A tax is imposed on the privilege of operating motor vehicles upon the public highways and recreational-type watercraft upon the waters of this State.

1. (a) Prior to August 1, 1989, the tax is imposed at the rate of 13 cents per gallon on all motor fuel used in motor vehicles operating on the public highways and recreational type watercraft operating upon the waters of this State. Beginning on August 1, 1989 and until January 1, 1990, the rate of the tax imposed in this paragraph shall be 16 cents per gallon. Beginning January 1, 1990 and until July 1, 2019, the rate of tax imposed in this paragraph, including the tax on compressed natural gas, shall be 19 cents per gallon. Beginning July 1, 2019 and until July 1, 2020, the rate of tax imposed in this paragraph shall be 38 cents per gallon. Beginning July 1, 2020 and until July 1, 2021, the rate of tax imposed in this paragraph shall be 38.7 cents per gallon. Beginning July 1, 2021 and until January 1, 2023, the rate of tax imposed in this paragraph shall be 39.2 cents per gallon. On January 1, 2023, the rate of tax imposed in this paragraph shall be increased by an amount equal to the percentage increase, if any, in the Consumer Price Index for the 12 months ending in September of 2022. On July 1, 2023, and on July 1 of each subsequent year, the rate of tax imposed in this paragraph shall be increased by an amount equal to the percentage increase, if any, in the Consumer Price Index for the 12 months ending in March of the year in which the increase takes place. The percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index shall be calculated as follows:

   1. (1) calculate the average Consumer Price Index for the full 12 months ending in March of the year in which the increase takes place;
   2. (2) calculate the average Consumer Price Index for the full 12 months ending in March of the year immediately preceding the year in which the increase takes place;
   3. (3) calculate the percentage increase, if any, in the current-year average determined under item (1) over the preceding-year average determined under item (2). The rate shall be rounded to the nearest one-tenth of one cent.
   4. (a-5) Beginning on July 1, 2022 and through December 31, 2022, each retailer of motor fuel shall cause the following notice to be posted in a prominently visible place on each retail dispensing device that is used to dispense motor fuel in the State of Illinois: "As of July 1, 2022, the State of Illinois has suspended the inflation adjustment to the motor fuel tax through December 31, 2022. The price on this pump should reflect the suspension of the tax increase." The notice shall be printed in bold print on a sign that is no smaller than 4 inches by 8 inches. The sign shall be clearly visible to customers. Any retailer who fails to post or maintain a required sign through December 31, 2022 is guilty of a petty offense for which the fine shall be $500 per day per each retail premises where a violation occurs.
   5. (b) Until July 1, 2019, the tax on the privilege of operating motor vehicles which use diesel fuel, liquefied natural gas, or propane shall be the rate according to paragraph (a) plus an additional 2 1/2 cents per gallon. Beginning July 1, 2019, the tax on the privilege of operating motor vehicles which use diesel fuel, liquefied natural gas, or propane shall be the rate according to subsection (a) plus an additional 7.5 cents per gallon. "Diesel fuel" is defined as any product intended for use or offered for sale as a fuel for engines in which the fuel is injected into the combustion chamber and ignited by pressure without electric spark.

   6. (c) A tax is imposed upon the privilege of engaging in the business of selling motor fuel as a retailer or reseller on all motor fuel used in motor vehicles operating on the public highways and recreational type watercraft operating upon the waters of this State:

      1. (1) at the rate of 3 cents per gallon on motor fuel owned or possessed by such retailer or reseller at 12:01 a.m. on August 1, 1989; and

      2. (2) at the rate of 3 cents per gallon on motor fuel owned or possessed by such retailer or reseller at 12:01 A.M. on January 1, 1990.

         Retailers and resellers who are subject to this additional tax shall be required to inventory such motor fuel and pay this additional tax in a manner prescribed by the Department of Revenue.

         The tax imposed in this paragraph (c) shall be in addition to all other taxes imposed by the State of Illinois or any unit of local government in this State.

   7. (d) Except as provided in Section 2a, the collection of a tax based on gallonage of gasoline used for the propulsion of any aircraft is prohibited on and after October 1, 1979, and the collection of a tax based on gallonage of special fuel used for the propulsion of any aircraft is prohibited on and after December 1, 2019.

   8. (e) The collection of a tax, based on gallonage of all products commonly or commercially known or sold as 1-K kerosene, regardless of its classification or uses, is prohibited (i) on and after July 1, 1992 until December 31, 1999, except when the 1-K kerosene is either:

      1. (1) delivered into bulk storage facilities of a bulk user, or

      2. (2) delivered directly into the fuel supply tanks of motor vehicles and (ii) on and after January 1, 2000. Beginning on January 1, 2000, the collection of a tax, based on gallonage of all products commonly or commercially known or sold as 1-K kerosene, regardless of its classification or uses, is prohibited except when the 1-K kerosene is delivered directly into a storage tank that is located at a facility that has withdrawal facilities that are readily accessible to and are capable of dispensing 1-K kerosene into the fuel supply tanks of motor vehicles. For purposes of this subsection (e), a facility is considered to have withdrawal facilities that are not "readily accessible to and capable of dispensing 1-K kerosene into the fuel supply tanks of motor vehicles" only if the 1-K kerosene is delivered from:

         1. (i) a dispenser hose that is short enough so that it will not reach the fuel supply tank of a motor vehicle or (ii) a dispenser that is enclosed by a fence or other physical barrier so that a vehicle cannot pull alongside the dispenser to permit fueling.

            Any person who sells or uses 1-K kerosene for use in motor vehicles upon which the tax imposed by this Law has not been paid shall be liable for any tax due on the sales or use of 1-K kerosene.

            As used in this Section, "Consumer Price Index" means the index published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the United States Department of Labor that measures the average change in prices of goods and services purchased by all urban consumers, United States city average, all items, 1982-84 = 100.

(from Ch. 120, par. 418)

(Source: P.A. 102-700, eff. 4-19-22; 103-995, eff. 8-9-24.)