State Codes and Statutes

Statutes > South-carolina > Title-12 > Chapter-28

Title 12 - Taxation

CHAPTER 28.

MOTOR FUELS SUBJECT TO USER FEES

ARTICLE 1.

DEFINITIONS

SECTION 12-28-110. Definitions.

As used in this chapter:

(1) "Alternative fuel" means a liquefied petroleum gas, compressed natural gas product, or a combination of liquefied petroleum gas and a compressed natural gas product used in an internal combustion engine or motor to propel any form of vehicle, machine, or mechanical contrivance. It includes all forms of fuel commonly or commercially known or sold as butane, propane, or compressed natural gas.

(2) "Blend stock" includes any petroleum product component of gasoline, such as naphtha, reformate, or toluene, that can be blended for use in a motor fuel. However, it does not include any substance that ultimately is used for consumer nonmotor fuel use and is sold or removed in drum quantities 55 gallons or less at the time of the removal or sale.

(3) "Blended fuel" means a mixture composed of gasoline or diesel fuel and another liquid, other than a de minimis amount of a product such as carburetor detergent or oxidation inhibitor, that can be used as a fuel in a highway vehicle.

(4) "Blender" includes a person who produces blended motor fuel outside the bulk transfer/terminal system.

(5) "Blending" means the mixing of one or more petroleum products, with or without another product, regardless of the original character of the product blended, if the product obtained by the blending is capable of use or otherwise sold for use in the generation of power for the propulsion of a motor vehicle, an airplane, or a motorboat. It does not include blending that occurs in the process of refining by the original refiner of crude petroleum or the blending or products known as lubricating oil and greases.

(6) "Bulk end user" means a person who receives into the person's own storage facilities in transport truck lots of motor fuel subject to the user fee for the person's consumption.

(7) "Bulk plant" means a motor fuel storage and distribution facility that is not a terminal and from which motor fuel may be removed at a rack.

(8) "Bulk transfer" means a transfer of motor fuel from one location to another by pipeline tender or marine delivery within bulk transfer/terminal system.

(9) "Bulk transfer/terminal system" means the motor fuel distribution system consisting of refineries, pipelines, vessels, and terminals. Gasoline in a refinery, pipeline, vessel, or terminal is in the bulk transfer/terminal system. Motor fuel subject to the user fee in the fuel supply tank of an engine, or in a tank car, rail car, trailer, truck, or other equipment suitable for ground transportation is not in the bulk transfer/terminal system.

(10) "Director" mean the administrative head of the Department of Revenue or his designee.

(11) "Dead storage" is the amount of motor fuel subject to the user fee that will not be pumped out of a storage tank because the motor fuel is below the mouth of the draw pipe. For this purpose, a dealer may assume that the amount of motor fuel in dead storage is two hundred gallons for a tank with a capacity of ten thousand gallons or less and four hundred gallons for a tank with a capacity of more than ten thousand gallons.

(12) "Delivery" means the placing of motor fuel subject to the user fee or any liquid into the fuel tank of a motor vehicle.

(13) "Department" means the South Carolina Department of Revenue.

(14) "Destination state" means the state, territory, or foreign country to which motor fuel is directed for delivery into a storage facility, a receptacle, a container, or a type of transportation equipment for the purpose of resale or use.

(15) "Diesel fuel" means a liquid, including biodiesel and a biodiesel blend that is commonly or commercially known or sold as a fuel that is suitable for use in a diesel-powered highway vehicle. A liquid meets this requirement if, without further processing or blending, the liquid has practical and commercial fitness for use in the propulsion engine of a diesel-powered highway vehicle. However, a liquid does not possess this practical and commercial fitness solely by reason of its possible or rare use as a fuel in the propulsion engine of a diesel-powered highway vehicle. "Diesel fuel" does not include jet fuel if the buyer is registered to purchase jet fuel subject to federal taxes applicable to jet fuel and the seller obtains certification of that fact satisfactory to the Internal Revenue Service before making the sale.

(16) "Diesel-powered highway vehicle" means a motor vehicle operated on a highway that is propelled by a diesel-powered engine.

(17) "Distributor" means a person who acquires motor fuel from a supplier or from another distributor for subsequent sale or use.

(18) "Dyed diesel fuel" means diesel fuel that is required to be dyed under United States Environmental Protection Agency and Internal Revenue Service rules or pursuant to other requirements subsequently set by the agency or service including any invisible marker requirements.

(19) "Eligible purchaser" means a person who has been authorized by the department pursuant to Section 12-28-930 to make the election under Section 12-28-925.

(20) "Enterer" includes a person who is the importer of record under federal customs law with respect to motor fuel subject to the user fee. If the importer of record is acting as an agent, the person for whom the agent is acting is the enterer. If there is no importer of record of motor fuel subject to the user fee entered into this State, the owner of the diesel fuel at the time it is brought into South Carolina is the enterer.

(21) "Entry" means the importing of motor fuel subject to the user fee into this State. However, if motor fuel subject to the user fee is brought into this State in the fuel tank of a motor vehicle, it is not deemed to be an "entry" if it is not removed from the fuel tank except as used for the propulsion of that motor vehicle, except to the extent that motor fuel subject to the user fee was acquired user fee-free for export or a refund of the user fee was claimed as a result of exportation from the state from which that motor fuel subject to the user fee was transported into South Carolina.

(22) "Ethanol" means "fuel grade ethanol".

(23) "Export" means to obtain motor fuel in this State for sale or other distribution in another state. In applying this definition, motor fuel delivered out-of-state by or for the seller constitutes an export by the seller and motor fuel delivered out-of-state by or for the purchaser constitutes an export by the purchaser.

(24) "Exporter" means a person, other than a supplier, who purchases motor fuel subject to the user fee in this State for the purpose of transporting or delivering the fuel to another state or country.

(25) "Fuel grade ethanol" means American Society for Testing and Materials standard in effect January 1, 1995, and successor rules, as the D-4806 specification for denatured fuel grade ethanol for blending with gasoline for use as automatic spark-ignition engine fuels.

(26) "Fuel transportation vehicle" means a vehicle designed for highway use which also is designed or used to transport motor fuels subject to the user fee and includes transport trucks and tank wagons.

