Tap any paragraph to write a margin note. Your notes collect in the Desk below the text and file under cases with @. The side-by-side margin rail opens on a larger screen.

Code · U.S. Code · Title 26 - INTERNAL REVENUE CODE · CHAPTER 31— RETAIL EXCISE TAXES · Subchapter C— Heavy Trucks and Trailers · § 4051

§ 4051. Imposition of tax on heavy trucks and trailers sold at retail

1,994 words·~9 min read·/usc/title-26/section-4051

A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.

(a)Imposition of tax
(1)In general There is hereby imposed on the first retail sale of the following articles (including in each case parts or accessories sold on or in connection therewith or with the sale thereof) a tax of 12 percent of the amount for which the article is so sold:
(A)Automobile truck chassis.
(B)Automobile truck bodies.
(C)Truck trailer and semitrailer chassis.
(D)Truck trailer and semitrailer bodies.
(E)Tractors of the kind chiefly used for highway transportation in combination with a trailer or semitrailer.
(2)Exclusion for trucks weighing 33,000 pounds or less The tax imposed by paragraph
(1)shall not apply to automobile truck chassis and automobile truck bodies, suitable for use with a vehicle which has a gross vehicle weight of 33,000 pounds or less (as determined under regulations prescribed by the Secretary).
(3)Exclusion for trailers weighing 26,000 pounds or less The tax imposed by paragraph
(1)shall not apply to truck trailer and semitrailer chassis and bodies, suitable for use with a trailer or semitrailer which has a gross vehicle weight of 26,000 pounds or less (as determined under regulations prescribed by the Secretary).
(4)Exclusion for tractors weighing 19,500 pounds or less The tax imposed by paragraph
(1)shall not apply to tractors of the kind chiefly used for highway transportation in combination with a trailer or semitrailer if—
(A)such tractor has a gross vehicle weight of 19,500 pounds or less (as determined by the Secretary), and
(B)such tractor, in combination with a trailer or semitrailer, has a gross combined weight of 33,000 pounds or less (as determined by the Secretary).
(5)Sale of trucks, etc., treated as sale of chassis and body For purposes of this subsection, a sale of an automobile truck or truck trailer or semitrailer shall be considered to be a sale of a chassis and of a body described in paragraph (1).
(b)Separate purchase of truck or trailer and parts and accessories therefor Under regulations prescribed by the Secretary—
(1)In general If—
(A)the owner, lessee, or operator of any vehicle which contains an article taxable under subsection
(a)installs (or causes to be installed) any part or accessory on such vehicle, and
(B)such installation is not later than the date 6 months after the date such vehicle (as it contains such article) was first placed in service,
then there is hereby imposed on such installation a tax equal to 12 percent of the price of such part or accessory and its installation.
(2)Exceptions Paragraph
(1)shall not apply if—
(A)the part or accessory installed is a replacement part or accessory, or
(B)the aggregate price of the parts and accessories (and their installation) described in paragraph
(1)with respect to any vehicle does not exceed $1,000 (or such other amount or amounts as the Secretary may by regulations prescribe).
(3)Installers secondarily liable for tax The owners of the trade or business installing the parts or accessories shall be secondarily liable for the tax imposed by paragraph (1).
(c)Termination On and after October 1, 2028, the taxes imposed by this section shall not apply.
(d)Credit against tax for tire tax If—
(1)tires are sold on or in connection with the sale of any article, and
(2)tax is imposed by this subchapter on the sale of such tires,
