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Indiana State Excise Taxes 2024 - Fuel, Cigarette, and Alcohol Taxes

Gasoline:
18.00¢ per gallon		 Cigarettes:
$1.00 per pack		 Liquor:
$2.68 per gal		 Wine:
47¢ per gal		 Beer:
12¢ per gal

What is an Excise Tax?

An excise tax is a tax directly levied on certain goods by a state or federal government. The most prominent excise taxes collected by the Indiana state government are the fuel tax on gasoline and the so-called "sin tax" collected on cigarettes and alcoholic beverages.

An excise tax is not the same thing as the Indiana Sales Tax.

The Indiana Sales Tax is collected as a percentage of the final purchase price of all qualifying sales, and is collected directly from the end consumer of the product.

Indiana's excise taxes, on the other hand, are flat per-unit taxes that must be paid directly to the Indiana government by the merchant before the goods can be sold. Merchants may be required to attach tax stamps to taxable merchandise to show that the excise tax was paid.

Even though excise taxes are collected from businesses, virtually all Indiana merchants pass on the excise tax to the customer through higher prices for the taxed goods.

Indiana per capita excise tax

Indiana collects an average of $433 in yearly excise taxes per capita, lower then 54% of the other 50 states.

Indiana General Excise Taxes - Gasoline, Cigarettes, and More

Indiana collects general excise taxes on the sale of motor fuel (gasoline and diesel), cigarettes (per pack), and cell phone service plans. Other general taxes, similar to excise taxes, may be collected on other items including gas guzzlers, transportation tickets, vehicle sales, firearms, tanning salons, and more.

Gas sales tax in Indiana - Indiana oil and gasoline excise taxes

Indiana Gas Tax

19th highest gas tax

The Indiana excise tax on gasoline is 18.00¢ per gallon, higher then 62% of the other 50 states. Indiana's excise tax on gasoline is ranked #19 out of the 50 states. The Indiana gas tax is included in the pump price at all gas stations in Indiana.

Tax on buying cigarettes in Indiana - Indiana cigarette excise taxes

Indiana Cigarette Tax

31st highest cigarette tax

The Indiana excise tax on cigarettes is $1.00 per 20 cigarettes, lower then 62% of the other 50 states. Indiana's excise tax on cigarettes is ranked #31 out of the 50 states. The Indiana cigarette tax of $1.00 is applied to every 20 cigarettes sold (the size of an average pack of cigarettes). If a pack contains more then 20 cigarettes, a higher excise tax will be collected.

Tax on phone service in Indiana - Indiana phone taxes

Indiana Cellphone Tax

23rd highest cellphone tax

The average tax collected on cell phone plans in Indiana is $9.84 per phone service plan, higher then 54% of the other 50 states. Indiana's average cellphone tax is ranked #23 out of the 50 states. The Indiana cellphone tax is already included in the service plan price you pay to your service provider, and may be listed as "Misc. taxes and Fees" or "Other" on your monthly bill.

Automobile / Vehicle Tax In Indiana - Indiana car road tax

Indiana Car Tax

Indiana collects a registration fee and a title fee on the sale or transfer of cars and motorcycles, which are essentially renamed excise taxes. Unlike standard excise taxes, however, the end consumer must pay the tax directly to the Indiana Department of Transportation and receive documentation (registration and title papers) proving the fees were paid.

Indiana Alcohol Excise Taxes - Liquor, Wine, and Beer

Indiana collects special excise taxes on the sale of all types of alcohol, subdivided into specific taxes on wine, beer, and liquor (hard alcohol other then wine and beer). Alcohol taxes are sometimes collectively referred to as "sin taxes", which also include excise taxes on cigarettes, gambling, drugs, and certain other items.

Please note that the IRS also collects a federal excise taxes on alcoholic beverages, which are included separately from Indiana's alcohol taxes in the final purchase price.

Tax on beer in Indiana - Indiana beer excise taxes

Indiana Beer Tax

41st highest beer tax

The Indiana excise tax on beer is $0.12 per gallon, one of the lowest beer taxes in the country. Indiana's beer excise tax is ranked #41 out of the 50 states. The Indiana beer tax is already added to the purchase price of all beer bought in Indiana, whether in kegs, bottles, or cans.

Tax on buying wine in Indiana - Indiana wine excise taxes

Indiana Wine Tax

35th highest wine tax

The Indiana excise tax on Wine is $0.47 per gallon, lower then 70% of the other 50 states. Indiana's excise tax on wine is ranked #35 out of the 50 states. The Indiana wine tax is already added to the purchase price of all wine bought in Indiana.

Tax on buying liquor in Indiana - Indiana Liquor & Spirits excise taxes

Indiana Liquor Tax

42nd highest liquor tax

The Indiana excise tax on liquor is $2.68 per gallon, one of the lowest liquor taxes in the country. Indiana's excise tax on Spirits is ranked #42 out of the 50 states. Indiana state taxes on hard alcohol vary based on alcohol content, place of production, size of container, and place purchased. The Indiana liquor tax applies to all hard alcohol (alchoholic beverages other then beer and wine), and is already included in the purchase price by the retailer.

Indiana Excise Tax Deductions & Refunds

Can I deduct my Indiana Excise taxes?

Unlike the Indiana Sales Tax, excise taxes are not generally deductible on Indiana income tax returns or on your federal tax return. However, the IRS occasionally allows certain excise taxes to be deducted for certain tax years.

Vehicle Tax Deduction
Indiana sales and excise taxes on cars or vehicles bought during 2009 may be deducted once from your federal tax return. You cannot deduct excise taxes for vehicles bought during other years.
Phone Tax Deduction
You may deduct excise taxes paid on long-distance phone calls between the years of 2003 and 2006 from your federal tax return.

Can I get a Indiana Excise Tax Refund?

While sales tax refunds are available for goods that are purchased in Indiana and exported, Indiana excise taxes paid on goods are generally non-refundable. Incentives may exist allowing certain state of federal excise taxes to be refunded on goods bought for specific uses, but such incentives change frequently.

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Indiana Excise Tax - References

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