(27) "Gasohol" means blended fuel composed of gasoline and fuel alcohol.

(28) "Gasoline" means all products commonly or commercially known or sold as gasoline that are suitable for use as a motor fuel. It does not include a product sold as a product other than gasoline and has an American Society for Testing Materials octane number of less than seventy-five as determined by the "motor method" and does not include aviation gasoline if the buyer is registered to purchase aviation gasoline free of user fees and the seller obtains certification of that fact satisfactory to the Department before making the sale.

(29) "Gasoline blend stocks" includes any petroleum product component of gasoline, such as naphtha, reformate, or toluene, that can be blended for use in a motor fuel. However, it does not include any substance that ultimately is used for consumer nonmotor fuel use and is sold or removed in drum quantities fifty-five gallons or less at the time of the removal or sale.

(30) "Gross gallons" means the total, measured product, exclusive of temperature or pressure adjustments, considerations or deductions, in United States gallons.

(31) "Heating oil" means a motor fuel subject to the user fee that is burned in a boiler, furnace, or stove for heating or industrial processing purposes.

(32) "Highway vehicle" means a self-propelled vehicle that is designed for use on a highway.

(33) "Import" means to bring motor fuel into this State for sale, use, or storage by any means of conveyance other than in the fuel supply tank of a motor vehicle. In applying this definition, motor fuel delivered into this State from out-of-state by or for the seller constitutes an import by the seller, and motor fuel delivered into this State from out-of-state by or for the purchaser constitutes an import by the purchaser.

(34) "Import verification number" means the number assigned by the department or its delegate or appointee with respect to a single transport truck delivery into this State from another state upon request for an assigned number by an importer or the transporter carrying motor fuel subject to the user fee into this State for the account of an importer.

(35) "In this State" means the area within the borders of South Carolina including all territories within the borders owned by or added to the United States of America.

(36) "Invoiced gallons" means the gallons actually billed on an invoice in payment to a supplier.

(37) "K-1 kerosene" means burner fuel designed for unvented space heaters which meets American Society for Testing Materials standard D-3699, in effect January 1, 1995, and successor rules, as the specification for #1-K kerosene.

(38) "Liquid" means a substance that is liquid in excess of sixty degrees Fahrenheit and a pressure of fourteen and seven-tenths pounds a square inch absolute.

(39) "Motor fuel" means gasoline, diesel fuel, substitute fuel, renewable fuel, and blended fuel.

(40) "Motor fuel transporter" means a person who transports motor fuel by transport truck or railroad tank car.

(41) "Motor vehicle" means a vehicle that is propelled by an internal combustion engine or motor and is designed to permit the vehicle's mobile use on highways. It does not include:

(a) farm machinery including machinery designed for off-road use but capable of movement on roads at low speeds;

(b) a vehicle operated on rails; or

(c) machinery designed principally for off-road use.

(42) "Net gallons" means the remaining product, after all considerations and deductions have been made, measured in United States gallons, corrected to a temperature of sixty degrees Fahrenheit, thirteen degrees Celsius, and a pressure of fourteen and seven-tenths pounds a square inch, the ultimate end amount.

(43) "Permissive supplier" means a person who does not meet the geographic jurisdictional connections to this State required of a supplier as defined in Section 12-28-920(A), but who:

(a) is a position holder in a federally qualified terminal located outside this State; or

(b) acquires a product in out-of-state terminals from a position holder in a transaction that otherwise qualifies as a two-party exchange under Section 12-28-110(63); and under this subitem and subitem (a);

(c) is registered under Section 4101 of the Internal Revenue Code for transactions in taxable motor fuels in the bulk transfer/terminal distribution system.

(44) "Person" means a natural person, a partnership, a firm, an association, a corporation, a representative appointed by a court, the State, a political subdivision or any other entity, group, or syndicate.

(45) "Position holder" means the person who holds the inventory position in motor fuel in a terminal, as reflected on the records of the terminal operator. A person holds the inventory position in motor fuel when that person has a contract with the terminal operator for the use of storage facilities and terminaling services for fuel at the terminal. The term includes a terminal operator who owns fuel in the terminal.

(46) "Public highway" means the entire width between boundary lines of each publicly maintained way in this State, including streets and alleys in municipalities, when any part of the way is open to the public use for vehicle travel.

(47) "Qualified terminal" means a qualified terminal as defined under Internal Revenue Code, regulation, and practices and which has been assigned a terminal control number by the Internal Revenue Service.

(48) "Rack" means a mechanism for delivering motor fuel from a refinery, a terminal, or a bulk plant into a railroad tank car, a transport truck, or another means of bulk transfer outside of the bulk transfer/terminal system.

(49) "Refiner" means a person who owns, operates, or otherwise controls a refinery within the United States.

(50) "Refinery" means a facility used to produce motor fuel subject to the user fee from crude oil, unfinished oils, natural gas liquids, or other hydrocarbons and from which motor fuel subject to the user fee may be removed by pipeline, by vessel, or at a rack.

(51) "Removal" means a physical transfer other than by evaporation, loss, or destruction of motor fuel subject to the user fee from a terminal, manufacturing plant, customs custody, pipeline, marine vessel including barges and tankers, refinery, or any receptacle that stores motor fuel subject to the user fee.

(52) "Retailer" means a person who engages in the business of selling or distributing to the end user within this State.

(53)(a) "Supplier" means a person who meets all the following conditions:

(i) is subject to the general taxing jurisdiction of this State;

(ii) is registered under Section 4101 of the Internal Revenue Code for transactions in taxable motor fuels in the bulk transfer/terminal distribution system; and

(iii) is one of the following:

1. is the "position holder" in a terminal or refinery in this State;

2. imports motor fuel subject to the user fee into this State from a foreign country;

3. acquires motor fuel subject to the user fee from a terminal or refinery in this State from a position holder pursuant to a "two-party exchange";

4. is the position holder in a terminal or refinery outside this State with respect to motor fuel subject to the user fee which that person imports into this State on his account.

(b) A terminal operator is not considered a supplier merely because the terminal operator handles motor fuel subject to the user fee consigned to it within a terminal. When the term "supplier" is used in this chapter other than in this section, it is deemed to also refer the term "permissive supplier" unless provided otherwise.

(54) "Tank wagon" means a straight truck having multiple compartments designed or used to carry liquid motor fuel.

