The States With the Highest — and Lowest — Gas Taxes

With gas prices at staggering new highs, it's tempting to scrutinize every single reason for our pain at the pump. One of them, of course, is an age-old villain: taxes. Some states are even instituting gas-tax holidays to help consumers struggling to fill the tank — for instance, New York will give residents a 16-cent-per-gallon break starting today through the end of the year. Using data from the American Petroleum Institute and local media reports, here's a look at each state's gas tax, a number with a shockingly large range, and what are some are doing to fight back.

Jason Notte contributed to this story. 

Related: The Cost of Gas the Year You Were Born

Total state gas taxes and fees:15.13 cents/gal.

Total including federal gas taxes: 33.53 cents/gal.

Average price per gallon (as of June 1):$5.23

Yes, Alaska is a great oil-producing state and gives each of its residents a dividend based on fuel oil sales, but that doesn't necessarily translate to low fuel prices. Still, Alaska hasn’t raised its gas taxes since Richard Nixon was president, according to the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy. The state's Republican governor has called for an 8-cent suspension through June 2023, according to CNBC.

Related: 21 Ways to Get Better Gas Mileage

Total state gas taxes and fees: 18.79 cents/gal.

Total including federal gas taxes:37.19 cents/gal.

Average price per gallon: $4.21

Mississippi gets the Gulf Coast discount for being so close to so much oil (the state is home to one of the nation's largest refineries in Pascagoula). Then it charges just 19 cents per gallon in state gas taxes — not bad at all — a rate unchanged since 1989. Lawmakers have floated a six-month gas-tax suspension.

Related: 12 Ways to Fill Up for Less at the Gas Station

Total state gas taxes and fees:18.88 cents/gal.

Total including federal gas taxes: 37.28 cents/gal.

Average price per gallon: $4.43

New Mexico qualifies as "Gulf Coast" by U.S. fuel industry standards, but has prices that are higher than in neighboring Texas. Don't blame the state gas tax, though: At 19 cents, it's among the nation’s lowest.

Related: How Gas Stations Have Totally Transformed Over the Past Century

Total state gas taxes and fees: 19 cents/gal.

Total including federal gas taxes: 37.40 cents/gal.

Average price per gallon: $4.97

Arizona is a bit too far from the Gulf Coast to reap any of its oil benefits, thus its 19-cent state gas tax — still among the lowest in the country — fails to bring down prices. They’re quite a bit higher than in neighboring New Mexico.

Related: Surprising Ways Skyrocketing Oil Prices Could Hit Your Wallet

Total state gas taxes and fees:19.92 cents/gal.

Total including federal gas taxes: 38.32 cents/gal.

Average price per gallon: $4.24

Missouri has the lowest state gas tax in the Midwest at just 20 cents per gallon, making it the envy of certain neighboring states (we're looking at you, Illinois). A bill under consideration would suspend the gas tax from the beginning of July through the end of the year. 

Total state gas taxes and fees:20 cents/gal.

Total including federal gas taxes:38.4 cents/gal.

Average price per gallon: $4.21

Oklahoma City's place as a hub of the U.S. energy industry keeps gas prices here low, and the relatively low taxes help cement this state’s reputation for having some of the nation’s cheapest gas.

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Total state gas taxes and fees:20 cents/gal.

Total including federal gas taxes:38.4 cents/gal.

Average price per gallon: $4.30

Texas oil production has spiked in the last decade, and only five countries (not states, countries) on Earth produce more oil than Texas. Combine that with a 20-cent gas tax, and Texas typically has some of the nation’s lowest gas prices.

Total state gas taxes and fees: 20.01 cents/gal.

Total including federal gas taxes:38.41 cents/gal.

Average price per gallon: $4.25

Louisiana’s modest gas taxes and Gulf location typically help keep prices a bit lower than elsewhere, but the state is over the $4-per-gallon mark right now. Louisiana hasn’t raised its gas taxes since 1990. 

Total state gas taxes and fees:22 cents/gal.

Total including federal gas taxes:40.4 cents/gal.

Average price per gallon: $4.37

The Rocky Mountain region often doesn't fare much better than the West Coast when it comes to fuel pricing, though it's holding its own right now. Colorado’s gas tax is fairly moderate, but it doesn’t help much when all of the state's supply is coming in from elsewhere. Its governor has called for a suspension of the federal gas tax. 

Total state gas taxes and fees: 23 cents/gal.

Total including federal gas taxes: 41.4 cents/gal.

Average price per gallon: $4.31

North Dakota has only about 760,000 people, which doesn't create much local gas demand, but also makes a 23-cent state gas tax helpful for building revenue.

Total state gas taxes and fees:23 cents/gal.

Total including federal gas taxes: 41.4 cents/gal.

Average price per gallon: $4.60

Lawmakers have proposed $300 gas rebates for all Delaware residents who filed a 2020 tax return. 

Total state gas taxes and fees:23.83 cents/gal.

Total including federal gas taxes:42.23 cents/gal.

