26 USC 6421 - Gasoline used for certain nonhighway purposes, used by local transit systems, or sold for certain exempt purposes

U.S Code last checked for updates: Jan 15, 2026

§ 6421.

Gasoline used for certain nonhighway purposes, used by local transit systems, or sold for certain exempt purposes

(a)

Nonhighway uses

(b)

Intercity, local, or school buses

(1)

Allowance

Except as provided in paragraph (2) and subsection (i), if gasoline is used in an automobile bus while engaged in—

(A)

furnishing (for compensation) passenger land transportation available to the general public, or

(B)

the transportation of students and employees of schools (as defined in the last sentence of section 4221(d)(7)(C)),

the Secretary shall pay (without interest) to the ultimate purchaser of such gasoline an amount equal to the product of the number of gallons of gasoline so used multiplied by the rate at which tax was imposed on such gasoline by section 4081.

(2)

Limitation in case of nonscheduled intercity or local buses

(c)

Exempt purposes

(d)

Time for filing claims; period covered

(1)

In general

(2)

Exception

(3)

Application to sales under subsection (c)

(e)

Definitions

For purposes of this section—

(1)

Gasoline

(2)

Off-highway business use

(A)

In general

The term “off-highway business use” means any use by a person in a trade or business of such person or in an activity of such person described in section 212 (relating to production of income) otherwise than as a fuel in a highway vehicle—

(i)

which (at the time of such use), is registered, or is required to be registered, for highway use under the laws of any State or foreign country, or

(ii)

which, in the case of a highway vehicle owned by the United States, is used on the highway.

(B)

Uses in boats

(i)

In general

(ii)

Fisheries and whaling

(C)

Uses in mobile machinery

(i)

In general

(ii)

Requirements for mobile machinery

The requirements described in this clause are—

(I)

the design-based test, and

(II)

the use-based test.

(iii)

Design-based test

For purposes of clause (ii)(I), the design-based test is met if the vehicle consists of a chassis—

(I)

to which there has been permanently mounted (by welding, bolting, riveting, or other means) machinery or equipment to perform a construction, manufacturing, processing, farming, mining, drilling, timbering, or similar operation if the operation of the machinery or equipment is unrelated to transportation on or off the public highways,

(II)

which has been specially designed to serve only as a mobile carriage and mount (and a power source, where applicable) for the particular machinery or equipment involved, whether or not such machinery or equipment is in operation, and

(III)

which, by reason of such special design, could not, without substantial structural modification, be used as a component of a vehicle designed to perform a function of transporting any load other than that particular machinery or equipment or similar machinery or equipment requiring such a specially designed chassis.

(iv)

Use-based test

(f)

Exempt sales; other payments or refunds available

(1)

Gasoline used on farms

(2)

Gasoline used in aviation

This section shall not apply in respect of gasoline which is used as a fuel in an aircraft—

(A)

in aviation which is not commercial aviation (as defined in section 4083(b)), or

(B)

in commercial aviation (as so defined) with respect to the tax imposed by section 4081 at the Leaking Underground Storage Tank Trust Fund financing rate and, in the case of fuel purchased after September 30, 1995, at so much of the rate specified in section 4081(a)(2)(A) as does not exceed 4.3 cents per gallon.

(3)

Gasoline used in trains

In the case of gasoline used as a fuel in a train, this section shall not apply with respect to—

(A)

the Leaking Underground Storage Tank Trust Fund financing rate under section 4081, and

(B)

so much of the rate specified in section 4081(a)(2)(A) as does not exceed the rate applicable under section 4041(a)(1)(C)(ii).

(g)

Applicable laws

(1)

In general

(2)

Examination of books and witnesses

(h)

Regulations

(i)

Income tax credit in lieu of payment

(1)

Persons not subject to income tax

Payment shall be made under subsections (a) and (b) only to—

(A)

the United States or any agency or instrumentality thereof, a State, a political subdivision of a State, or any agency or instrumentality of one or more States or political subdivisions, or

(B)

an organization exempt from tax under section 501(a) (other than an organization required to make a return of the tax imposed under subtitle A for its taxable year).

(2)

Exception

(3)

Allowance of credit against income tax

(j)

Cross references

(1)

For civil penalty for excessive claims under this section, see section 6675.

(2)

For fraud penalties, etc., see chapter 75 (section 7201 and following, relating to crimes, other offenses, and forfeitures).

(3)

For treatment of an Indian tribal government as a State (and a subdivision of an Indian tribal government as a political subdivision of a State), see section 7871.

(Added June 29, 1956, ch. 462, title II, § 208(c), 70 Stat. 394; amended July 25, 1956, ch. 725, § 2, 70 Stat. 644; Pub. L. 85–859, title I, §§ 163(d)(3), 164(a), Sept. 2, 1958, 72 Stat. 1312; Pub. L. 86–342, title II, § 201(d)(2), Sept. 21, 1959, 73 Stat. 615; Pub. L. 87–61, title II, § 201(e), June 29, 1961, 75 Stat. 124; Pub. L. 87–508, § 5(c)(2), June 28, 1962,76 Stat. 118; Pub. L. 89–44, title VIII, § 809(b), June 21, 1965, 79 Stat. 166; Pub. L. 91–258, title II, §§ 205(b)(1), (c)(8), 207(b), May 21, 1970, 84 Stat. 241, 242, 248; Pub. L. 91–605, title III, § 303(a)(11), Dec. 31, 1970, 84 Stat. 1744; Pub. L. 94–280, title III, § 303(a)(11), May 5, 1976, 90 Stat. 456; Pub. L. 94–455, title XIX, § 1906(a)(27)(A)(i), (B)–(D), (b)(13)(A), Oct. 4, 1976, 90 Stat. 1827, 1828, 1834; Pub. L. 95–599, title V, § 502(a)(10), Nov. 6, 1978, 92 Stat. 2756; Pub. L. 95–618, title II, §§ 222(a)(1), 233(a)(1), (3)(A), Nov. 9, 1978, 92 Stat. 3186, 3190; Pub. L. 96–222, title I, § 108(c)(1), Apr. 1, 1980, 94 Stat. 226; Pub. L. 97–424, title V, §§ 511(c)(1), (3), 515(b)(7), 516(a)(6), Jan. 6, 1983, 96 Stat. 2170, 2171, 2182, 2183; Pub. L. 97–473, title II, § 202(b)(12), Jan. 14, 1983, 96 Stat. 2610;

cite as: 26 USC 6421