Fuel taxes make up a significant portion of the price you pay for gasoline or diesel fuel at the pumps.
Both are taxed both by the federal government and each individual state.
The federal tax is the same in all 50 states -- as of April 1, 2010, federal gasoline taxes were 18.5 cents per gallon and diesel taxes were 24.4 cents per gallon.
The bulk of state taxes come in the form of excise taxes, but states also add on other taxes such as sales taxes, gross receipts taxes, oil inspection fees, county and local taxes, underground storage tank fees, and miscellaneous environmental fees.
The U.S. average for taxes on gasoline is 47.2 cents; on diesel, 52.2 cents.
Combined state taxes for gasoline range from a low average in the South of 20.1 cents per gallon to a high average in the West of 41.2 cents per gallon.
For diesel fuel, state taxes range from an low average in the South of 20.5 cents per gallon and a high average of 37.3 cents per gallon in the West.
A regional summary of federal, state excise taxes and other taxes collected on both gasoline and diesel is shown below.
To see the total gasoline tax in any state, hover over that state with your cursor.
Find out gas taxes in your state:
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