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Tennessee State Excise Taxes 2024 - Fuel, Cigarette, and Alcohol Taxes

Gasoline:
20.00¢ per gallon
Cigarettes:
62¢ per pack
Liquor:
$4.46 per gal
Wine:
$1.27 per gal
Beer:
$1.29 per gal

What is an Excise Tax?

An excise tax is a tax directly levied on certain goods by a state or federal government. The most prominent excise taxes collected by the Tennessee state government are the fuel tax on gasoline and the so-called "sin tax" collected on cigarettes and alcoholic beverages.


An excise tax is not the same thing as the Tennessee Sales Tax.

The Tennessee Sales Tax is collected as a percentage of the final purchase price of all qualifying sales, and is collected directly from the end consumer of the product.

Tennessee's excise taxes, on the other hand, are flat per-unit taxes that must be paid directly to the Tennessee government by the merchant before the goods can be sold. Merchants may be required to attach tax stamps to taxable merchandise to show that the excise tax was paid.

Even though excise taxes are collected from businesses, virtually all Tennessee merchants pass on the excise tax to the customer through higher prices for the taxed goods.


Tennessee per capita excise tax

Tennessee collects an average of $331 in yearly excise taxes per capita, one of the lowest average per capita excise taxes in the country.

Tennessee General Excise Taxes - Gasoline, Cigarettes, and More

Tennessee collects general excise taxes on the sale of motor fuel (gasoline and diesel), cigarettes (per pack), and cell phone service plans. Other general taxes, similar to excise taxes, may be collected on other items including firearms, vehicle sales, transportation tickets, tanning salons, gas guzzlers, and more.

Gas sales tax in Tennessee - Tennessee oil and gasoline excise taxes

Tennessee Gas Tax

39th highest gas tax

The Tennessee excise tax on gasoline is 20.00¢ per gallon, lower then 78% of the other 50 states. Tennessee's excise tax on gasoline is ranked #39 out of the 50 states. The Tennessee gas tax is included in the pump price at all gas stations in Tennessee.

Tax on buying cigarettes in Tennessee - Tennessee cigarette excise taxes

Tennessee Cigarette Tax

38th highest cigarette tax

The Tennessee excise tax on cigarettes is $0.62 per 20 cigarettes, lower then 76% of the other 50 states. Tennessee's excise tax on cigarettes is ranked #38 out of the 50 states. The Tennessee cigarette tax of $0.62 is applied to every 20 cigarettes sold (the size of an average pack of cigarettes). If a pack contains more then 20 cigarettes, a higher excise tax will be collected.

Tax on phone service in Tennessee - Tennessee phone taxes

Tennessee Cellphone Tax

15th highest cellphone tax

The average tax collected on cell phone plans in Tennessee is $11.58 per phone service plan, higher then 70% of the other 50 states. Tennessee's average cellphone tax is ranked #15 out of the 50 states. The Tennessee cellphone tax is already included in the service plan price you pay to your service provider, and may be listed as "Misc. taxes and Fees" or "Other" on your monthly bill.

Automobile / Vehicle Tax In Tennessee - Tennessee car road tax

Tennessee Car Tax

Tennessee collects a registration fee and a title fee on the sale or transfer of cars and motorcycles, which are essentially renamed excise taxes. Unlike standard excise taxes, however, the end consumer must pay the tax directly to the Tennessee Department of Transportation and receive documentation (registration and title papers) proving the fees were paid.

Tennessee Alcohol Excise Taxes - Liquor, Wine, and Beer

Tennessee collects special excise taxes on the sale of all types of alcohol, subdivided into specific taxes on wine, beer, and liquor (hard alcohol other then wine and beer). Alcohol taxes are sometimes collectively referred to as "sin taxes", which also include excise taxes on cigarettes, gambling, drugs, and certain other items.

Please note that the IRS also collects a federal excise taxes on alcoholic beverages, which are included separately from Tennessee's alcohol taxes in the final purchase price.

Tax on beer in Tennessee - Tennessee beer excise taxes

Tennessee Beer Tax

1st highest beer tax

The Tennessee excise tax on beer is $1.29 per gallon, one of the highest beer taxes in the country. Tennessee's beer excise tax is ranked #1 out of the 50 states. Tennessee collects an additional wholesale tax of $5.36 per case on the sale of beer. The Tennessee beer tax is already added to the purchase price of all beer bought in Tennessee, whether in kegs, bottles, or cans.

Tax on buying wine in Tennessee - Tennessee wine excise taxes

Tennessee Wine Tax

14th highest wine tax

The Tennessee excise tax on Wine is $1.27 per gallon, higher then 72% of the other 50 states. Tennessee's excise tax on wine is ranked #14 out of the 50 states. The Tennessee wine tax is already added to the purchase price of all wine bought in Tennessee.

Tax on buying liquor in Tennessee - Tennessee Liquor & Spirits excise taxes

Tennessee Liquor Tax

33rd highest liquor tax

The Tennessee excise tax on liquor is $4.46 per gallon, lower then 66% of the other 50 states. Tennessee's excise tax on Spirits is ranked #33 out of the 50 states. The Tennessee liquor tax includes case or bottle fees that vary based on the size of the container. The Tennessee liquor tax applies to all hard alcohol (alchoholic beverages other then beer and wine), and is already included in the purchase price by the retailer.

Tennessee Excise Tax Deductions & Refunds

Can I deduct my Tennessee Excise taxes?

Unlike the Tennessee Sales Tax, excise taxes are not generally deductible on Tennessee income tax returns or on your federal tax return. However, the IRS occasionally allows certain excise taxes to be deducted for certain tax years.

Vehicle Tax Deduction
Tennessee sales and excise taxes on cars or vehicles bought during 2009 may be deducted once from your federal tax return. You cannot deduct excise taxes for vehicles bought during other years.
Phone Tax Deduction
You may deduct excise taxes paid on long-distance phone calls between the years of 2003 and 2006 from your federal tax return.


Can I get a Tennessee Excise Tax Refund?

While sales tax refunds are available for goods that are purchased in Tennessee and exported, Tennessee excise taxes paid on goods are generally non-refundable. Incentives may exist allowing certain state of federal excise taxes to be refunded on goods bought for specific uses, but such incentives change frequently.

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Tennessee Excise Tax - References