Average price per gallon: $4.72

Total state gas taxes and fees:24 cents/gal.

Total including federal gas taxes:42.4 cents/gal.

Average price per gallon: $4.38

Total state gas taxes and fees: 24.03 cents/gal.

Total including federal gas taxes:42.43 cents/gal.

Average price per gallon: $4.19

Total state gas taxes and fees:24.8 cents/gal.

Total including federal gas taxes:43.2 cents/gal.

Average price per gallon: $4.19

Total state gas taxes and fees:25.7 cents/gal.

Total including federal gas taxes: 44.1 cents/gal.

Average price per gallon: $4.28

Total state gas taxes and fees:26 cents/gal.

Total including federal gas taxes:44.4 cents/gal.

Average price per gallon: $4.42

Total state gas taxes and fees:26.54 cents/gal.

Total including federal gas taxes: 44.94 cents/gal.

Average price per gallon: $4.76

Lawmakers here recently shot down a proposed gas-tax reprieve, but low-income workers will be getting $500 payments to help alleviate pain at the pump.  

Total state gas taxes and fees:26.75 cents/gal.

Total including federal gas taxes: 45.15 cents/gal.

Average price per gallon: $4.28

Lawmakers are considering a one-year gas-tax suspension in South Carolina. 

Total state gas taxes and fees:27.4 cents/gal.

Total including federal gas taxes: 45.8 cents/gal.

Average price per gallon: $4.32

Democratic lawmakers have proposed a 90-day suspension of Tennessee's gas tax.

Total state gas taxes and fees:30 cents/gal.

Total including federal gas taxes:48.4 cents/gal.

Average price per gallon: $4.35

Total state gas taxes and fees:30 cents/gal.

Total including federal gas taxes:48.4 cents/gal.

Average price per gallon: $4.31

Total state gas taxes and fees:30.01 cents/gal.

Total including federal gas taxes: 48.41 cents/gal.

Average price per gallon: $4.80

A proposal for a gas-tax suspension hasn't gotten off the ground here, but lawmakers are considering sending $850 to residents to offset gas and inflation.

Total state gas taxes and fees:30.6 cents/gal.

Total including federal gas taxes:49 cents/gal.

Average price per gallon: $4.34

Minnesota lawmakers are considering axing the state gas tax from Memorial Day through Labor Day.

Total state gas taxes and fees:31.31 cents/gal.

Total including federal gas taxes: 49.71 cents/gal.

Average price per gallon: $4.34

Lawmakers here have floated suspending the gas tax through from May through the beginning of September if prices don't come down.

Total state gas taxes and fees:31.91 cents/gal.

Total including federal gas taxes:50.31 cents/gal.

Average price per gallon: $4.75

Total state gas taxes and fees:32.14 cents/gal.

Total including federal gas taxes:50.54 cents/gal.

Average price per gallon: $4.75

Total state gas taxes and fees: 32.9 cents/gal.

Total including federal gas taxes:51.3 cents/gal.

Average price per gallon: $4.55

Total state gas taxes and fees:33 cents/gal.

Total including federal gas taxes:51.4 cents/gal.

Average price per gallon: $4.76

Total state gas taxes and fees:33.25 cents/gal.

Total including federal gas taxes:51.65 cents/gal.

Average price per gallon: $4.46

Total state gas taxes and fees:33.8 cents/gal.

Total including federal gas taxes:52.2 cents/gal.

Average price per gallon: $4.89

Total state gas taxes and fees:34.4 cents/gal.

Total including federal gas taxes: 52.8 cents/gal.

Average price per gallon: $4.47

Virginia is weighing a three-month gas-tax suspension over the summer.

Total state gas taxes and fees:35 cents/gal.

Total including federal gas taxes:53.4 cents/gal.

Average price per gallon: $4.73

Rhode Island is considering suspending its gas tax through the end of 2022. 

Total state gas taxes and fees:35.7 cents/gal.

Total including federal gas taxes: 54.1  cents/gal.

Average price per gallon: $4.51

Some lawmakers here are pushing for a 90-day gas-tax suspension. 

Total state gas taxes and fees: 35.75 cents/gal.

Total including federal gas taxes:54.15 cents/gal.

Average price per gallon: $4.70

Connecticut residents can fill up without paying 25 cents in state gas taxes through June 30 after the state passed emergency legislation at the end of March.

Total state gas taxes and fees:36.1 cents/gal.

Total including federal gas taxes:54.5 cents/gal.

Average price per gallon: $4.60

Like Connecticut, Maryland passed a gas-tax suspension in March, but the bill suspended the 36-cent charge for only 30 days.

Total state gas taxes and fees:37.55 cents/gal.

Total including federal gas taxes:55.95 cents/gal.

Average price per gallon: $4.16

Georgia has also offered some relief to residents. A bill signed March 18 suspended gas taxes through the end of May.

Total state gas taxes and fees:38.51 cents/gal.

Total including federal gas taxes: 56.91 cents/gal.