there shall be allowed as a credit against the tax imposed by this subchapter an amount equal to the tax (if any) imposed by section 4071 on such tires.
(Added Pub. L. 97–424, title V, § 512(b)(1), Jan. 6, 1983, 96 Stat. 2174; amended Pub. L. 98–369, div. A, title VII, § 734(g), title IX, § 921, July 18, 1984, 98 Stat. 980, 1009; Pub. L. 99–514, title XVIII, §§ 1877(c), 1899A(47), Oct. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 2902, 2961; Pub. L. 100–17, title V, § 502(a)(2), Apr. 2, 1987, 101 Stat. 256; Pub. L. 101–508, title XI, § 11211(c)(1), Nov. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 1388–426; Pub. L. 102–240, title VIII, § 8002(a)(1), Dec. 18, 1991, 105 Stat. 2203;
Pub. L. 105–34, title XIV, §§ 1401(a), 1402(a), 1432(a), Aug. 5, 1997, 111 Stat. 1045, 1046, 1050; Pub. L. 105–178, title IX, § 9002(a)(1)(D), June 9, 1998, 112 Stat. 499; Pub. L. 109–59, title XI, §§ 11101(a)(1)(D), 11112(a), Aug. 10, 2005, 119 Stat. 1943, 1946; Pub. L. 112–30, title I, § 142(a)(2)(B), Sept. 16, 2011, 125 Stat. 356; Pub. L. 112–102, title IV, § 402(a)(2)(B), Mar. 30, 2012, 126 Stat. 282; Pub. L. 112–140, title IV, § 402(a)(2)(B), June 29, 2012, 126 Stat. 402;
Pub. L. 112–141, div. D, title I, § 40102(a)(2)(B), July 6, 2012, 126 Stat. 844; Pub. L. 114–94, div. C, title XXXI, § 31102(a)(2)(B), Dec. 4, 2015, 129 Stat. 1727; Pub. L. 115–141, div. U, title IV, § 401(a)(219), Mar. 23, 2018, 132 Stat. 1194; Pub. L. 117–58, div. H, title I, § 80102(a)(2)(B), Nov. 15, 2021, 135 Stat. 1327.)
Connections40 cite this · traces to 10
Cited by 40 sections · top 34
statutes-at-large
70 references not yet in our index
  • Pub. L. 97–424, title V, § 512(b)(1)
  • 96 Stat. 2174
  • Pub. L. 98–369, div. A, title VII, § 734(g)
  • 98 Stat. 980
  • Pub. L. 99–514, title XVIII
  • 100 Stat. 2902
  • Pub. L. 100–17, title V, § 502(a)(2)
  • 101 Stat. 256
  • Pub. L. 101–508, title XI, § 11211(c)(1)
  • 104 Stat. 1388–426
  • Pub. L. 102–240, title VIII, § 8002(a)(1)
  • 105 Stat. 2203
  • Pub. L. 105–34, title XIV
  • 111 Stat. 1045
  • Pub. L. 105–178, title IX, § 9002(a)(1)(D)
  • 112 Stat. 499
  • Pub. L. 109–59, title XI
  • 119 Stat. 1943
  • Pub. L. 112–30, title I, § 142(a)(2)(B)
  • 125 Stat. 356
  • Pub. L. 112–102, title IV, § 402(a)(2)(B)
  • 126 Stat. 282
  • Pub. L. 112–140, title IV, § 402(a)(2)(B)
  • 126 Stat. 402
  • Pub. L. 112–141, div. D, title I, § 40102(a)(2)(B)
  • 126 Stat. 844
  • 129 Stat. 1727
  • 132 Stat. 1194
  • 135 Stat. 1327
  • act Aug. 16, 1954, ch. 736
  • 68A Stat. 479
  • Pub. L. 94–455, title XIX, § 1904(a)(1)(D)
  • 90 Stat. 1811
  • Pub. L. 112–141
  • Pub. L. 112–140
  • Pub. L. 112–102
  • Pub. L. 112–30
  • Pub. L. 109–59, § 11112(a)
  • Pub. L. 109–59, § 11101(a)(1)(D)
  • Pub. L. 105–178
+ 30 more
Citation graph
cites case law
§ 4051
Imposition of tax on heavy trucks and trailers sold at retail
U.S.C.×24
Stat.×9
C.F.R.×2
Fed. Reg.×2
Stat. Comp.×2
Pub. L.×1
Pub. L.Pub. L. 97–424, title V, § 512(b)(1)
Stat.96 Stat. 2174
Pub. L.Pub. L. 98–369, div. A, title VII, § 734(g)
Cites 80 · showing 12Cited by 40 across 6 sources
★   the supreme law of the land   ★
Don't Tread on Me
E Pluribus Unum — out of many, one

"If you don't know your rights, you don't have any."

Marginalia · a citizen's law index
A research desk, not legal advice. Always read the cited source before relying on a summary.
Questions or an issue? support@self-law.org
disclaimerMarginalia is a research index, not a law firm. Nothing on this site is legal, tax, or financial advice and no attorney–client relationship is formed by using it. Statutes, regulations, and case law change; summaries, search results, AI output, and member posts may be incomplete, out of date, or wrong. Any interpretation drawn from material on this site should be validated by a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction before you act on it.