SB1382 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB104 03440 HLH 16962 b

104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
SB1382

Introduced 1/29/2025, by Sen. Sara Feigenholtz

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

35 ILCS 505/1.1	from Ch. 120, par. 417.1
35 ILCS 505/13	from Ch. 120, par. 429

Amends the Motor Fuel Tax Law. Provides that "motor fuel" means all volatile and inflammable substances, whether in liquid or gaseous form (currently, volatile and inflammable liquids). Provides that incidental use of motor fuel on private roads or private highways in the operation of a motor vehicle does not constitute a "purpose other than operating a motor vehicle upon the public highways" and does not form a basis for a claim for refund. Effective immediately, except that certain provisions take effect January 1, 2026.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning revenue.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Motor Fuel Tax Law is amended by changing Sections 1.1 and 13 as follows:

(35 ILCS 505/1.1) (from Ch. 120, par. 417.1)

Sec. 1.1. "Motor Fuel" means all volatile and inflammable substances (whether in liquid or gaseous form) that are liquids produced, blended or compounded for the purpose of, or that which are suitable or practicable for, operating motor vehicles. Among other things, "Motor Fuel" includes "Special Fuel" as defined in Section 1.13 of this Act.

(Source: Laws 1963, p. 1557.)

(35 ILCS 505/13) (from Ch. 120, par. 429)

Sec. 13. Refund of tax paid. Any person other than a distributor or supplier, who loses motor fuel through any cause or uses motor fuel (upon which he has paid the amount required to be collected under Section 2 of this Act) for any purpose other than operating a motor vehicle upon the public highways or waters, shall be reimbursed and repaid the amount so paid.

Any person who purchases motor fuel in Illinois and uses that motor fuel in another state and that other state imposes a tax on the use of such motor fuel shall be reimbursed and repaid the amount of Illinois tax paid under Section 2 of this Act on the motor fuel used in such other state. Reimbursement and repayment shall be made by the Department upon receipt of adequate proof of taxes directly paid to another state and the amount of motor fuel used in that state.

Claims based in whole or in part on taxes paid to another state shall include (i) a certified copy of the tax return filed with such other state by the claimant; (ii) a copy of either the cancelled check paying the tax due on such return, or a receipt acknowledging payment of the tax due on such tax return; and (iii) such other information as the Department may reasonably require. This paragraph shall not apply to taxes paid on returns filed under Section 13a.3 of this Act.

Any person who purchases motor fuel use tax decals as required by Section 13a.4 and pays an amount of fees for such decals that exceeds the amount due shall be reimbursed and repaid the amount of the decal fees that are deemed by the department to be in excess of the amount due. Alternatively, any person who purchases motor fuel use tax decals as required by Section 13a.4 may credit any excess decal payment verified by the Department against amounts subsequently due for the purchase of additional decals, until such time as no excess payment remains.

Claims for such reimbursement must be made to the Department of Revenue, duly verified by the claimant (or by the claimant's legal representative if the claimant has died or become a person under legal disability), upon forms prescribed by the Department. The claim must state such facts relating to the purchase, importation, manufacture or production of the motor fuel by the claimant as the Department may deem necessary, and the time when, and the circumstances of its loss or the specific purpose for which it was used (as the case may be), together with such other information as the Department may reasonably require. No claim based upon idle time shall be allowed. Claims for reimbursement for overpayment of decal fees shall be made to the Department of Revenue, duly verified by the claimant (or by the claimant's legal representative if the claimant has died or become a person under legal disability), upon forms prescribed by the Department. The claim shall state facts relating to the overpayment of decal fees, together with such other information as the Department may reasonably require. Claims for reimbursement of overpayment of decal fees paid on or after January 1, 2011 must be filed not later than one year after the date on which the fees were paid by the claimant. If it is determined that the Department should reimburse a claimant for overpayment of decal fees, the Department shall first apply the amount of such refund against any tax or penalty or interest due by the claimant under Section 13a of this Act.

Claims for full reimbursement for taxes paid on or before December 31, 1999 must be filed not later than one year after the date on which the tax was paid by the claimant. If, however, a claim for such reimbursement otherwise meeting the requirements of this Section is filed more than one year but less than 2 years after that date, the claimant shall be reimbursed at the rate of 80% of the amount to which he would have been entitled if his claim had been timely filed.