(55) "Motor fuel subject to the user fee" means gasoline, diesel fuel, kerosene, blended fuel, substitute fuel, and blends of them and any other substance blended with them.

(56) "Terminal" is a storage and distribution facility for motor fuel subject to the user fee, supplied by pipeline or marine vessel, which has been registered as a qualified terminal by the Internal Revenue Service.

(57)(a) "Terminal bulk transfers" include, but are not limited to: a marine barge movement of fuel from a refinery or terminal to a terminal;

(b) pipeline movements of fuel from a refinery or terminal to a terminal.

(c) book transfers of products within a terminal between suppliers before completion of removal across the rack;

(d) two-party exchanges between licensed suppliers.

(58) "Terminal operator" is a person who owns, operates, or otherwise controls a terminal and does not use a substantial portion of the motor fuel subject to the user fee that is transferred through or stored in the terminal for its own use. "For its own use" means for its own consumption or in the manufacture of products other than motor fuel. A terminal operator may own the motor fuel subject to the user fee that is transferred through or stored in the terminal.

(59) "Throughputter" means a person who does all of the following:

(a) receives transfer of motor fuel subject to the user fee from refiners, importers, terminal operators, or other throughputters;

(b) stores the motor fuel subject to the user fee in a terminal;

(c) owns the motor fuel subject to the user fee or holds the inventory position to the motor fuel subject to the user fee, as reflected on the records of the terminal operator, at the time of removal or sale from a terminal.

(60) "Transmix" means the buffer or interface between two different products in a pipeline shipment or a mix of two different products within a refinery or terminal that results in an off-grade mixture.

(61) "Transport truck" means a semitrailer or trailer combination rig designed or used to transport liquid motor fuel over the highways.

(62) "Transporter" means a person engaged in the business of transporting motor fuels subject to the user fee.

(63) "Two-party exchange" means a transaction in which a product is transferred from one licensed supplier or licensed permissive supplier to another pursuant to an exchange agreement. An exchange agreement means an agreement between a licensed supplier or licensed permissive supplier and another licensed supplier or permissive supplier where one is a position holder in a terminal who agrees to deliver motor fuel subject to the user fee to the other party or the other party's customer at the loading rack of the terminal where the delivering party holds an inventory position.

(64) "Ultimate purchaser" means a person who uses motor fuel subject to the user fee.

(65) "Ultimate vendor" means a person who sells motor fuel subject to the user fee to the user of the fuel, the ultimate purchaser.

(66) "Undyed diesel fuel" means diesel fuel that is not subject to the United States Environmental Protection Agency requirements, or has not been dyed in accordance with Internal Revenue Service Fuel dyeing provisions.

(67) "Vehicle fuel tank" means any receptacle on a motor vehicle from which fuel is supplied for the propulsion of the motor vehicle.

(68) "Wholesaler" means a person who acquires motor fuel subject to the user fee from a supplier or from another wholesaler for subsequent sale and distribution at wholesale by tank cars, motor vehicles, or both.

(69) "Substitute fuel" means a liquid that is commonly and commercially known or sold as a fuel that is suitable for use in a highway vehicle. The fuel meets this requirement if, without further processing or blending, the fuel is a fluid and has practical and commercial fitness for use in the propulsion of a highway vehicle. This includes all liquids regardless of temperature or pressure.

(70) "Biodiesel" means a fuel composed of mono-alkyl esters of long chain fatty acids generally derived from vegetable oils or animal fats, commonly known as B100, that is commonly and commercially known or sold as a fuel that is suitable for use in a highway vehicle. The fuel meets this requirement if, without further processing or blending, the fuel is a fluid and has practical and commercial fitness for use in the propulsion of a highway vehicle. "Biodiesel" means a diesel fuel substitute produced from nonpetroleum renewable resources that meets the registration requirements for fuels and fuel additives established by the United States Environmental Protection Agency pursuant to Section 211 of the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7545) and that meets the American Society for Testing and Materials D6751-02a Standard Specification for Biodiesel Fuel (B100) Blend Stock for Distillate Fuels.

(71) "Biodiesel blend" means a blend of biodiesel fuel with petroleum based diesel fuel, commonly designated Bxx where xx represents the volume percentage of biodiesel fuel in the blend (for example B20 is 20 percent biodiesel, 80 percent petro diesel), and that is commonly and commercially known or sold as a fuel that is suitable for use in a highway vehicle. The fuel meets this requirement if, without further processing or blending, the fuel is a fluid and has practical and commercial fitness for use in the propulsion of a highway vehicle.

(72) "Renewable fuel" means liquid nonpetroleum based fuels that can be placed in vehicle fuel tanks and used as a fuel in a highway vehicle. It includes all forms of fuel commonly or commercially known or sold as biodiesel and ethanol.

ARTICLE 3.

IMPOSITION OF USER FEES

SECTION 12-28-310. User fees on gasoline and diesel fuel.

(A) Subject to the exemptions provided in this chapter, a user fee of sixteen cents a gallon is imposed on:

(1) all gasoline, gasohol, or blended fuels containing gasoline that are used or consumed for any purpose in this State; and

(2) all diesel fuel, substitute fuels, or alternative fuels, or blended fuels containing diesel fuel that are used or consumed in this State in producing or generating power for propelling motor vehicles.

(B) The user fee levied on motor fuel subject to the user fee pursuant to this chapter is a levy and assessment on the consumer, and the levy and assessment on other persons as specified in this chapter are as agents of the State for the collection of the user fee. This section does not affect the method of collecting the user fee as provided in this chapter. The user fee imposed by this section must be collected and paid at those times, in the manner, and by the persons specified in this chapter.

(C) The license user fee imposed by this section is instead of all sales, use, or other excise tax that may be imposed otherwise by any municipality, county, or other local political subdivision of the State.

SECTION 12-28-320. Presumption that fuel delivered to motor vehicle fuel supply tank is used in this State.

Except as otherwise provided under Article 7 of this chapter, the department shall consider it a presumption that all motor fuel subject to the user fee delivered in this State into a motor vehicle fuel supply tank is to be used or consumed on the highways in this State producing or generating power for propelling motor vehicles.

