(AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
New York, California, and Connecticut round out the top three with the highest state gasoline taxes in the nation, based on 2012 rates compiled by the Tax Foundation, and residents in each state are paying well above the national average for gasoline, which currently is $3.61 per gallon.
Six of the 10 states that levy the highest state gasoline taxes also have the highest gasoline prices in the nation.
New York taxes gasoline at the highest rate at 49.0 cents, and the current average price of gas stands at $3.87 per gallon, the eighth highest in the country. California and Connecticut levy a 48.6-cents per gallon tax, as gas prices there stand at $4.26 and $3.89 per gallon, respectively. California has the fifth highest average price of gasoline, while Connecticut has the seventh.
The federal tax on gasoline is 18.4 cents and is not included in the “state gas tax” numbers presented in this news story.
Based on data from the American Petroleum Institute (API), the Tax Foundation, a nonpartisan research group, compiled the total amount of taxes and fees imposed on gasoline for each state. Each state plus the District of Columbia levies an excise tax, and also may charge additional fees and taxes, including environmental fees, storage tank taxes, and a general sales tax.
According to the Tax Foundation, California, Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and New York fully or partially apply general sales taxes to gasoline.
Other states with the highest state gas taxes include: Hawaii (47.1 cents), Michigan (39.4 cents), North Carolina (39.2 cents), Illinois (38.9 cents), Indiana (38.9 cents), Washington (37.5 cents), and Florida (35.0 cents).
Only North Carolina and Florida have gasoline prices below the national average, at $3.46 and $3.45 per gallon of regular, respectively.