Fuel taxes in the United States

Unlike most other goods in the US, the price advertised (e.g., on pumps and stations' signs) includes all taxes, as opposed to inclusion at the point of purchase (i.e., as opposed to prices of goods in, e.g., many stores advertised on shelves without tax which is instead calculated at checkout by many vendors).

Then-Secretary of Transportation Mary Peters stated on August 15, 2007, that about 60% of federal gas taxes are used for highway and bridge construction.

[16][17] Some policy advisors believe an increased tax is needed to fund and sustain the country's transportation infrastructure, including mass transit.

[19] Critics of gas tax increases argue that much of the revenue is diverted to other government programs and debt servicing unrelated to transportation infrastructure.

[20] However, other researchers have noted that these diversions can occur in both directions and that gas taxes and "user fees" paid by drivers are not high enough to cover the full cost of road-related spending.

[21] Some believe an increased fuel cost would encourage less consumption and reduce America's dependence on foreign oil.

[citation needed] However, significantly since 2008, increased domestic output (e.g., fracking of shale and other energy resource discoveries) and rapidly growing production efficiencies have reduced considerably such spending, and this falling trend is expected to continue.

[citation needed] When used in a fractional ownership program aircraft, gasoline also is subject to a surtax of $0.141 per gallon.