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

Gasoline:
27.00¢ per gallon		 Cigarettes:
$1.70 per pack		 Liquor:
$9.74 per gal		 Wine:
$1.06 per gal		 Beer:
14¢ 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 Montana 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 Montana Sales Tax.

The Montana 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.

Montana's excise taxes, on the other hand, are flat per-unit taxes that must be paid directly to the Montana 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 Montana merchants pass on the excise tax to the customer through higher prices for the taxed goods.

Montana per capita excise tax

Montana collects an average of $545 in yearly excise taxes per capita, higher then 68% of the other 50 states.

Montana General Excise Taxes - Gasoline, Cigarettes, and More

Montana 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 transportation tickets, gas guzzlers, tanning salons, firearms, vehicle sales, and more.

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

Montana Gas Tax

22nd highest gas tax

The Montana excise tax on gasoline is 27.00¢ per gallon, higher then 56% of the other 50 states. Montana's excise tax on gasoline is ranked #22 out of the 50 states. The Montana gas tax is included in the pump price at all gas stations in Montana.

Tax on buying cigarettes in Montana - Montana cigarette excise taxes

Montana Cigarette Tax

18th highest cigarette tax

The Montana excise tax on cigarettes is $1.70 per 20 cigarettes, higher then 64% of the other 50 states. Montana's excise tax on cigarettes is ranked #18 out of the 50 states. The Montana cigarette tax of $1.70 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 Montana - Montana phone taxes

Montana Cellphone Tax

47th highest cellphone tax

The average tax collected on cell phone plans in Montana is $6.03 per phone service plan, one of the lowest cellphone taxes in the country. Montana's average cellphone tax is ranked #47 out of the 50 states. The Montana 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 Montana - Montana car road tax

Montana Car Tax

Montana 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 Montana Department of Transportation and receive documentation (registration and title papers) proving the fees were paid.

Montana Alcohol Excise Taxes - Liquor, Wine, and Beer

Montana 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 Montana's alcohol taxes in the final purchase price.

Tax on beer in Montana - Montana beer excise taxes

Montana Beer Tax

39th highest beer tax

The Montana excise tax on beer is $0.14 per gallon, lower then 78% of the other 50 states. Montana's beer excise tax is ranked #39 out of the 50 states. The Montana beer tax is already added to the purchase price of all beer bought in Montana, whether in kegs, bottles, or cans.

Tax on buying wine in Montana - Montana wine excise taxes

Montana Wine Tax

19th highest wine tax

The Montana excise tax on Wine is $1.06 per gallon, higher then 62% of the other 50 states. Montana's excise tax on wine is ranked #19 out of the 50 states. The Montana wine tax is already added to the purchase price of all wine bought in Montana.

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

Montana Liquor Tax

11th highest liquor tax

The Montana excise tax on liquor is $9.74 per gallon, higher then 78% of the other 50 states. Montana's excise tax on Spirits is ranked #11 out of the 50 states. All liquor stores in Montana are state-owned. As a result, excise taxes for hard alcohol sales are set by the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS). The Montana 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.

Montana Excise Tax Deductions & Refunds

Can I deduct my Montana Excise taxes?

Unlike the Montana Sales Tax, excise taxes are not generally deductible on Montana 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
Montana 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 Montana Excise Tax Refund?

While sales tax refunds are available for goods that are purchased in Montana and exported, Montana 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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Montana Excise Tax - References

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