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Internal Revenue Code · 26 U.S.C.

§ 4042. Tax on fuel used in commercial transportation on inland waterways

In force Text current through Public Law 119-121 (October 9, 2026) release point 119-121

Official text, no changes From the Office of the Law Revision Counsel, release point 119-121 (current through Public Law 119-121 (October 9, 2026)). Compare it with the official text at uscode.house.gov (external site).

Cite as 26 U.S.C. § 4042

At a glance

Read from the text, the source credit and the official notes. Not part of the law.

Status
In force
Added
October 21, 1978 by Pub. L. 95–502
Last amended
March 23, 2018 by Pub. L. 115–141
Amendments
8 dated changes in the source credit
Length
5 subsections · 647 words · about 3 min to read
Defines
3 terms
Cross-references
cites 2; cited by 4 Code sections and 2 other regulations
Regulations
3 issued under this section
(a) In general

There is hereby imposed a tax on any liquid used during any calendar quarter by any person as a fuel in a vessel in commercial waterway transportation.

(b) Amount of tax
(1) In general The rate of the tax imposed by subsection (a) is the sum of—
(A) the Inland Waterways Trust Fund financing rate, and
(B) the Leaking Underground Storage Tank Trust Fund financing rate.
(2) Rates For purposes of paragraph (1)—
(A) The Inland Waterways Trust Fund financing rate is 29 cents per gallon.
(B) The Leaking Underground Storage Tank Trust Fund financing rate is 0.1 cent per gallon.
(3) Exception for fuel on which Leaking Underground Storage Tank Trust Fund financing rate separately imposed

The Leaking Underground Storage Tank Trust Fund financing rate under paragraph (2)(B) shall not apply to the use of any fuel if tax was imposed with respect to such fuel under section 4041(d) or 4081 at the Leaking Underground Storage Tank Trust Fund financing rate.

(4) Termination of Leaking Underground Storage Tank Trust Fund financing rate

The Leaking Underground Storage Tank Trust Fund financing rate under paragraph (2)(B) shall not apply during any period during which the Leaking Underground Storage Tank Trust Fund financing rate under section 4081 does not apply.

(c) Exemptions
(1) Deep-draft ocean-going vessels

The tax imposed by subsection (a) shall not apply with respect to any vessel designed primarily for use on the high seas which has a draft of more than 12 feet.

(2) Passenger vessels

The tax imposed by subsection (a) shall not apply with respect to any vessel used primarily for the transportation of persons.

(3) Use by State or local government in transporting property in a state or local business

Subparagraph (B) of subsection (d)(1) shall not apply with respect to use by a State or political subdivision thereof.

(4) Use in moving lash and seabee ocean-going barges

The tax imposed by subsection (a) shall not apply with respect to use for movement by tug of exclusively LASH (Lighter-aboard-ship) and SEABEE ocean-going barges released by their ocean-going carriers solely to pick up or deliver international cargoes.

(d) Definitions For purposes of this section—
(1) Commercial waterway transportation The term “commercial waterway transportation” means any use of a vessel on any inland or intracoastal waterway of the United States—
(A) in the business of transporting property for compensation or hire, or
(B) in transporting property in the business of the owner, lessee, or operator of the vessel (other than fish or other aquatic animal life caught on the voyage).
(2) Inland or intracoastal waterway of the United States

The term “inland or intracoastal waterway of the United States” means any inland or intracoastal waterway of the United States which is described in section 206 of the Inland Waterways Revenue Act of 1978.

(3) Person

The term “person” includes the United States, a State, a political subdivision of a State, or any agency or instrumentality of any of the foregoing.

(e) Date for filing return

The date for filing the return of the tax imposed by this section for any calendar quarter shall be the last day of the first month following such quarter.