SECTION 12-28-330. Presumption that fuel from terminal in State, imported, or delivered into end user's storage tank is used in State.

The department considers it a rebuttable presumption, subject to proof of exemption pursuant to Article 7 of this chapter, that all motor fuel subject to the user fee removed from a terminal in this State, or imported into this State other than by a bulk transfer within the bulk transfer terminal system or delivered into an end user's storage tank, is to be used or consumed in this State, in the case of gasoline, gasohol, or blended fuels containing gasoline and is to be used or consumed on the highways in this State in producing or generating power for propelling motor vehicles in the case of all other motor fuel.

SECTION 12-28-340. Petroleum product and ethanol blenders requirements imposed on terminal; blender of record; Renewable Identification Number trading system.

(A) Regardless of other products offered, a terminal, as defined in Section 12-28-110(56), located within the State must offer a petroleum product that has not been blended with ethanol and that is suitable for subsequent blending with ethanol.

(B) A person or entity must not take any action to deny a distributor, as defined in Section 12-28-110(17), or retailer, as defined in Section 12-28-110(52), who is doing business in this State and who has registered with the Internal Revenue Service on Form 637(M) from being the blender of record afforded them by the acceptance by the Internal Revenue Service of Form 637(M).

(C) A distributor or retailer and a refiner must utilize the Renewable Identification Number (RIN) trading system. Nothing in this section should be construed to imply a market value for RINs.

ARTICLE 5.

MEASUREMENT OF USER FEES

SECTION 12-28-510. User fee on motor fuel measured by invoiced gallons.

The user fee imposed by this chapter on use of motor fuel subject to the user fee which was imported into this State by a licensed importer, other than by a bulk transfer, shall arise at the time the product is entered into the State and shall be measured by invoiced gallons received outside this State at a refinery, terminal, or at a bulk plant for delivery to a destination in this State.

SECTION 12-28-520. Measurement of user fees on motor fuel; user fee complemented by user fees measured annually at each terminal.

(A) Except as provided in Section 12-28-510, the user fee imposed by this chapter on the use of motor fuel subject to the user fee must be measured by invoiced gallons of motor fuel subject to the user fee removed, other than by a bulk transfer, by a licensed supplier from a qualified terminal or refinery within this State, and from a qualified terminal or refinery outside this State for delivery to a location in South Carolina as represented on the shipping papers if the supplier imports the motor fuel subject to the user fee for his own account or the supplier has made a user fee pre-collection election under Section 12-28-910. This user fee otherwise generally must be determined in the same manner as the tax imposed by Section 4081 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or the Code of Federal Regulations as it exists as of January 1, 1995, or as subsequently modified.

(B) The user fee imposed by this chapter on use of motor fuel subject to the user fee in this State as measured by gallons removed by a supplier, or terminal operator, from terminals in this State must be complemented by a user fee measured annually at each terminal in this State by the amount by which net gallons lost or unaccounted for, including transmix, within each terminal exceed the sum of net gallon gains plus one-half of one percent times the number of all net gallons removed from the terminal across the rack or in bulk.

SECTION 12-28-530. Increase in user fee rate.

(A) The user fee imposed by Section 12-28-310 on the date of an increase in the user fee rate set out in that section is applicable to motor fuel previously subject to the user fee:

(1) in excess of one thousand gallons held in storage by an end user;

(2) inventory held for sale by a fuel vendor.

(B) The user fee imposed by Section 12-28-310 is applicable to nonexempt inventory held by a person outside of the bulk transfer system in this State in quantities which, in the aggregate with respect to the person, exceed one thousand gallons, to the extent the inventory previously has not been subject to the user fee imposed by this State under the predecessor motor fuel tax statute. However, no user fee is payable with respect to motor fuel subject to the user fee which is dyed diesel fuel or held by an exempt user including government entities described under Sections 12-28-710(A)(6) and 12-28-710(A)(12).

(C) Persons in possession of taxable motor fuel subject to this section shall perform the following:

(1) take an inventory to determine the gallons in storage for purposes of determining the user fee on inventory;

(2) deduct the amount of motor fuel subject to the user fee in dead storage;

(3) deduct these gallons in which the user fee at the full rate previously has been paid;

(4) take a deduction for gallons of dyed diesel fuel included in item (1) above, if appropriate;

(5) report the gallons listed in item (1) on forms provided by the department.

(D) The amount of the inventory user fee is equal to the inventory user fee rate times the gallons in storage as determined under subsection (B). The inventory user fee rate is equal to the difference between the increased user fee rate minus the previous user fee rate to which those gallons were previously subjected to the user fee.

(E) Payment of this floorstock user fee must be made in conformity with Section 12-28-985.

ARTICLE 7.

EXEMPTIONS AND REFUNDS

SECTION 12-28-710. Exemption from the user fee on motor fuel.

(A) Subject to the procedural requirements and conditions set out in this article, the following are exempt from the user fee imposed by Section 12-28-310 on motor fuel subject to the user fee:

(1) motor fuel subject to the user fee for which proof of export is available in the form of a terminal issued destination state shipping paper;

(a) exported by a supplier who is licensed in the destination state;

(b) sold by a supplier to another person for immediate export to a state for which the destination state's motor fuel user fee has been paid to the supplier who is licensed to remit user fees to the destination state;

(c) which is destined for use other than for resale within the destination state for which an exemption has been made available by the destination state subject to procedural regulations promulgated by the department;

(2) motor fuel subject to the user fee which was acquired by a licensed exporter and as to which the user fee imposed by this chapter previously has been paid or accrued, which motor fuel was placed into storage in this State and subsequently was exported by transport truck by or on behalf of the licensed exporter;

(3) motor fuel subject to the user fee which was acquired by an unlicensed exporter and as to which the user fee imposed by this chapter previously has been paid or accrued and subsequently was exported by transport truck by or on behalf of the licensed exporter in a diversion across state boundaries properly reported in conformity with Section 12-28-1525;

(4) motor fuel subject to the user fee exported out of a bulk plant in this State in a tank wagon if the destination of that vehicle does not exceed twenty-five miles from the borders of this State and as to which the user fee imposed by this chapter previously has been paid or accrued, subject to gallonage limits and other conditions established by the department;

