Florida ​Fuel Tax​​​​​

The Florida Department of Revenue is responsible for administering fuel taxes for the state of Florida. For purposes of tax administration, fuel is defined as motor, diesel, aviation, or natural gas fuel.

  • Motor Fuel or Fuel: All gasoline products or any product blended with gasoline or any fuel placed in the storage supply tank of a gasoline-powered motor vehicle.
  • Diesel Fuel: All petroleum distillates commonly known as diesel #2, biodiesel, or any other product blended with diesel or any product placed into the storage supply tank of a diesel-powered motor vehicle.
  • Aviation Fuel: Fuel for use in aircraft, including aviation gasoline and aviation turbine fuels and kerosene, as determined by the American Society for Testing Materials specifications D-910 or D-1655, or current specifications.
  • Natural Gas Fuel: Any liquefied petroleum gas product, compressed natural gas product, or combination thereof used in a motor vehicle as defined in Section 206.01(23), Florida Statutes (F.S.). This term includes, but is not limited to, all forms of fuel commonly or commercially known or sold as natural gasoline, butane gas, propane gas, or any other form of liquefied petroleum gas, compressed natural gas, or liquefied natural gas. This term does not include natural gas or liquefied petroleum placed in a separate tank of a motor vehicle for cooking, heating, water heating, or electric generation.

Fuel tax is imposed on the ultimate consumer, but pre-collected for administrative convenience. The tax rates assessed on fuel are adjusted each year and are valid from January 1 to December 31. Fuel tax is due each month and includes the inspection fee, state tax, local option tax, and pollutants tax. The administration of fuel tax is found in Chapters 206 and 336, F.S., and in Rule Chapter 12B-5, Florida Administrative Code.

A person must have one or more of the following licenses to store, import, export, carry, blend, apply for a refund, or sell fuel in Florida. The method of operation determines the type of fuel license(s):​​

A person may request a temporary importer/pollutant, exporter, or carrier fuel tax license when the Governor of Florida has declared a state of emergency, or when the President of the United States has declared a major disaster in Florida or in any other state or territory of the United States. A temporary license allows that person to conduct the following activities in Florida:

  • Carrier: This license allows a railroad company, pipeline company, water transportation company, or a private or common carrier to transport gasoline or diesel to points within Florida or from a point in Florida to a point outside of Florida.
  • Exporter: This license allows a fuel dealer to export taxable motor or diesel fuels from sub storage at a bulk facility or direct from a terminal rack to a destination outside the state. The licensed exporter may apply for a refund of all applicable Florida fuel taxes if the other state’s tax has been paid.
  • Importer/Pollutant: These licenses allow a fuel dealer to import, other than by bulk transfer, motor or diesel fuel into Florida upon which no pre-collection of tax has occurred.

Obtaining a Temporary Fuel Tax License

To qualify for a temporary license, the applicant must:

  • Have a business location in Florida or in another state, and
  • Have a sales tax registration if located in Florida, or
  • Have a Florida fuel tax license, or
  • Have a fuel license issued in a state other than Florida.

A temporary fuel license may be obtained by submitting a completed Florida Temporary Fuel Tax Application (Form DR-156T PDF Icon) to the Florida Department of Revenue.

To receive a temporary fuel license, the applicant must:

  • - Complete the application in its entirety.
  • - FAX a copy of the application to (850) 245-5867 , or
  • - Scan and email a completed copy of your application to motor_fuel@floridarevenue.com.

An original signed application should later be mailed to:

Florida Department of Revenue
Account Management - Fuel Unit
Mail Stop 1-5730
5050 W Tennessee St
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0160

Upon approval of the application, the Department will provide the temporary license via the contact method selected by the licensee on question seven of Form DR-156T. The effective date of the temporary license is the date the application is received by the Department. The temporary license is valid until the last day of the month following the month in which the temporary license is issued.

Extending a Temporary Fuel Tax License

A temporary license may be extended for the duration of a declared emergency or major disaster when the licensee makes a written request for such extension by email or facsimile. Include the license number, name of the licensee, license type, and reason for the extension in the written request. A temporary license may not be extended past the duration of the declared emergency or major disaster.

Filing a Return with the Department

Any person granted a temporary license will be mailed one or more of the following return(s). Licensees must remit the return and payment, if applicable, to the Department before the 20th day of the month following the month in which the product was imported, exported, or carried in Florida.

Instructions on how to complete and return these forms and remit tax, if applicable, can be found on the Department’s Forms and Publications webpage under the Fuel and Pollutants Taxes section.

For assistance with this application or general information about fuel tax, call the Department's Taxpayer Assistance at 850-717-6627 Monday through Friday, excluding holidays.