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MISSOURI GAS TAX
INCREASE REFUND

     In 2021, Missouri legislators passed SB 262 and it was shortly after signed by Governor Mike Parson. This law set in motion a gas tax increase. The only problem? This was never voted on by the people. Missouri has special protections against tax increases that would normally require statewide approval. But in 2014 and 2018, the people of Missouri voted against a gas tax increase. This time, the legislators used a rebate loophole to increase taxes while bypassing the voters. It gives citizens the option to save their receipts and apply for a refund, but this fact is not well known to the public.

           

     You absolutely should apply for your refund. From 2021-2025, the tax on gasoline has increased by 2.5 cents per year and now sits at an extra 12.5 cents per gallon. If you account for the average person driving 14,000 miles in a year, at an average of 22 miles per gallon, that’s over 600 gallons a year. Multiply that by 12.5 cents and you could get $80 back. Couples and families could be looking at $160. All for the simple task of saving your receipts.

         

     The period for tracking your mileage starts at the beginning of the FISCAL YEAR which begins on July 1.  The current mileage tracking period is July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027. Here is how to receive your refund.

  1. Save your receipts — You need detailed records for every purchase. Acceptable documentation includes:

  2. Original receipts showing date, seller name/address, gallons purchased, and purchaser info.

  3. Approved account printouts (e.g., Casey’s Rewards, Break Time, WEX fleet cards) if they include: Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) of the vehicle fueled, date of sale, purchaser and seller names/addresses, gallons purchased, and Missouri fuel tax charged as a separate item.

  4. Calculate your refund — Multiply the refundable increase amount for that period by the total gallons you purchased and used in qualifying vehicles.

Ex. 600 gallons x 12.5 cents = $75

  • Use Form 4923-H (“Highway Use Motor Fuel Refund Claim for Rate Increases”

 

The Filing Period is July 1-September 30, after the fiscal year has ended. So if you save your receipts from July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027, the filing period is July 1-September 30 of 2027.

 

Go to the Missouri DOR forms page and look search 4923. Link: https://dor.mo.gov/forms/?formName=4923&category=&year=99

 

     The form includes worksheets where you list details from each receipt/transaction. You can upload Excel/spreadsheets in some cases.

Processing —The Department of Revenue generally processes it within 45 days. Interest may accrue if delayed.

            Missourians should take full advantage of the gas tax rebate created by Senate Bill 262 and claim every penny they’re entitled to. Not only does filing the claim put real money back in your pocket that was collected through an automatic tax increase, but it also delivers a direct message to legislators in Jefferson City. When politicians raise taxes through the back door without a clear vote of the people, they weaken the basic principle that citizens should have a say over how much of their money the government takes. By exercising the refund option the bill itself provided, Missourians show they expect their representatives to seek voter approval for tax hikes rather than find ways to bypass them.

 

Brandon Daugherty

Executive Director, LPMO

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