Businesses owe state use tax on self-produced fuel used

How is the value of refinery fuel gas determined?

The value of refinery fuel gas is based on the average of the most recent 36 months of the “Henry Hub” natural gas spot prices, as published by the federal Energy Information Administration (EIA). The 36-month average value is calculated and published by the Department of Revenue on a quarterly basis.

Refinery fuel gas value

2024

  • $4.20 per Million Btu - April 1, 2024 through June 30, 2024
  • $4.29 per Million Btu - Jan. 1, 2024 through March 31, 2024
2023

$4.25 per Million Btu - Oct. 1, 2023 through Dec. 31, 2023

Refinery fuel gas use tax rate

The preferential state use tax rates listed below apply to the use of refinery fuel gas only.

  • 3.852% - From Jan. 1, 2021, and after.
  • 2.889% - From Jan. 1, 2020 through Dec. 31, 2020.
  • 1.926% - From Jan. 1, 2019 through Dec. 31, 2019.
  • 0.963% - From Jan. 1, 2018 through Dec. 31, 2018.

Tax rate for other self-produced fuels

The standard state use tax rate of 6.5% applies to the use of all other self-produced fuels.

Biomass fuel is exempt from both state and local use tax.

Definitions

Self-produced fuel refers to fuel that is produced by an extractor or manufacturer that also uses the fuel in the same extracting or manufacturing operation.

Biomass fuel means wood waste and other wood residuals, including forest-derived biomass. This definition also includes partially organic by-products of pulp, paper, and wood manufacturing processes. It does not include firewood or wood pellets.

References

RCW 82.12.0203