how much is the federal gas tax
The federal gas tax in the United States is 18.4 cents per gallon of gasoline and 24.4 cents per gallon of diesel at the national (federal) level, and it has been at those rates since 1993.
Quick Scoop: How Much Is the Federal Gas Tax?
For a straight, practical answer:
- Federal gasoline tax: 18.4¢ per gallon.
- Federal diesel tax: 24.4¢ per gallon.
- These rates have been unchanged since 1993 , so they are not adjusted for inflation.
- You pay this on top of state and sometimes local fuel taxes, which vary widely.
In other words: every time you fill up, a fixed slice of the price per gallon is going straight to the federal government to help fund highways and transportation projects.
Federal vs. State: What You Actually Pay
Even though your question is about the federal gas tax , what you feel at the pump is the stack of federal plus state taxes.
- Federal portion (same in every state):
- 18.4¢/gal gasoline.
* 24.4¢/gal diesel.
- Average state portion (as of recent data):
- Roughly 31–32¢ per gallon of gasoline on average at the state level.
So a typical driver might be paying somewhere around 50¢ per gallon in combined taxes (federal + average state), though this can be much higher in some states and lower in others.
Snapshot Table: Federal Gas Tax Basics
| Fuel type | Federal tax per gallon | In effect since | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | 18.4¢ | 1993 | Flat nationwide; helps fund the Highway Trust Fund and related transport projects. | [9][1][3][7]
| Diesel | 24.4¢ | 1993 | Also goes mainly to transportation infrastructure at the federal level. | [1][7][9]
Why People Are Talking About It Now
Because the federal rate has stayed frozen for decades while inflation and construction costs rose , debates keep popping up about whether to:
- Raise the federal gas tax.
- Replace or supplement it with mileage-based or other road-use fees.
- Temporarily suspend it when gas prices spike.
You’ll often see this come up in election years or when gas prices jump quickly, since even a seemingly small 18.4¢/gal becomes noticeable when overall prices are high.
Mini Example: What It Means for a Fill‑Up
If you buy 15 gallons of gasoline :
- Federal tax: 15 × 18.4¢ ≈ $2.76 of your bill goes to the federal gas tax.
- State + local taxes add more on top, depending on where you live.
TL;DR
- The answer to “how much is the federal gas tax?” right now:
- 18.4¢ per gallon of gasoline.
* **24.4¢ per gallon of diesel**.
Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.