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 36— CERTAIN OTHER EXCISE TAXES · Subchapter D— Tax on Use of Certain Vehicles · § 4481

§ 4481. Imposition of tax

3,212 words·~15 min read·/usc/title-26/section-4481

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

(a)Imposition of tax A tax is hereby imposed on the use of any highway motor vehicle which (together with the semitrailers and trailers customarily used in connection with highway motor vehicles of the same type as such highway motor vehicle) has a taxable gross weight of at least 55,000 pounds at the rate specified in the following table: Taxable gross weight:Rate of tax:  At least 55,000 pounds, but not over 75,000 pounds$100 per year plus $22 for each 1,000 pounds (or fraction thereof) in excess of 55,000 pounds. Over 75,000 pounds$550.
(b)By whom paid The tax imposed by this section shall be paid by the person in whose name the highway motor vehicle is, or is required to be, registered under the law of the State or contiguous foreign country in which such vehicle is, or is required to be, registered, or, in case the highway motor vehicle is owned by the United States, by the agency or instrumentality of the United States operating such vehicle.
(c)Proration of tax
(1)Where first use occurs after first month If in any taxable period the first use of the highway motor vehicle is after the first month in such period, the tax shall be reckoned proportionately from the first day of the month in which such use occurs to and including the last day in such taxable period.
(2)Where vehicle sold, destroyed, or stolen
(A)In general If in any taxable period a highway motor vehicle is sold, destroyed, or stolen before the first day of the last month in such period and not subsequently used during such taxable period, the tax shall be reckoned proportionately from the first day of the month in such period in which the first use of such highway motor vehicle occurs to and including the last day of the month in which such highway motor vehicle was sold, destroyed, or stolen.
(B)Destroyed For purposes of subparagraph (A), a highway motor vehicle is destroyed if such vehicle is damaged by reason of an accident or other casualty to such an extent that it is not economic to rebuild.
(d)One tax liability per period To the extent that the tax imposed by this section is paid with respect to any highway motor vehicle for any taxable period, no further tax shall be imposed by this section for such taxable period with respect to such vehicle.
(e)Electronic filing Any taxpayer who files a return under this section with respect to 25 or more vehicles for any taxable period shall file such return electronically.
(f)Period tax in effect The tax imposed by this section shall apply only to use before October 1, 2029.
(Added June 29, 1956, ch. 462, title II, § 206(a), 70 Stat. 390; amended Pub. L. 87–61, title II, § 203(a), (b)(1), (2)(A), (B), June 29, 1961, 75 Stat. 124; Pub. L. 91–605, title III, § 303(a)(7), (8), Dec. 31, 1970, 84 Stat. 1744; Pub. L. 94–280, title III, § 303(a)(7), (8), May 5, 1976, 90 Stat. 456; Pub. L. 95–599, title V, § 502(a)(6), (7), Nov. 6, 1978, 92 Stat. 2756; Pub. L. 97–424, title V, §§ 513(a), (d), 516(a)(4), Jan. 6, 1983, 96 Stat. 2177, 2179, 2182; Pub. L. 98–369, div. A, title VII, § 734(f), title IX, § 901(a), July 18, 1984, 98 Stat. 980, 1003;
Pub. L. 100–17, title V, §§ 502(a)(5), 507(a), Apr. 2, 1987, 101 Stat. 256, 260; Pub. L. 101–508, title XI, § 11211(c)(5), Nov. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 1388–426; Pub. L. 102–240, title VIII, § 8002(a)(5), Dec. 18, 1991, 105 Stat. 2203; Pub. L. 104–188, title I, § 1704(t)(57), Aug. 20, 1996, 110 Stat. 1890; Pub. L. 105–178, title IX, § 9002(a)(1)(G), June 9, 1998, 112 Stat. 499; Pub. L. 108–357, title VIII, § 867(a), (c), Oct. 22, 2004, 118 Stat. 1622; Pub. L. 109–14, § 9(c)(1), May 31, 2005, 119 Stat. 336;
Pub. L. 109–59, title XI, § 11101(a)(2)(A), Aug. 10, 2005, 119 Stat. 1944; Pub. L. 112–30, title I, § 142(b)(1), Sept. 16, 2011, 125 Stat. 356; Pub. L. 112–102, title IV, § 402(b)(1), Mar. 30, 2012, 126 Stat. 282; Pub. L. 112–141, div. D, title I, § 40102(b)(1)(A), July 6, 2012, 126 Stat. 844; Pub. L. 114–94, div. C, title XXXI, § 31102(b)(1), Dec. 4, 2015, 129 Stat. 1727; Pub. L. 115–141, div. U, title IV, § 401(b)(43), Mar. 23, 2018, 132 Stat. 1204; Pub. L. 117–58, div. H, title I, § 80102(b)(1), Nov. 15, 2021, 135 Stat. 1327.)
Connections53 cite this · traces to 8
Cited by 53 sections · top 28
statutes-at-large
95 references not yet in our index
  • June 29, 1956, ch. 462
  • 70 Stat. 390
  • Pub. L. 87–61, title II, § 203(a)
  • 75 Stat. 124
  • Pub. L. 91–605, title III, § 303(a)(7)
  • 84 Stat. 1744
  • Pub. L. 94–280, title III, § 303(a)(7)
  • 90 Stat. 456
  • Pub. L. 95–599, title V, § 502(a)(6)
  • 92 Stat. 2756
  • Pub. L. 97–424, title V
  • 96 Stat. 2177
  • Pub. L. 98–369, div. A, title VII, § 734(f)
  • 98 Stat. 980
  • Pub. L. 100–17, title V
  • 101 Stat. 256
  • Pub. L. 101–508, title XI, § 11211(c)(5)
  • 104 Stat. 1388–426
  • Pub. L. 102–240, title VIII, § 8002(a)(5)
  • 105 Stat. 2203
  • Pub. L. 104–188, title I, § 1704(t)(57)
  • 110 Stat. 1890
  • Pub. L. 105–178, title IX, § 9002(a)(1)(G)
  • 112 Stat. 499
  • Pub. L. 108–357, title VIII, § 867(a)
  • 118 Stat. 1622
  • Pub. L. 109–14, § 9(c)(1)
  • 119 Stat. 336
  • Pub. L. 109–59, title XI, § 11101(a)(2)(A)
  • 119 Stat. 1944
  • Pub. L. 112–30, title I, § 142(b)(1)
  • 125 Stat. 356
  • Pub. L. 112–102, title IV, § 402(b)(1)
  • 126 Stat. 282
  • Pub. L. 112–141, div. D, title I, § 40102(b)(1)(A)
  • 126 Stat. 844
  • 129 Stat. 1727
  • 132 Stat. 1204
  • 135 Stat. 1327
  • Pub. L. 112–141
+ 55 more
Citation graph
cites case law
§ 4481
Imposition of tax
Stat.×33
U.S.C.×11
Fed. Reg.×5
Stat. Comp.×3
Pub. L.×1
ActJune 29, 1956, ch. 462
Stat.70 Stat. 390
Pub. L.Pub. L. 87–61, title II, § 203(a)
Stat.75 Stat. 124
Cites 103 · showing 12Cited by 53 across 5 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.