(5) K-1 kerosene sold at retail through dispensers which have been designed and constructed to prevent delivery directly from the dispenser into a vehicle fuel supply tank and K-1 kerosene sold at retail through nonbarricaded dispensers in quantities of not more than twenty-one gallons for use other than for highway purposes, under regulations as the department reasonably requires;

(6) motor fuel subject to the user fee sold to the United States or its agencies or instrumentalities;

(7) subject to determination by the department, that portion of motor fuel subject to the user fee used to operate equipment attached to a motor vehicle, if the motor fuel subject to the user fee was placed into the fuel supply tank of a motor vehicle that has a common fuel reservoir for travel on a highway and for the operation of equipment;

(8) motor fuel subject to the user fee acquired by an end user out-of-state and carried into this State, retained within and consumed from the same vehicle fuel supply tank within which it was imported;

(9) kerosene and diesel fuel used as heating oil or in trains or used in equipment not licensed as a motor vehicle other than as expressly exempted under another provision;

(10) motor fuel subject to the user fee which was lost or destroyed as a direct result of a sudden and unexpected casualty;

(11) diesel fuel subject to the user fee which has been contaminated by dye so as to be unsalable or unusable as highway fuel;

(12) motor fuel subject to the user fee used in state-owned school buses and in state-owned administration and service vehicles used in the pupil transportation program and transportation of students by state-funded institutions of higher learning;

(13) motor fuel subject to the user fee used in manufacture of fuel oil;

(14) motor fuel subject to the user fee sold for use in commercial shrimp boats;

(15) gasoline subject to the user fee used in operating tractors or other farm equipment used exclusively in farm operations, no part of which is used in any vehicle or equipment driven upon the public roads, streets, or highways of this State. A claim for refund must be made under Section 12-28-790;

(16) gasoline used in aircraft.

SECTION 12-28-720. Perfection of exemption for imports.

The exemption for exports:

(1) under Section 12-28-710(A)(1) must be perfected by a deduction on the report of the supplier which is otherwise responsible for user fees on removal of the product from a terminal or refinery in this State;

(2) under Section 12-28-710(A)(2) and 12-28-710(A)(4) may be perfected at the option of the exporter by a refund claim if the claim in the aggregate month to date exceeds one thousand dollars, by a refund claimed on the licensed exporter report for that month's activity, or under Section 12-28-710(A)(3) if a diversion by an unlicensed exporter upon a refund application is made to the department within three years.

SECTION 12-28-730. Exempt use of K-1 kerosene.

Exempt use of K-1 kerosene is governed by regulations promulgated by the department which must follow regulations governing the exemption promulgated by the federal government to the extent that impositions of conforming regulations is practical and does not work a hardship on sellers and end users in this State.

SECTION 12-28-740. Perfection of exemption for federal government, agencies, instrumentalities, and reservations, and state-owned buses and vehicles used in an educational program.

The exemption for sales of motor fuel subject to the user fee for use by the federal government, federal agencies, instrumentalities, and federal reservations, and state-owned buses and vehicles used in an educational program provided under Section 12-28-710(A)(6) and (12) must be perfected as follows:

(1) by refund claim by a licensed fuel vendor which made a sale of user fee-paid motor fuel as ultimate vendor to an exempt government user listed above on behalf of the exempt user. The claim must be made directly to the department under regulations and procedures and on forms provided by the department. The department shall issue a refund within thirty days of receipt of the claim for refund from the licensed fuel vendor;

(2) if the department makes a finding that its collections would not be jeopardized by application by an ultimate vendor for a Government Exempt Bulk Sales Permit which entitles that person to make purchases of fuel user fee-free for resale for exempt government use under the following conditions:

(a) The vendor shall make application with the department for the permit on a form acceptable to the department. The application must include:

(i) proof of financial responsibility or bond in an amount not to exceed the user fee on the total gallons to be purchased user fee-exempt in any year;

(ii) an estimate of total user fee-exempt gallons to be sold under the permit on an annual basis, which amount constitutes the limit of user fee-exempt purchases which the applicant is authorized to make, absent re-application pursuant to subitem (f) of this item;

(iii) the name of the suppliers from which the applicant shall make the user fee-exempt purchases under this permit for the term covered by the permit. This subitem does not mandate sales by a supplier to another person;

(iv) a list of government user fee-exempt purchasers qualifying under subsubitem (c) of this subitem and estimated volumes for them;

(v) other information the department reasonably requires.

(b) Upon evaluation of the data provided by applicant and independent investigation of that information the department in its discretion makes, the department shall issue the permit provided under this section to the applicant with a copy to each supplier named by the applicant pursuant to subitem (a) of this item.

(c) In order for a government entity to qualify as a government user fee-exempt purchaser eligible for user fee-exempt sales under this section, the ultimate vendor shall obtain a properly completed Federal Form 1094, its state equivalent, or successor form from the government entity and shall send to the department a copy of this form with an estimate of the annual quantity of motor fuel subject to the user fee to be supplied to that government entity purchaser. The department shall assign an approval number for that government entity and location and shall issue a permit to the ultimate vendor authorizing the ultimate vendor to make user fee-exempt sales of that estimated quantity of fuel to the agency.

(d) The department may not require that the identical gallons purchased by the ultimate vendor under the permit be delivered to the eligible government entity, only that the total gallons purchased under the permit user fee exempt equal the total gallons delivered to all eligible government entities.

(e) If the ultimate vendor fails to deliver any quantity of the user fee-exempt purchases to eligible government entities, the ultimate vendor is liable for the user fee on that quantity. If the excess of user fee-exempt gallons purchased exceeds gallons sold for user fee-exempt use by ten percent, the department in its discretion may levy a penalty equal to ten percent of the user fee due in addition to user fees due.

(f) If the ultimate vendor needs to purchase additional gallons above that estimated to fulfill his commitments, he shall notify the department. If the department is satisfied with the reports submitted accounting for the user fee-exempt fuel previously submitted, it shall increase the quantity authorized on the permit and so notify the supplier.

(3) If the sale to the eligible government entities of motor fuel subject to the user fee occur at a fixed retail pump available to the general public by:

(a) application by the ultimate vendor, having made the sale to the eligible government entity without the user fee, for a refund from the department by submitting the application and supporting documentation the department reasonably prescribes by regulation;

(b) by application for a refund, if the purchase is charged to a credit card issued to an eligible government entity, the issuer of the card elects to be the ultimate vendor, and the federal agency is billed without the user fee;

(c) if the sale to the government entity includes the user fee levied by this chapter, by application for a refund by the government entity from the department including submitting such supporting documentation the department reasonably prescribes by regulation.

