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

Gasoline:
12.10¢ per gallon		 Cigarettes:
$2.75 per pack		 Liquor:
$7.68 per gal		 Wine:
55¢ per gal		 Beer:
27¢ 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 Vermont 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 Vermont Sales Tax.

The Vermont 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.

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

Vermont per capita excise tax

Vermont collects an average of $813 in yearly excise taxes per capita, one of the highest average per capita excise taxes in the country.

Vermont General Excise Taxes - Gasoline, Cigarettes, and More

Vermont 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, tanning salons, vehicle sales, transportation tickets, firearms, and more.

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

Vermont Gas Tax

13th highest gas tax

The Vermont excise tax on gasoline is 12.10¢ per gallon, higher then 74% of the other 50 states. Vermont's excise tax on gasoline is ranked #13 out of the 50 states. The Vermont gas tax is included in the pump price at all gas stations in Vermont.

Tax on buying cigarettes in Vermont - Vermont cigarette excise taxes

Vermont Cigarette Tax

8th highest cigarette tax

The Vermont excise tax on cigarettes is $2.75 per 20 cigarettes, one of the highest cigarettes taxes in the country. Vermont's excise tax on cigarettes is ranked #8 out of the 50 states. The Vermont cigarette tax of $2.75 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 Vermont - Vermont phone taxes

Vermont Cellphone Tax

30th highest cellphone tax

The average tax collected on cell phone plans in Vermont is $8.50 per phone service plan, lower then 60% of the other 50 states. Vermont's average cellphone tax is ranked #30 out of the 50 states. The Vermont 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 Vermont - Vermont car road tax

Vermont Car Tax

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

Vermont Alcohol Excise Taxes - Liquor, Wine, and Beer

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

Tax on beer in Vermont - Vermont beer excise taxes

Vermont Beer Tax

22nd highest beer tax

The Vermont excise tax on beer is $0.27 per gallon, higher then 56% of the other 50 states. Vermont's beer excise tax is ranked #22 out of the 50 states. The Vermont beer tax is already added to the purchase price of all beer bought in Vermont, whether in kegs, bottles, or cans.

Tax on buying wine in Vermont - Vermont wine excise taxes

Vermont Wine Tax

32nd highest wine tax

The Vermont excise tax on Wine is $0.55 per gallon, lower then 64% of the other 50 states. Vermont's excise tax on wine is ranked #32 out of the 50 states. The Vermont wine tax is already added to the purchase price of all wine bought in Vermont.

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

Vermont Liquor Tax

15th highest liquor tax

The Vermont excise tax on liquor is $7.68 per gallon, higher then 70% of the other 50 states. Vermont's excise tax on Spirits is ranked #15 out of the 50 states. All hard liquor stores in Vermont are state-owned, so excise taxes for hard alcohol sales are set by the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS). The Vermont 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.

Vermont Excise Tax Deductions & Refunds

Can I deduct my Vermont Excise taxes?

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

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

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