Alcohol, etc., used as fuel
General rule
For purposes of section 38, the alcohol fuels credit determined under this section for the taxable year is an amount equal to the sum of—
the alcohol mixture credit,
the alcohol credit,
in the case of an eligible small ethanol producer, the small ethanol producer credit, plus
the second generation biofuel producer credit.
Definition of alcohol mixture credit, alcohol credit, and small ethanol producer credit
For purposes of this section, and except as provided in subsection (h)—
Alcohol mixture credit
In general
Qualified mixture
The term “qualified mixture” means a mixture of alcohol and gasoline or of alcohol and a special fuel which—
is sold by the taxpayer producing such mixture to any person for use as a fuel, or
is used as a fuel by the taxpayer producing such mixture.
Sale or use must be in trade or business, etc.
Alcohol used in the production of a qualified mixture shall be taken into account—
only if the sale or use described in subparagraph (B) is in a trade or business of the taxpayer, and
for the taxable year in which such sale or use occurs.
Casual off-farm production not eligible
Alcohol credit
In general
The alcohol credit of any taxpayer for any taxable year is 60 cents for each gallon of alcohol which is not in a mixture with gasoline or a special fuel (other than any denaturant) and which during the taxable year—
is used by the taxpayer as a fuel in a trade or business, or
is sold by the taxpayer at retail to a person and placed in the fuel tank of such person’s vehicle.
User credit not to apply to alcohol sold at retail
Smaller credit for lower proof alcohol
Small ethanol producer credit
In general
Qualified ethanol fuel production
For purposes of this paragraph, the term “qualified ethanol fuel production” means any alcohol which is ethanol which is produced by an eligible small ethanol producer, and which during the taxable year—
is sold by such producer to another person—
for use by such other person in the production of a qualified mixture in such other person’s trade or business (other than casual off-farm production),
for use by such other person as a fuel in a trade or business, or
who sells such ethanol at retail to another person and places such ethanol in the fuel tank of such other person, or
is used or sold by such producer for any purpose described in clause (i).
Limitation
Additional distillation excluded
Adding of denaturants not treated as mixture
Second generation biofuel producer credit
In general
Applicable amount
For purposes of subparagraph (A), the applicable amount means $1.01, except that such amount shall, in the case of second generation biofuel which is alcohol, be reduced by the sum of—
the amount of the credit in effect for such alcohol under subsection (b)(1) (without regard to subsection (b)(3)) at the time of the qualified second generation biofuel production, plus
in the case of ethanol, the amount of the credit in effect under subsection (b)(4) at the time of such production.
Qualified second generation biofuel production
For purposes of this section, the term “qualified second generation biofuel production” means any second generation biofuel which is produced by the taxpayer, and which during the taxable year—
is sold by the taxpayer to another person—
for use by such other person in the production of a qualified second generation biofuel mixture in such other person’s trade or business (other than casual off-farm production),
for use by such other person as a fuel in a trade or business, or
who sells such second generation biofuel at retail to another person and places such second generation biofuel in the fuel tank of such other person, or
is used or sold by the taxpayer for any purpose described in clause (i).
The qualified second generation biofuel production of any taxpayer for any taxable year shall not include any alcohol which is purchased by the taxpayer and with respect to which such producer increases the proof of the alcohol by additional distillation.
Qualified second generation biofuel mixture
For purposes of this paragraph, the term “qualified second generation biofuel mixture” means a mixture of second generation biofuel and gasoline or of second generation biofuel and a special fuel which—
is sold by the person producing such mixture to any person for use as a fuel, or
is used as a fuel by the person producing such mixture.
Second generation biofuel
For purposes of this paragraph—
In general
The term “second generation biofuel” means any liquid fuel which—
is derived by, or from, qualified feedstocks, and
meets the registration requirements for fuels and fuel additives established by the Environmental Protection Agency under section 211 of the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7545).
Exclusion of low-proof alcohol
Exclusion of certain fuels
The term “second generation biofuel” shall not include any fuel if—
more than 4 percent of such fuel (determined by weight) is any combination of water and sediment,
the ash content of such fuel is more than 1 percent (determined by weight), or
such fuel has an acid number greater than 25.
Qualified feedstock
For purposes of this paragraph, the term “qualified feedstock” means—
any lignocellulosic or hemicellulosic matter that is available on a renewable or recurring basis, and
any cultivated algae, cyanobacteria, or lemna.
Special rules for algae
In the case of fuel which is derived by, or from, feedstock described in subparagraph (F)(ii) and which is sold by the taxpayer to another person for refining by such other person into a fuel which meets the requirements of subparagraph (E)(i)(II) and the refined fuel is not excluded under subparagraph (E)(iii)—
such sale shall be treated as described in subparagraph (C)(i),
such fuel shall be treated as meeting the requirements of subparagraph (E)(i)(II) and as not being excluded under subparagraph (E)(iii) in the hands of such taxpayer, and
except as provided in this subparagraph, such fuel (and any fuel derived from such fuel) shall not be taken into account under subparagraph (C) with respect to the taxpayer or any other person.
Allocation of second generation biofuel producer credit to patrons of cooperative
Registration requirement
Application of paragraph
In general
No carryover to certain years after expiration
Coordination with exemption from excise tax
Definitions and special rules
For purposes of this section—
Alcohol defined
In general
The term “alcohol” includes methanol and ethanol but does not include—
alcohol produced from petroleum, natural gas, or coal (including peat), or
alcohol with a proof of less than 150.
Determination of proof
Special fuel defined
Mixture or alcohol not used as a fuel, etc.
