How much is the Tennessee gas tax?

Tennessee's gasoline excise tax is 26 cents per gallon and diesel is 27 cents per gallon under the fully phased-in IMPROVE Act, plus a small special-petroleum fee. These are levied per gallon, not as a percentage of price.

Does the federal gas tax stack on top?

Yes. The federal excise tax of 18.4 cents per gallon on gasoline (24.4 cents on diesel) applies in addition to Tennessee's state tax. The calculator adds both to show your total per-gallon and annual fuel tax.

What was the Tennessee IMPROVE Act?

The 2017 IMPROVE Act raised Tennessee's fuel taxes in steps to fund road and bridge projects, bringing gasoline to 26 cents and diesel to 27 cents per gallon. The increases are now fully phased in.

Is gas tax included in the pump price?

Yes. The price you see at the pump already includes both the state and federal excise taxes. This tool isolates just the tax portion so you can see how much of each gallon goes to government.

How do I lower the gas tax I pay?

Since the tax is per gallon, using less fuel lowers it. Driving fewer miles or improving your fuel economy reduces gallons burned and the total tax, which is why higher-MPG vehicles pay less fuel tax per mile.

Tennessee Gas Tax Calculator

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Every gallon you pump in Tennessee carries a fixed amount of tax, split between the state and the federal government. Tennessee charges 26 cents per gallon on gasoline and 27 cents on diesel under the fully phased-in IMPROVE Act, and the federal excise adds 18.4 cents more on gasoline. This calculator isolates the tax portion so you can see what you pay per fill-up and per year.

How it works

The tax is a flat per-gallon excise, not a percentage of price:

State excise. Tennessee charges $0.26 per gallon of gasoline ($0.27 for diesel), plus a small special-petroleum fee, which the tool includes.
Federal excise. A flat $0.184 per gallon on gasoline ($0.244 on diesel) applies on top.
Convert to your usage. Multiply the combined per-gallon rate by your tank size for a per-fill-up figure, and by annual gallons (miles ÷ MPG) for a yearly total.

In formula form: gallons per year = annual miles ÷ MPG; annual tax = gallons × (state rate + federal rate).

Tips and example

Driving 12,000 miles a year at 25 MPG burns 480 gallons. At roughly $0.444 total tax per gallon of gasoline ($0.26 state + $0.014 fee + $0.184 federal), that is about $213 of fuel tax a year. A single 14-gallon fill-up carries about $6.22 of tax.

Because the tax is per gallon, the fastest way to pay less is to burn fewer gallons — drive less or choose a higher-MPG vehicle. Note this tool covers excise taxes only; the rest of the pump price reflects the wholesale cost of fuel and any applicable sales tax.