(Added Pub. L. 95–502, title II, § 202(a), Oct. 21, 1978, 92 Stat. 1696; amended Pub. L. 99–499, title V, § 521(a)(3), Oct. 17, 1986, 100 Stat. 1777; Pub. L. 99–662, title XIV, § 1404(a), Nov. 17, 1986, 100 Stat. 4270; Pub. L. 100–647, title II, § 2002(a)(2), Nov. 10, 1988, 102 Stat. 3597; Pub. L. 103–66, title XIII, § 13241(d), Aug. 10, 1993, 107 Stat. 510; Pub. L. 108–357, title II, § 241(b), Oct. 22, 2004, 118 Stat. 1438; Pub. L. 110–172, § 6(d)(1)(B), Dec. 29, 2007, 121 Stat. 2480; Pub. L. 113–295, div. B, title II, § 205(a), Dec. 19, 2014, 128 Stat. 4065; Pub. L. 115–141, div. U, title IV, § 401(b)(40), (41), Mar. 23, 2018, 132 Stat. 1204.)

Terms defined here

Where the text says “the term … means”. Select a term to jump to its definition.

Regulations under this section

Treasury regulations (26 CFR) issued under § 4042

Cross-references

Computed from the citations in the text of Title 26 and 26 CFR.

This section cites 2 other sections

Cited by 4 Code sections

Cited in 2 regulations not issued under it

Amendment history

From the source credit and the official notes, newest first.

  1. Amended by Pub. L. 115–141Parts changed in 2018: (b)(1)(C) (b)(2)(C)
  2. Amended by Pub. L. 113–295Parts changed in 2014: (b)(2)(A)
  3. Amended by Pub. L. 110–172Parts changed in 2007: (b)(3)
  4. Amended by Pub. L. 108–357Parts changed in 2004: (b)(2)(C)
  5. Amended by Pub. L. 103–66Parts changed in 1993: (b)(1)(C) (b)(2)(C)
  6. Amended by Pub. L. 100–647Parts changed in 1988: (b)(2)
  7. Amended by Pub. L. 99–662Parts changed in 1986: (b)
  8. Amended by Pub. L. 99–499
  9. Added by Pub. L. 95–502

Where it sits in the Code

  1. Subtitle D Miscellaneous Excise Taxes
  2. Chapter 31 RETAIL EXCISE TAXES
  3. Subchapter B Special Fuels

Nearby sections

Official notes

Show the Law Revision Counsel's notes (amendments, effective dates)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

Section 206 of the Inland Waterways Revenue Act of 1978, referred to in subsec. (d)(2), is section 206 of Pub. L. 95–502, title II, Oct. 21, 1978, 92 Stat. 1700, which is classified to section 1804 of Title 33, Navigation and Navigable Waters.

Prior Provisions

A prior section 4042, act Aug. 16, 1954, ch. 736, 68A Stat. 478, provided a cross reference to section 4222 of this title for exemption from tax where special motor fuels are sold for use for certain vessels, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 94–455, title XIX, § 1904(a)(1)(D), Oct. 4, 1976, 90 Stat. 1811.

Amendments

2018—Subsec. (b)(1)(C). Pub. L. 115–141, § 401(b)(40), struck out subpar. (C) which read as follows: “the deficit reduction rate.”

Subsec. (b)(2)(C). Pub. L. 115–141, § 401(b)(41), struck out subpar. (C) which read as follows: “The deficit reduction rate is—

“(i) 3.3 cents per gallon after December 31, 2004, and before July 1, 2005,

“(ii) 2.3 cents per gallon after June 30, 2005, and before January 1, 2007, and

“(iii) 0 after December 31, 2006.”

2014—Subsec. (b)(2)(A). Pub. L. 113–295 amended subpar. (A) generally, substituting “The Inland Waterways Trust Fund financing rate is 29 cents per gallon.” for “The Inland Waterways Trust Fund financing rate is the rate determined in accordance with the following table:” and accompanying table of rates.

2007—Subsec. (b)(3). Pub. L. 110–172 amended heading and text of par. (3) generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “The Leaking Underground Storage Tank Trust Fund financing rate under paragraph (2)(B) shall not apply to the use of any fuel if tax under section 4041(d) was imposed on the sale of such fuel or is imposed on such use.”

2004—Subsec. (b)(2)(C). Pub. L. 108–357 amended subpar. (C) generally. Prior to amendment, subpar. (C) read as follows: “The deficit reduction rate is 4.3 cents per gallon.”

1993—Subsec. (b)(1)(C). Pub. L. 103–66, § 13241(d)(1), added subpar. (C).