Claims for full reimbursement for taxes paid on or after January 1, 2000 must be filed not later than 2 years after the date on which the tax was paid by the claimant.

The Department may make such investigation of the correctness of the facts stated in such claims as it deems necessary. When the Department has approved any such claim, it shall pay to the claimant (or to the claimant's legal representative, as such if the claimant has died or become a person under legal disability) the reimbursement provided in this Section, out of any moneys appropriated to it for that purpose.

Any distributor or supplier who has paid the tax imposed by Section 2 of this Act upon motor fuel lost or used by such distributor or supplier for any purpose other than operating a motor vehicle upon the public highways or waters may file a claim for credit or refund to recover the amount so paid. Such claims shall be filed on forms prescribed by the Department. Such claims shall be made to the Department, duly verified by the claimant (or by the claimant's legal representative if the claimant has died or become a person under legal disability), upon forms prescribed by the Department. The claim shall state such facts relating to the purchase, importation, manufacture or production of the motor fuel by the claimant as the Department may deem necessary and the time when the loss or nontaxable use occurred, and the circumstances of its loss or the specific purpose for which it was used (as the case may be), together with such other information as the Department may reasonably require. Claims must be filed not later than one year after the date on which the tax was paid by the claimant.

The Department may make such investigation of the correctness of the facts stated in such claims as it deems necessary. When the Department approves a claim, the Department shall issue a refund or credit memorandum as requested by the taxpayer, to the distributor or supplier who made the payment for which the refund or credit is being given or, if the distributor or supplier has died or become incompetent, to such distributor's or supplier's legal representative, as such. The amount of such credit memorandum shall be credited against any tax due or to become due under this Act from the distributor or supplier who made the payment for which credit has been given.

Any credit or refund that is allowed under this Section shall bear interest at the rate and in the manner specified in the Uniform Penalty and Interest Act.

In case the distributor or supplier requests and the Department determines that the claimant is entitled to a refund, such refund shall be made only from such appropriation as may be available for that purpose. If it appears unlikely that the amount appropriated would permit everyone having a claim allowed during the period covered by such appropriation to elect to receive a cash refund, the Department, by rule or regulation, shall provide for the payment of refunds in hardship cases and shall define what types of cases qualify as hardship cases.

In any case in which there has been an erroneous refund of tax or fees payable under this Section, a notice of tax liability may be issued at any time within 3 years from the making of that refund, or within 5 years from the making of that refund if it appears that any part of the refund was induced by fraud or the misrepresentation of material fact. The amount of any proposed assessment set forth by the Department shall be limited to the amount of the erroneous refund.

If no tax is due and no proceeding is pending to determine whether such distributor or supplier is indebted to the Department for tax, the credit memorandum so issued may be assigned and set over by the lawful holder thereof, subject to reasonable rules of the Department, to any other licensed distributor or supplier who is subject to this Act, and the amount thereof applied by the Department against any tax due or to become due under this Act from such assignee.

If the payment for which the distributor's or supplier's claim is filed is held in the protest fund of the State Treasury during the pendency of the claim for credit proceedings pursuant to the order of the court in accordance with Section 2a of the State Officers and Employees Money Disposition Act and if it is determined by the Department or by the final order of a reviewing court under the Administrative Review Law that the claimant is entitled to all or a part of the credit claimed, the claimant, instead of receiving a credit memorandum from the Department, shall receive a cash refund from the protest fund as provided for in Section 2a of the State Officers and Employees Money Disposition Act.

If any person ceases to be licensed as a distributor or supplier while still holding an unused credit memorandum issued under this Act, such person may, at his election (instead of assigning the credit memorandum to a licensed distributor or licensed supplier under this Act), surrender such unused credit memorandum to the Department and receive a refund of the amount to which such person is entitled.

For claims based upon taxes paid on or before December 31, 2000, a claim based upon the use of undyed diesel fuel shall not be allowed except (i) if allowed under the following paragraph or (ii) for undyed diesel fuel used by a commercial vehicle, as that term is defined in Section 1-111.8 of the Illinois Vehicle Code, for any purpose other than operating the commercial vehicle upon the public highways and unlicensed commercial vehicles operating on private property. Claims shall be limited to commercial vehicles that are operated for both highway purposes and any purposes other than operating such vehicles upon the public highways.