SECTION 12-28-750. Perfection by refund claim filed by end user for fuel used to operate machinery.

The exemptions per use pursuant to Section 12-28-710(A)(7) must be perfected by refund claim filed by the end user who shall provide evidence of an allocation of use satisfactory to the department.

SECTION 12-28-760. No user fee on motor fuel carried into State, retained in vehicle and consumed by an end user.

No user fee imposed by this chapter may be paid by or levied upon motor fuel consumed by an end user who meets the requirement of Section 12-28-710(A)(8).

SECTION 12-28-770. Refund upon application after contamination or loss of motor fuel.

The exemption for motor fuel subject to the user fee pursuant to Section 12-28-710(A)(10) and (11) which was purchased user fee-paid for a user fee use and, after the purchase, was contaminated by the presence of a dye or marker or subject to a sudden and unexpected casualty loss, must be refunded to the person responsible for the contamination or loss event upon application and on proof shown acceptable to the department.

SECTION 12-28-780. Refund of motor fuel user fees erroneously paid.

The motor fuel user fee that has otherwise been erroneously paid by a person must be refunded by the department upon proof shown satisfactory to the department. The department's authority under this section must be construed broadly to prevent unjust and unintended payment of user fees on exempt uses or by exempt users.

SECTION 12-28-785. Perfection of exemptions not covered under Sections 12-28-720 through 12-28-780.

All exemptions under Section 12-28-710, not expressly covered under Sections 12-28-720 through 12-28-780, must be perfected as follows:

(1) A supplier or tank wagon importer shall take a deduction against motor fuel subject to the user fee shown on his monthly report for those gallons of diesel fuel removed from a terminal or refinery destined for delivery to a point in this State as shown on the shipping papers, as to which dye was added in a manner which conforms to federal requirements established by the Internal Revenue Code and regulations issued under it.

(2) The end user shall apply for refund with respect to motor fuel subject to the user fee purchased by the end user for consumption in an exempt use described under Section 12-28-710 as to which the user fee imposed by this chapter previously was paid and no refund previously issued.

(3) An importer shall take a deduction against the user fee owed under Section 12-28-905(A) or (B) or dyed diesel fuel if such diesel fuel would have met the requirements of item (1).

SECTION 12-28-790. Refunds claims.

(A) To claim a refund under Sections 12-28-720 through 12-28-780, a person shall present to the department a statement that contains a written verification that the claim is made under penalties of perjury and lists the total amount of motor fuel subject to the user fee purchased and used for exempt purposes. The claim must be filed not more than three years after the date the motor fuel subject to the user fee was purchased. The statement must show that payment for the purchase has been made and the amount of the user fee paid on the purchase has been remitted to the seller.

(B) The department may make investigations it considers necessary before refunding the motor fuel user fee to a person and may investigate a refund after the refund has been issued and within the time frame for making adjustments to the user fee under this chapter.

(C) To facilitate efficient administration and instead of the individual refund procedures, the department may provide by regulation an alternative election by the applicant for a refund by way of credit against state income tax liability.

SECTION 12-28-795. Interest on refund.

Interest on a claim for refund must be paid at the rate and in the manner provided for in Section 12-54-25.

ARTICLE 9.

PAYMENTS; LIABILITY; ELIGIBILITY; COLLECTIONS

SECTION 12-28-905. Time for payment of motor fuel user fees imported from another state.

(A) Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, the user fee imposed by Section 12-28-310 on motor fuel subject to the user fee measured by gallons imported from another state must be paid by the licensed occasional importer who has imported the nonexempt motor fuel subject to the user fee within three business days of the earlier of the time the nonexempt motor fuel subject to the user fee was entered into the State or the time a valid import verification number required by Section 12-28-1125 was assigned by the department under regulations the department promulgates. However, if the supplier has made a blanket election to pre-collect the user fee under Section 12-28-910(B), he is jointly liable with the importer for the user fee and shall remit the user fee to the department on behalf of the importer under the same terms as a supplier payment under Section 12-28-915, and no import verification number is required.

(B) Except as otherwise provided in this section, the user fee imposed by Section 12-28-310 on motor fuel subject to the user fee measured by gallons imported from another state must be paid by the licensed bonded importer who has imported the nonexempt motor fuel subject to the user fee during a month before the twenty-second day of the following month unless the day falls upon a weekend or state or banking holiday, in which case the liability is due the next succeeding business day, if before the time of import the importer obtains a valid import verification number required by Section 12-28-1125, assigned by the department under regulations promulgated by the department. However, if the supplier has made a blanket election to pre-collect the user fee under Section 12-28-910(B), he is jointly liable with the importer for the user fee and shall remit the user fee to the department on behalf of the importer under the same terms as a supplier payment under Section 12-28-915, and no import verification number is required.

SECTION 12-28-910. Blanket election to treat all removals from out-of-state terminals as if from in-state terminals; notice of election.

(A) Any licensed supplier or licensed permissive supplier may make a blanket election with the department to treat all removals from all of its out-of-state terminals with a destination in this State as shown on the terminal issued shipping paper as if the removals were removed across the rack by the supplier from a terminal in this State for all purposes.

(B) This election must be made by filing "notice of election" with the department as provided in this section.

(C) The department shall release a list of electing suppliers under subsection (B) upon request by any person.

(D) The absence of an election by a supplier under this section does not relieve the supplier of responsibility for remitting the user fee imposed by this chapter upon the removal from an out-of-state terminal for import into this State by the supplier.

(E) A supplier which makes the election provided by this section shall pre-collect the user fee imposed by this chapter on all removals from a qualified terminal on its account as a position holder or a person receiving fuel from a position holder pursuant to a two-party exchange agreement without regard to the license status of the person acquiring the fuel from the supplier, the point or terms of sale, or the character of delivery.

SECTION 12-28-915. User fees collected and remitted by supplier; due date; late user fees.

