FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE	Contact: Beth Boustead, Public Information Specialist, 701.328.3039
Thursday, March 13, 2008

Fong: Apply Early for Gas Tax Refund

BISMARCK, N.D. – Tax Commissioner Cory Fong encourages farmers, ranchers, and other eligible consumers to apply for a refund of motor fuel taxes paid during 2007.

“Individuals, including farmers, ranchers, and other taxpayers, are busy gathering their income and expense records in order to file their income tax returns,” said Fong. “Because they will already have put together their receipts and other expense information, we suggest they take it one step further and, if eligible, apply for the gas tax refund.”

State law provides for the motor vehicle fuel tax refund program for certain consumers, such as farmers and ranchers, using fuel in agricultural machinery and equipment. The refund is for gasoline or gasohol taxes paid on purchases made during 2007. The deadline for applying for the refund is June 30, 2008.

“Even though the deadline for the gas tax refund is several months away, it is still timely for eligible individuals to apply now for the refund of the fuels taxes they paid last year,” said Fong.

The state motor fuel tax refund process provides the means for funding several programs. During Fiscal Year 2007, the Tax Department issued over 6,600 refunds to consumers totaling more than $1.4 million dollars. For each agricultural refund requested, four different programs receive a total of eight cents per gallon.

• Four cents goes to the agriculture research fund.
• The Agricultural Products Utilization Commission (APUC) receives two cents.
• One cent is provided to the state ethanol production incentive fund.
• And, one cent remains in the township highway aid fund.

To learn more about who is eligible for the state motor fuel tax refund or to access the forms and instructions, visit the Tax Department’s web site at www.nd.gov/tax/fuel/forms/. Or, contact the Tax Department, Motor Fuels Taxes Section, at 701.328.3126.

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