Mixtures
If—
any credit was determined under this section with respect to alcohol used in the production of any qualified mixture, and
any person—
separates the alcohol from the mixture, or
without separation, uses the mixture other than as a fuel,
then there is hereby imposed on such person a tax equal to 60 cents a gallon (45 cents in the case of alcohol with a proof less than 190) for each gallon of alcohol in such mixture.
Alcohol
If—
any credit was determined under this section with respect to the retail sale of any alcohol, and
any person mixes such alcohol or uses such alcohol other than as a fuel,
then there is hereby imposed on such person a tax equal to 60 cents a gallon (45 cents in the case of alcohol with a proof less than 190) for each gallon of such alcohol.
Small ethanol producer credit
If—
any credit was determined under subsection (a)(3), and
any person does not use such fuel for a purpose described in subsection (b)(4)(B),
then there is hereby imposed on such person a tax equal to 10 cents a gallon for each gallon of such alcohol.
Second generation biofuel producer credit
If—
any credit is allowed under subsection (a)(4), and
any person does not use such fuel for a purpose described in subsection (b)(6)(C),
then there is hereby imposed on such person a tax equal to the applicable amount (as defined in subsection (b)(6)(B)) for each gallon of such second generation biofuel.
Applicable laws
Volume of alcohol
Pass-thru in the case of estates and trusts
Special rule for second generation biofuel producer credit
Limitation to alcohol with connection to the United States
Termination
In general
This section shall not apply to any sale or use—
for any period after
for any period before
No carryovers to certain years after expiration
Exception for second generation biofuel producer credit
Election to have alcohol fuels credit not apply
In general
Time for making election
Manner of making election
Definitions and special rules for eligible small ethanol producer credit
For purposes of this section—
Eligible small ethanol producer
Aggregration 11 So in original. Probably should be “Aggregation”. rule
Partnership, S corporations, and other pass-thru entities
Allocation
Regulations
The Secretary may prescribe such regulations as may be necessary—
to prevent the credit provided for in subsection (a)(3) from directly or indirectly benefiting any person with a direct or indirect productive capacity of more than 60,000,000 gallons of alcohol during the taxable year, or
to prevent any person from directly or indirectly benefiting with respect to more than 15,000,000 gallons during the taxable year.
Allocation of small ethanol producer credit to patrons of cooperative
Election to allocate
In general
Form and effect of election
Treatment of organizations and patrons
Organizations
Patrons
Special rules for decrease in credits for taxable year
If the amount of the credit of the organization determined under such subsection for a taxable year is less than the amount of such credit shown on the return of the organization for such year, an amount equal to the excess of—
such reduction, over
the amount not apportioned to such patrons under subparagraph (A) for the taxable year,
shall be treated as an increase in tax imposed by this chapter on the organization. Such increase shall not be treated as tax imposed by this chapter for purposes of determining the amount of any credit under this chapter or for purposes of section 55.
Reduced credit for ethanol blenders
In general
In the case of any alcohol mixture credit or alcohol credit with respect to any sale or use of alcohol which is ethanol during calendar years 2001 through 2011—
subsections (b)(1)(A) and (b)(2)(A) shall be applied by substituting “the blender amount” for “60 cents”,
subsection (b)(3) shall be applied by substituting “the low-proof blender amount” for “45 cents” and “the blender amount” for “60 cents”, and
subparagraphs (A) and (B) of subsection (d)(3) shall be applied by substituting “the blender amount” for “60 cents” and “the low-proof blender amount” for “45 cents”.
Amounts
In the case of any sale or use during calendar year: | The blender amount is: | The low-proof blender amount is: |
|---|---|---|
2001 or 2002 | 53 cents | 39.26 cents |
2003 or 2004 | 52 cents | 38.52 cents |
2005, 2006, 2007, or 2008 | 51 cents | 37.78 cents |
2009 through 2011 | 45 cents | 33.33 cents. |
Reduction delayed until annual production or importation of 7,500,000,000 gallons
In general
Determination
Source
(Added Pub. L. 96–223, title II, § 232(b)(1),Notes
Codification
Prior Provisions
Amendments
Effective Date of 2015 Amendment
Effective Date of 2014 Amendment
Effective Date of 2013 Amendment
Effective Date of 2010 Amendment
Effective Date of 2008 Amendment
Effective Date of 2005 Amendment
Effective Date of 2004 Amendment
In general.—
Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, the amendments made by this section [enacting section 6426 of this title and amending this section and sections 4041, 4081, 4083, 4101, 6427, and 9503 of this title] shall apply to fuel sold or used after
Registration requirement.—
The amendment made by subsection (b) [amending section 4101 of this title] shall take effect on
Extension of alcohol fuels credit.—
The amendments made by paragraphs (3), (4), and (14) of subsection (c) [amending this section] shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act [
Repeal of general fund retention of certain alcohol fuels taxes.—
The amendments made by subsection (c)(12) [amending section 9503 of this title] shall apply to fuel sold or used after
Effective Date of 1998 Amendment
Effective Date of 1996 Amendment
Effective Date of 1990 Amendment
Except as provided in paragraph (2), the amendments made by this section [amending this section] shall apply to alcohol produced, and sold or used, in taxable years beginning after
The amendments made by subsection (g) [amending provisions not classified to the Code] shall apply to articles entered or withdrawn from warehouse on or after
Effective Date of 1987 Amendment
Effective Date of 1984 Amendment
Effective Date of 1983 Amendment
Effective Date of 1982 Amendment
Effective Date of 1981 Amendment
Effective Date
The amendments made by subsections (b) and (c) [enacting sections 44E [now 40] and 86 of this title and amending sections 55, 381, 383, 4081, and 6096 of this title] shall apply to sales or uses after
Notwithstanding paragraph (1), the provisions of section 44E(d)(4)(B) [now 40(d)(4)(B)] of such Code, as added by this section, shall take effect on