Blindsided

A fuel tax suspension in New York state on motor fuel and highway diesel motor fuel from June 1 through Dec. 31, 2022 was lifted in January 2023.

During this time, local sales and use taxes were not suspended. And as a result, drivers still must pay any fuel use tax due unless their vehicle is exempt, according to the state’s department of taxation and finance.

Completely blindsided: That’s how OOIDA life member Dick Seyfang, based in Akron, N.Y., described the news of impending taxes potentially due despite a seven-month fuel tax suspension in New York state.

“We just got notified about it the other day,” Seyfang said. “My driver called me and said he got a letter in the mail. That’s how we found out.”

If not for that letter, Seyfang – and likely many other drivers – would have been unaware of any money owed.

“There’s no due date and nothing as far as how much is owed at this point,” Seyfang said. “They’re going to review the IFTA for the last two quarters of last year and determine the amount, since motor fuel vendors had the option of collecting or not collecting. The thing is, we were told the fuel tax was being suspended, but we never saw the prices come down.”

Following the agency’s review of a driver’s IFTA filing for quarters three and four of 2022, if article 12-A of the filing was not paid correctly, a letter to correct will be sent.

While in wait-and-see mode, Seyfang said over his 50-plus-year career, he couldn’t remember encountering a scenario quite like this. He added that it’s especially tough because it wasn’t something a driver could prepare for.

This type of unforeseen circumstance underlines the importance of always being aware and on top of your business, he added.

“It’s just like how you keep safe on the road: You pay attention to what’s going on,” Seyfang said. “Focus on the success of your business and always stay vigilant.”

Online assistance is available at tax.ny.gov. LL