Reduction In PA Gas Tax To Be Proposed

HARRISBURG, PA — A state lawmaker says the numbers don't lie: Pennsylvania gas and diesel taxes are far too high.

So state Rep. Ryan Warner, a Fayette County Republican, plans to introduce legislation to lower those levies to match the tax rates of the states bordering Pennsylvania.

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"This excessive fuel tax burden harms working families, commuters, farmers, small businesses, and the trucking industry," Warner wrote Monday in a memo to House colleagues.

"It also incentivizes border-area residents and commercial operators to purchase fuel outside Pennsylvania, resulting in lost economic activity for Pennsylvania gas stations, truck stops, and local businesses near state lines."

According to World Population Review, Pennsylvania's current 58.7 cents per gallon gas tax is the nation's fourth highest, behind only California (70.92 cents), Illinois (66.40) cents and Washington (59.04 cents per gallon).

The diesel gas tax is the nation's second-highest at 74.40 cents per gallon, behind only California (87.32 cents).

Warner contends the average gasoline tax among Pennsylvania’s six border states — New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Ohio, and West Virginia — is approximately 35.5 cents per gallon, meaning Pennsylvania drivers currently pay more than 20 cents per gallon above the regional average.

Likewise, the average diesel tax among Pennsylvania’s neighboring states is approximately 37.8 cents per gallon — just over half of Pennsylvania’s current diesel tax rate.

Warner asserted that reducing the gas tax would:

• Provide immediate relief to Pennsylvania families facing high transportation and living costs;

• Reduce operating costs for truckers, farmers, manufacturers, and small businesses;

• Improve Pennsylvania’s competitiveness with neighboring states;

• Reduce incentives for cross-border fuel purchases;

• Return a portion of excess revenues back to taxpayers; and

• Promote a fairer and more sustainable transportation funding structure.

"Pennsylvania should not continue placing one of the highest fuel tax burdens in America on the people and industries that drive our economy," Warner said."Aligning our gasoline and diesel taxes with the regional average is a commonsense step toward tax fairness, economic competitiveness, and meaningful relief for Pennsylvania taxpayers.

"If Harrisburg has enough money available for spending increases, then we have enough money to give it back to the people who earned it."