If you live in Missouri and have saved gas tax receipts over the past year, you can now apply for the gas tax rebate. The Missouri gas tax rebate will allow drivers to get a refund on the Motor Fuel Tax increase. The deadline to apply for the rebate is September 30.
Missouri gas tax rebate: How to apply
In 2021, Missouri passed Senate Bill 262 to allow drivers to get a rebate, and the same year, the state started increasing the gas tax every year. The extra money from the gas tax is used for the maintenance of roads and bridges.
Earlier this week, the gas tax was increased from 24.5 cents per gallon to 27 cents per gallon. The gas tax has increased by 2.5 cents per gallon since July 2021, when SB262 became law, and will continue to increase until 2025, when it will peak at 29.5 cents per gallon. Despite the annual increase in the gas tax, Missouri ranks third from last in revenue per mile.
Drivers who have saved their gas tax receipts from July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024, can now apply for the Missouri gas tax rebate. Drivers need to submit form 4923-H online to claim the rebate. The form asks for the Vehicle Identification Number and total gasoline gallons and/or total diesel gallons.
Applicants who require assistance in submitting the form or have questions regarding the Missouri gas tax rebate can call 573-751-7671 or 800-735-2966 or email the state.
In 2022, the state Department of Revenue reported an average gas tax rebate from Missouri of $27.86.
A tool to fund infrastructure
Missouri Governor Mike Parson sees the gas tax hike as a tool to boost infrastructure. When introducing the annual gas tax hike in 2021, the governor noted that transportation is vital for economic growth and that his administration has recognized the need for extra funding for infrastructure projects in the state.
“We still have a long way to go to fix all the bridges in need of repair or replacement and address our backlog of unfunded needs. But by working together, we can continue to steadily invest in infrastructure,” Governor Parson said at the time.
Several other states have also increased their gas tax recently. California, for instance, charges 69.8 cents per gallon, the highest in the country. Illinois also raised its gas tax from 45.4 cents per gallon to 47 cents per gallon, while Indiana raised the tax from 34 cents to 35 cents per gallon.
Virginia raised its gas tax to 30.8 cents, up from 29.8 cents per gallon, while Colorado increased it to 27.9 cents per gallon. Nebraska increased its gas tax by just half a cent to 30.5 cents per gallon, while Kentucky lowered the tax by 2.3 cents per gallon to 27.8 cents.