(A) The user fee imposed by Section 12-28-310 measured by motor fuel subject to the user fee removed by a licensed supplier from a terminal or refinery in this State other than a bulk transfer, must be collected and remitted to the State by the supplier, as shown in the terminal operator's records, who removes the gallons subject to the user fee.

(B) The supplier and each reseller shall list the amount of user fees as a separate line item on all invoices or billings.

(C) All user fees to be paid by a supplier with respect to gallons removed on his account during a calendar month is due and payable before the twenty-second day of the following month unless the day falls upon a weekend or state or banking holiday in which case the liability is due the next succeeding business day.

(D) A supplier shall give notification of late user fees remitted to the supplier by an eligible purchaser and give timely notification to the department of late remittances if that supplier previously gave notice to the department of an uncollectible user fee amount pursuant to Section 12-28-940(B).

SECTION 12-28-920. Liability of terminal operator for motor fuel user fee; payment.

(A) The terminal operator of a terminal in this State is jointly and severally liable for the user fee imposed under Section 12-28-310 and shall remit payment to this State upon discovery of either of the following conditions:

(1) The supplier with respect to the motor fuel subject to the user fee is a person other than the terminal operator and is not a licensed supplier. The terminal operator is relieved of liability if he establishes all of the following:

(a) The terminal operator has a valid terminal operator's license issued for the facility from which the motor fuel is withdrawn.

(b) The terminal operator has an unexpired notification certificate from the supplier as required by the department or the Internal Revenue Service.

(c) The terminal operator has no reason to believe that any information on the certificate is false.

(2) In connection with the removal of diesel fuel that is not dyed and marked in accordance with Internal Revenue Service requirements, the terminal operator provides a person with a bill of lading, shipping paper, or similar document indicating that the diesel fuel is dyed and marked in accordance with Internal Revenue Service requirements.

(B) The terminal operator is severally liable for the user fee imposed by this chapter and measured in accordance with Section 12-28-520(B) which is not allocable to a licensed supplier and shall remit the user fee due with the annual report required under Section 12-28-1330(E). No user fee is due if the terminal operator can establish by substantial evidence that the gallons lost were diesel fuel dyed before receipt by that terminal operator. No collection allowance or deductions are allowed with respect to payment of this user fee. If the gallons lost or unaccounted for exceed five percent of the gallons removed from that terminal across the rack, a penalty of one hundred percent of the user fee otherwise due must be paid by the terminal operator with the user fee due.

SECTION 12-28-925. Collection of motor fuel user fees from purchaser; election to defer user fee payment.

Each supplier and bonded importer who sells motor fuel subject to the user fee shall collect from the purchaser the motor fuel user fee imposed under Section 12-28-310. At the election of an eligible purchaser evidenced by a written statement from the department as to the purchaser eligibility status as determined under Section 12-28-930, the seller may not require a payment of motor fuel user fees on transport truckloads from the purchaser sooner than one business day before the date on which the user fee is required to be remitted by the supplier or bonded importer under Section 12-28-915. This election is subject to a condition that the eligible purchaser's remittances of all amounts of user fees due the seller must be paid by electronic funds transfer. Failure of a supplier or bonded importer to comply with the requirements of this section may result in suspension or revocation of the license in accordance with Section 12-28-1180(B). The eligible purchaser's election under this subsection may be terminated by the seller if the eligible purchaser does not make timely payments to the seller as required by this section.

SECTION 12-28-930. Qualifications of purchasers for election under Section 12-28-930; bond.

Each purchaser who desires to make an election under Section 12-28-925 shall present evidence to the department that the applicant was a licensee in good standing under the predecessor motor fuel statute as to which he remitted user fees to the department, or the applicant meets the financial responsibility and bonding requirements imposed by this chapter which bond shall conform to the specific requirements of this section. The department may require a purchaser who pays the user fee to a supplier to file with the department a surety bond payable to the State, upon which the purchaser is the obligor or other financial security, in an amount satisfactory to the department. The department may require that the bond indemnify the department against uncollectible user fee credits claimed by the supplier under Section 12-28-940.

SECTION 12-28-935. Recision of purchaser's eligibility and election to defer payment of user fees.

The department may rescind a purchaser's eligibility and election to defer motor fuel user fee remittances after a hearing and upon a showing of good cause, including failure to make timely user fee deferred payment to a supplier of the user fee under Section 12-28-925 by sending written notice to all suppliers or publishing notice of the revocation pursuant to regulations. The department may require further assurance of the purchaser's financial responsibility, may increase the bond requirement for that purchaser, or may take other action to ensure remittance of the motor fuel user fee. The department shall follow the revocation procedures under Section 12-28-1180 in rescinding eligible purchaser status.

SECTION 12-28-940. Computing amount of motor fuel user fees due.

(A) In computing the amount of motor fuel user fees due, the supplier is entitled to a credit against the user fee payable in the amount of the user fee paid by the supplier that is uncollectible from an eligible purchaser.

(B) The supplier shall provide notice to the department of a failure to collect user fees within ten days following the earliest date on which the supplier was entitled to collect the user from the eligible purchaser under Section 12-28-925.

(C) The department may promulgate regulations establishing the evidence a supplier shall provide to receive the credit.

(D) The credit must be claimed on the first return following the date of the failure of the eligible purchaser if the payment remains unpaid as of the filing date of that return or the credit is disallowed.

(E) The claim for credit must identify the defaulting eligible purchaser and any user fee liability that remains unpaid.

(F) If an eligible purchaser fails to make a timely payment of the amount of user fees due, the supplier's credit is limited to the amount due from the purchaser, plus any user fee that accrues from that purchaser for a period ending upon the date the supplier receives notice from the department of revocation of eligible purchaser status.

(G) No additional credit is allowed to a supplier under this section until the department authorizes the purchaser to make a new election under Section 12-28-925.

SECTION 12-28-945. Licensed tank wagon operator-importer; payment of user fees.

Each licensed tank wagon operator-importer who is liable for the user fee imposed by this chapter on nonexempt motor fuel imported by a tank wagon as to which the user fee previously has not been paid to a supplier, shall remit the motor fuel user fee for the preceding month's import activities with his monthly report of activities. A licensed tank wagon importer is allowed to retain the tare allowance provided for in Section 12-28-960(A).

SECTION 12-28-950. Payment of user fees by electronic fund transfer.