Subsec. (b)(2)(C). Pub. L. 103–66, § 13241(d)(2), added subpar. (C).

1988—Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 100–647 amended par. (2) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (2) read as follows: “For purposes of paragraph (1)—

“(A) the Inland Waterways Trust Fund financing rate is 10 cents a gallon, and

“(B) the Leaking Underground Storage Tank Trust Fund financing rate is 0.1 cents a gallon.”

1986—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 99–499 and Pub. L. 99–662 both amended subsec. (b) generally, effective Jan. 1, 1987. Pub. L. 100–647, § 2002(a)(1) (see Construction of 1986 Amendments note below), provided that for purposes of this section, the amendment made by Pub. L. 99–499 be treated as enacted after the amendment made by Pub. L. 99–662. Prior to amendment by Pub. L. 99–499 and Pub. L. 99–662, subsec. (b) read as follows:

“If the use occurs—

The tax is—

After September 30, 1980 and before October 1, 1981

4 cents a gallon

After September 30, 1981 and before October 1, 1983

6 cents a gallon

After September 30, 1983 and before October 1, 1985

8 cents a gallon

After September 30, 1985

10 cents a gallon”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 2014 Amendment

Pub. L. 113–295, div. B, title II, § 205(b), Dec. 19, 2014, 128 Stat. 4065, provided that: “The amendment made by this section [amending this section] shall apply to fuel used after March 31, 2015.”

Effective Date of 2007 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 110–172 effective as if included in the provisions of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, Pub. L. 109–58, to which such amendment relates, see section 6(e) of Pub. L. 110–172, set out as a note under section 30C of this title.

Effective Date of 2004 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 108–357 effective Jan. 1, 2005, see section 241(c) of Pub. L. 108–357, set out as a note under section 4041 of this title.

Effective Date of 1993 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 103–66 effective Oct. 1, 1993, see section 13241(g) of Pub. L. 103–66, set out as a note under section 4041 of this title.

Effective Date of 1988 Amendment

Pub. L. 100–647, title II, § 2002(d), Nov. 10, 1988, 102 Stat. 3597, as amended by Pub. L. 101–239, title VII, § 7812(b), Dec. 19, 1989, 103 Stat. 2412, provided that: “The amendments made by subsections (b) and (c) [amending section 4462 of this title and provisions set out as a note under section 4461 of this title] shall take effect as if included in the provision of the Harbor Maintenance Revenue Act of 1986 [Pub. L. 99–662, title XIV] to which it relates, and the amendment made by subsection (a)(2) [amending this section] shall take effect as if included in the amendment made by section 521(a)(3) of the Superfund Revenue Act of 1986 [Pub. L. 99–499, title V].”

Effective Date of 1986 Amendments

Pub. L. 99–662, title XIV, § 1404(c), Nov. 17, 1986, 100 Stat. 4271, provided that: “The amendments made by this section [amending this section and section 1804 of Title 33, Navigation and Navigable Waters] shall take effect on January 1, 1987.”

Amendment by Pub. L. 99–499 effective Jan. 1, 1987, see section 521(e) of Pub. L. 99–499, set out as a note under section 4041 of this title.

Effective Date

Pub. L. 95–502, title II, § 202(d), Oct. 21, 1978, 92 Stat. 1697, provided that: “The amendments made by this section [enacting this section and amending section 4293 of this title] shall take effect on October 1, 1980.”

Savings Provision

For provisions that nothing in amendment by Pub. L. 115–141 be construed to affect treatment of certain transactions occurring, property acquired, or items of income, loss, deduction, or credit taken into account prior to Mar. 23, 2018, for purposes of determining liability for tax for periods ending after Mar. 23, 2018, see section 401(e) of Pub. L. 115–141, set out as a note under section 23 of this title.

Construction of 1986 Amendments

Pub. L. 100–647, title II, § 2002(a)(1), Nov. 10, 1988, 102 Stat. 3597, provided that: “For purposes of section 4042 of the 1986 Code, the amendment made by section 521(a)(3) of the Superfund Revenue Act of 1986 [Pub. L. 99–499, amending this section] shall be treated as enacted after the amendment made by section 1404(a) of the Harbor Maintenance Revenue Act of 1986 [Pub. L. 99–662, amending this section].”