400/bbl ($0.0009524/gal). Oil Spill Response tax: $0.0100/bbl ($0.000238/gal). Hazardous Substance tax on petroleum products that can be measured on per-barrel basis: $1.4800/bbl ($0.03524/gal). "Border Zone Area Motor Fuel Tax" $0.01/gal in counties bordering Canada. Petroleum Products Tax (PPT) reinstated as of 1/1/20: rate is based on the wholesale value of the petroleum product multiplied by .0030. Rate observed at the EIA reporting snapshot; verify legislative effective date. Federal tax included. |
| Excise Fixed diesel | USD 0.2284/L | 2026-01-01 | Open / check source | Source verified Oil Spill Administration Tax: $0.0400/bbl ($0.0009524/gal). Oil Spill Response tax: $0.0100/bbl ($0.000238/gal). Hazardous Substance tax on petroleum products that can be measured on per-barrel basis: $1.4800/bbl ($0.03524/gal). "Border Zone Area Motor Fuel Tax" $0.01/gal in counties bordering Canada. Petroleum Products Tax (PPT) reinstated as of 1/1/20: rate is based on the wholesale value of the petroleum product multiplied by .0030. Rate observed at the EIA reporting snapshot; verify legislative effective date. Federal tax included. |
| Excise Fixed gasoline | USD 0.2046/L | 2025-07-01 | Open / check source | Source verified Oil Spill Administration Tax: $0.0400/bbl ($0.0009524/gal). Oil Spill Response tax: $0.0100/bbl ($0.000238/gal). Hazardous Substance tax on petroleum products that can be measured on per-barrel basis: $1.4800/bbl ($0.03524/gal). "Border Zone Area Motor Fuel Tax" $0.01/gal in counties bordering Canada. Petroleum Products Tax (PPT) reinstated as of 1/1/20: rate is based on the wholesale value of the petroleum product multiplied by .0030. Rate observed at the EIA reporting snapshot; verify legislative effective date. Federal tax included. |
| Excise Fixed diesel | USD 0.2284/L | 2025-07-01 | Open / check source | Source verified Oil Spill Administration Tax: $0.0400/bbl ($0.0009524/gal). Oil Spill Response tax: $0.0100/bbl ($0.000238/gal). Hazardous Substance tax on petroleum products that can be measured on per-barrel basis: $1.4800/bbl ($0.03524/gal). "Border Zone Area Motor Fuel Tax" $0.01/gal in counties bordering Canada. Petroleum Products Tax (PPT) reinstated as of 1/1/20: rate is based on the wholesale value of the petroleum product multiplied by .0030. Rate observed at the EIA reporting snapshot; verify legislative effective date. Federal tax included. |
Common questions
Does a percentage tax stay fixed in cents per litre?
No. VAT, GST and sales taxes vary with their taxable base. For a tax-inclusive price and one rate r, the tax amount is price × r / (1 + r).
Why are some tax records marked unverified?
A published summary can omit a local levy, a tax-base rule or an effective date. Unverified records are not treated as a complete statutory tax stack.