Gas prices in Missouri and around the country continue to hover around $ 5 per gallon, and federal officials in Washington are discussing ways to implement a gas tax holiday. But Missouri drivers can get a little bit of their fuel bill in July – if they’re willing to jump through some hoops.
The state’s gas tax is set to increase by 2.5 cents on the first day of the month, gradually increasing it annually over the next few years as part of the 2021 law. If you are a diligent voucher saver, you can file for a refund of the money you spent from October 1, 2021, due to last year’s increase, starting from that day. Refunds will be available to file until September 30th.
Refund applications are filed on the Missouri Department of Revenue’s website, dor.mo.gov. The department is currently developing a system for electronically filing reimbursement claims for drivers, which will be available before July 1, according to its website. Vehicles weighing more than 26,000 pounds are not eligible for reimbursement.
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The department encourages drivers to save their receipts because they will ask for worksheet dates, vendor names, and the amount of gallons each driver has filled in for the claim. However, you do not need to include actual receipts in your claim. The DOR has asked those planning to file claims to retain the original receipts for “a three-year review of the claim.”
Missouri’s gas tax is currently at 19.5 cents per gallon, one of the lowest rates in the country. It will rise to 22 cents per gallon on July 1, and eventually to 29.5 cents per gallon by 2025.
The tax increase approved by the Legislature in 2021 was backed by the top Senate Republican in the Missouri Senate – now a candidate for the US Senate – and touted as a necessary and excessive investment in state infrastructure, the first increase in 25 years. Since the implementation, the increase has been the target of conservatives and Republican lawmakers, many of whom filed bills to repeal the gas tax increase in Jefferson City last session.
President Biden called on states and Congress to implement a three-month gas tax holiday this week. At the legislative session held earlier this year, legislation was submitted to create one in Missouri, but it failed to pass; Lawmakers have to return to the Capitol for a special session. However, the House Chamber is currently being renovated, with no immediate return, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported Wednesday.
Galen Boucherier covers Missouri politics and government for news-leaders. Contact him at [email protected], (573) 219-7440 or Twitter @Galenbacher.