For claims based upon taxes paid on or after January 1, 2000, a claim based upon the use of undyed diesel fuel shall not be allowed except (i) if allowed under the preceding paragraph or (ii) for claims for the following:

(1) Undyed diesel fuel used (i) in a manufacturing process, as defined in Section 2-45 of the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act, wherein the undyed diesel fuel becomes a component part of a product or by-product, other than fuel or motor fuel, when the use of dyed diesel fuel in that manufacturing process results in a product that is unsuitable for its intended use or (ii) for testing machinery and equipment in a manufacturing process, as defined in Section 2-45 of the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act, wherein the testing takes place on private property.

(2) Undyed diesel fuel used by a manufacturer on private property in the research and development, as defined in Section 1.29, of machinery or equipment intended for manufacture.

(3) Undyed diesel fuel used by a single unit self-propelled agricultural fertilizer implement, designed for on and off road use, equipped with flotation tires and specially adapted for the application of plant food materials or agricultural chemicals.

(4) Undyed diesel fuel used by a commercial motor vehicle for any purpose other than operating the commercial motor vehicle upon the public highways. Claims shall be limited to commercial motor vehicles that are operated for both highway purposes and any purposes other than operating such vehicles upon the public highways.

(5) Undyed diesel fuel used by a unit of local government in its operation of an airport if the undyed diesel fuel is used directly in airport operations on airport property.

(6) Undyed diesel fuel used by refrigeration units that are permanently mounted to a semitrailer, as defined in Section 1.28 of this Law, wherein the refrigeration units have a fuel supply system dedicated solely for the operation of the refrigeration units.

(7) Undyed diesel fuel used by power take-off equipment as defined in Section 1.27 of this Law.

(8) Beginning on the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 94th General Assembly, undyed diesel fuel used by tugs and spotter equipment to shift vehicles or parcels on both private and airport property. Any claim under this item (8) may be made only by a claimant that owns tugs and spotter equipment and operates that equipment on both private and airport property. The aggregate of all credits or refunds resulting from claims filed under this item (8) by a claimant in any calendar year may not exceed $100,000. A claim may not be made under this item (8) by the same claimant more often than once each quarter. For the purposes of this item (8), "tug" means a vehicle designed for use on airport property that shifts custom-designed containers of parcels from loading docks to aircraft, and "spotter equipment" means a vehicle designed for use on both private and airport property that shifts trailers containing parcels between staging areas and loading docks.

Any person who has paid the tax imposed by Section 2 of this Law upon undyed diesel fuel that is unintentionally mixed with dyed diesel fuel and who owns or controls the mixture of undyed diesel fuel and dyed diesel fuel may file a claim for refund to recover the amount paid. The amount of undyed diesel fuel unintentionally mixed must equal 500 gallons or more. Any claim for refund of unintentionally mixed undyed diesel fuel and dyed diesel fuel shall be supported by documentation showing the date and location of the unintentional mixing, the number of gallons involved, the disposition of the mixed diesel fuel, and any other information that the Department may reasonably require. Any unintentional mixture of undyed diesel fuel and dyed diesel fuel shall be sold or used only for non-highway purposes.

The Department shall promulgate regulations establishing specific limits on the amount of undyed diesel fuel that may be claimed for refund.

For purposes of claims for refund, "loss" means the reduction of motor fuel resulting from fire, theft, spillage, spoilage, leakage, or any other provable cause, but does not include a reduction resulting from evaporation, or shrinkage due to temperature variations. In the case of losses due to fire or theft, the claimant must include fire department or police department reports and any other documentation that the Department may require.

For purposes of claims for refund, "any purpose other than operating a motor vehicle upon the public highways" refers to the specific purpose for which the motor vehicle was used and does not refer to the specific location where the motor fuel was used. Incidental use of motor fuel on private roads or private highways in the operation of a motor vehicle does not constitute a "purpose other than operating a motor vehicle upon the public highways" and does not form a basis for a claim under this Section. The provisions of this amendatory Act of the 104th General Assembly are declaratory of existing law as to the meaning and scope of this claim for refund.

(Source: P.A. 100-1171, eff. 1-4-19.)

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law, except that the changes made to Section 1.1 of the Motor Fuel Tax Law take effect January 1, 2026.