Average price per gallon: $4.60

Lawmakers in the Buckeye State are considering bring gas taxes down by about a dime permanently. 

Total state gas taxes and fees:38.75 cents/gal.

Total including federal gas taxes:57.15 cents/gal.

Average price per gallon: $4.36

Total state gas taxes and fees:38.83 cents/gal.

Total including federal gas taxes: 57.23 cents/gal.

Average price per gallon: $5.24

Total state gas taxes and fees:40.22 cents/gal.

Total including federal gas taxes: 58.62 cents/gal.

Average price per gallon: $4.93

Lawmakers in the Empire State approved a budget to suspend 8 cents a gallon on motor fuel taxes and 8 cents on sales tax when residents fuel up. The tax suspension lasts until the end of 2022.

Total state gas taxes and fees:42.4 cents/gal.

Total including federal gas taxes:60.8 cents/gal.

Average price per gallon: $4.77

New Jersey residents breathed a (small) sigh of relief when their gas taxes dropped from 50.7 cents to 42.4 cents a gallon thanks to the state ending a pandemic-related tax hike that made up a shortfall stemming from fewer drivers on the road. Still, high prices at the pump have some calling for the end of the state's infamous ban on self-serve gas, and some lawmakers still want to cut the newly lowered gas tax in half this summer.

Total state gas taxes and fees: 43.55 cents/gal.

Total including federal gas taxes: 61.95 cents/gal.

Average price per gallon: $4.65

Though the state can argue that it charges just 4 cents in gas tax (technically true), it isn't counting all of the other state taxes and fees that push its gas tax closer to 44 cents per gallon — ouch. Lawmakers agreed to a one-month suspension in October that will save residents about 25 cents a gallon. 

Total state gas taxes and fees: 45.7 cents/gal.

Total including federal gas taxes: 64.1 cents/gal.

Average price per gallon: $4.03

For a state that attributed so much of its identity to cars for so long, over 60 cents in gas taxes might be a bit hard to swallow. Michigan's gas tax is among the highest in the Midwest, and just went up at the beginning of the year. Michigan's governor has called for a suspension of the federal gas tax but opposes a state-led suspension and the state senate has approved four bills to suspend gas taxes from June 15 to September 15.

Total state gas taxes and fees:49.4 cents/gal.

Total including federal gas taxes:67.8 cents/gal.

Average price per gallon: $5.25

Washington has relatively high gas taxes, and it’s attempting to stick it to surrounding states that import its fuel. Lawmakers are debating adding a 6-cent-per gallon tax to any gas exported from the state’s refineries, saying the move is necessary in order to keep Washington’s gas tax from going up.

Total state gas taxes and fees:49.79 cents/gal.

Total including federal gas taxes: 68.19 cents/gal.

Average price per gallon: $4.76

Indiana has relatively high gas taxes for the Midwest, second only to neighbor Illinois. Some state lawmakers are calling for a suspension of the taxes, but it would be a costly move, to the tune of some $300 million.

Total state gas taxes and fees:50.48 cents/gal.

Total including federal gas taxes:68.88 cents/gal.

Average price per gallon: $5.34

It doesn't touch the Pacific, but Nevada is definitely West Coast when it comes to gas prices. Adding insult to injury: A law stating that if the federal government offers a gas-tax holiday, the state will increase its own gas taxes by the amount of the missing federal tax.

Total state gas taxes and fees:51.69 cents/gal.

Total including federal gas taxes:70.09 cents/gal.

Average price per gallon: $5.44

It's the cost of living in a remote island state: Gas – and gas taxes — are extremely pricey.

Related: The Best of Hawaii on a Budget

Total state gas taxes and fees:58.7 cents/gal.

Total including federal gas taxes:77.1 cents/gal.

Average price per gallon: $4.79

Despite Pennsylvania’s hefty gas taxes, the state says it’s still not enough. The state’s transportation department says it’s still facing a roughly $8 billion yearly shortfall when it comes to infrastructure projects and repairs. Some lawmakers are calling for a partial gas-tax suspension through the year's end.

Total state gas taxes and fees: 59.6 cents/gal.

Total including federal gas taxes:78 cents/gal.

Average price per gallon: $5.13

Drivers have it particularly rough in Illinois, where their gas-tax burden is second-highest in the country. Chicago drivers actually pay $1.02 a gallon in taxes when city and county taxes and fees are included, according to the Illinois Policy Institute. Various proposals to suspend or reduce the gas tax are under consideration.

Total state gas taxes and fees:68.15 cents/gal.

Total including federal gas taxes:86.55 cents/gal.

Average price per gallon: $6.19

As the Energy Information Administration points out, California has its own emissions standards and a unique blend of gasoline that doesn't tend to be refined outside of the state. It's cleaner-burning, it's refined under guidelines more stringent than the federal government, and it's taxed more than any other gasoline in the land. California's governor wants to send one or two $400 rebates to motorists, and other lawmakers have proposed a six-month tax suspension.

Related: Why are California's Gas Prices So High?