Assigned to FIN & TRANS                                                                                                                  FOR COMMITTEE

 

 


 

ARIZONA STATE SENATE

Phoenix, Arizona

 

FACT SHEET FOR S.B. 1215

 

vehicle license tax; gas tax

 

Purpose

 

            Phases out the current vehicle license tax portion to the Arizona highway users revenue fund (HURF) over a three-year period and assesses an additional phased-in motor vehicle fuel tax.

 

Background

 

Vehicle license tax (VLT) is assessed on new and used vehicles registered in Arizona, and is distributed to local governments and HURF.  HURF monies are further divided among the state highway fund, counties, cities and towns.

 

S.B. 1215 reduces VLT for both new and used vehicles by approximately 45 percent by January 2005.  Specifically, the bill phases out VLT assessments for HURF, which are currently $1.26 and $1.30 per $100 of assessed valuation for new and used vehicles respectively. 

 

VLT allocations to local governments are unchanged.  The bill also increases motor vehicle fuel taxes deposited into HURF, over the same three-year period, and subsequently annually adjusts the amount of the tax to reflect the annual percentage change in the GDP price deflator.

 

According to the Arizona Department of Transportation, the nine-year cumulative fiscal gain of this bill on HURF will be $52.8 million.

 

Provisions

 

Additional Motor Vehicle Fuel Tax

 

1.      Establishes an additional phased-in motor vehicle fuel tax to be paid by consumers on motor vehicle fuel possessed, used or consumed in the State as follows:

 

·        beginning on January 1, 2003, $0.04 per gallon

·        beginning on January 1, 2004, $0.08 per gallon

·        beginning on January 1, 2005, $0.12 per gallon

·         beginning on January 1, 2006, annually adjust the amount to reflect the annual percentage change in the GDP price deflator

 

2.      Imposes  an additional use fuel tax on light class motor vehicles at the same rate as the additional motor vehicle fuel tax.

 

3.      Requires motor vehicle fuel suppliers to collect and remit the tax.

 

4.      Imposes the tax when motor vehicle fuel, as measured by invoiced gallons, is either imported into Arizona for delivery here or removed from an Arizona bulk transfer terminal system or qualified terminal.

 

VLT

 

5.      Phases out the HURF VLT assessment charged on the initial registration of a new vehicle using the following schedule:

 

·        through December 31, 2002, $1.26

·        beginning on January 1, 2003, $0.84

·        beginning on January 1, 2004, $0.42

·        beginning on January 1, 2005, zero

 

6.      Phases out the HURF VLT assessment charged on the registration of used vehicles using the following schedule:

 

·        through December 31, 2002, $1.30

·        beginning on January 1, 2003, $0.87

·        beginning on January 1, 2004, $0.44

·        beginning on January 1, 2005, zero

 

Miscellaneous

 

7.      Makes conforming changes.

 

8.      Provides for a general effective date.

 

 

Prepared by Senate Staff

February 6, 2002