All suppliers and bonded importers required to remit the motor fuel user fee shall remit the motor fuel user fees due by electronic fund transfer acceptable to the department, if required by regulation. The transfer or payment must be made on or before the date the user fee is due.

SECTION 12-28-955. Supplier may retain one-tenth percent of user fee to cover cost of administration.

Every supplier and permissive supplier who properly remits user fees under this chapter is allowed to retain one-tenth percent of the user fee imposed by this chapter and collected and remitted by that supplier in accordance with this chapter to cover the cost of administration including reporting, audit compliance, dye injection, and shipping paper preparation.

SECTION 12-28-960. Tare allowance allowed to eligible purchaser, licensee importer, and supplier.

(A) A tare allowance is allowed to each eligible purchaser, licensee importer, and supplier who lawfully is engaged in the distribution of user fee-paid motor fuel within this State to offset thermal shrinkage and measurement differences occurring after removal of the motor fuel subject to the user fee from the terminal. The amount of the tare allowance is equal to two and sixty-five one-hundredths percent not to exceed two thousand dollars a month of the amount of the user fee imposed by this chapter and paid by the person, directly or indirectly, subject to the requirements and limitations set out in subsections (B) and (C). However, the tare allowance is not applicable more than once to any motor fuel subject to the user fee.

(B) Every eligible purchaser who acquires motor fuel subject to the user fee from a supplier or licensed importer for distribution and use in this State, which motor fuel was previously subject to the user fee imposed by this chapter, is entitled to the tare allowance provided by subsection (A) by way of quarterly refund application to the department under regulations promulgated by and on forms prescribed by the department. The total amount of tare allowance claimed by the person may not exceed two thousand dollars for any month.

(C) Every licensed importer and supplier making sales of user fee-paid motor fuel to persons other than eligible purchasers is entitled to the tare allowance provided by subsection (A) by way of a credit against user fee remittances due to the State payable by the person. The total amount of tare allowance claimed by the person may not exceed two thousand dollars for any month.

SECTION 12-28-965. User fees collected on motor fuel belongs to State and is held in trust by collector; personal liability for user fee, penalty and interest.

The user fee that a supplier, importer, or fuel vendor collects on the sale of motor fuel subject to the user fee belongs to the State. These persons shall hold the money in trust for the State and for payment to the department as provided in this chapter. For a corporation or partnership, each officer, employee, or member of the employer who is in that capacity is under a duty to collect the user fee and is personally liable for the user fee, penalty, and interest.

SECTION 12-28-970. Backup user fee equal to the user fee imposed.

(A) A backup user fee equal to the user fee imposed by Section 12-28-310 is imposed and must be administered in accordance with procedures established by the department on the use on the highways of motor fuel subject to the user fee by an end user, including operators of state and local government vehicles, American Red Cross vehicles, and buses, and other persons exempted from the full federal highway tax, unless the person is exempted otherwise under Section 12-28-710(A)(12), upon the delivery in this State into the fuel supply tank of a highway vehicle of:

(1) diesel fuel that contains a dye;

(2) motor fuel subject to the user fee on which a claim for refund has been made;

(3) alternative fuels; or

(4) substitute fuel on which a user fee previously has not been imposed by this chapter.

(B) The ultimate vendor of motor fuel subject to the user fee is jointly and severally liable for the user fee imposed by subsection (A) if the ultimate vendor knows or has reason to know that the motor fuel, as to which the user fee imposed by this chapter has not been paid, is or will be consumed in a nonexempt use.

(C)(1) A back-up user fee equal to the user fee imposed by Section 12-28-310 is imposed on a liquid or gas that is not otherwise taxed pursuant to this chapter and that is commonly or commercially known or sold as a fuel suitable for use in a highway vehicle. The user fee is due upon the first receipt of the product when received from a source outside of South Carolina by any wholesaler, retailer, or end-user and the user fee is imposed upon, and is the liability of, the wholesaler, retailer, or end-user who first received the product into the State.

(2) A back-up user fee equal to the user fee imposed by Section 12-28-310 is imposed on any liquid or gas that is not otherwise taxed pursuant to this chapter and that is commonly or commercially known or sold as a fuel suitable for use in a highway vehicle. The user fee is due upon the first sale or use of the product when produced in this State by a person and the user fee is imposed upon the first in-state sale or use by that person. The user fee is imposed upon, and is the liability of, the producer of the product.

SECTION 12-28-975. Diversion of motor fuel subject to the user fee.

(A) If an exporter diverts motor fuel subject to the user fee removed from a terminal in this State from an intended destination outside South Carolina as shown on the terminal-issued shipping papers to a destination within this State, the exporter, in addition to compliance with the notification provided for by Section 12-28-780, shall notify and pay the user fee imposed by Section 12-28-310 to the State upon the same terms and conditions as if the exporter were an occasional importer licensed under Section 12-28-905(A) without deduction for the allowances provided by Section 12-28-960.

(B) If an exporter removes from a bulk plant in this State motor fuel subject to the user fee as to which the user fee imposed by this chapter previously has been paid or accrued, the exporter may apply for and the State shall issue a refund of the user fee upon a showing of proof of export satisfactory to the department in conformity with Section 12-28-720, net of the allowances provided by Section 12-28-960.

(C) If an unlicensed importer diverts motor fuel subject to the user fee from a destination outside this State to a destination inside this State after having removed the product from a terminal outside South Carolina, the importer, in addition to compliance with the notification provided for by Section 12-28-1525, shall notify the State and shall pay the user fee imposed by this chapter to South Carolina upon the same terms and conditions as if the unlicensed importer were a licensed occasional importer subject to Section 12-28-905(A) without deduction for the allowances provided by Section 12-28-960.

(D) All licensed importers otherwise shall report and pay user fees on diversions into this State of imported motor fuel subject to the user fee under Section 12-28-905(A) or (B) in accordance with the regulations applicable to that license class. No Section 12-28-960 allowances may be deducted with respect to diverted shipments. An importer who has purchased the product from a licensed supplier, by mutual agreement with the supplier, may permit the supplier to assume the importer's liability and adjust the importer's user fees payable to the supplier.

(E) If a monthly report is filed or the amount due is remitted later than the time required by this chapter, the user fee remitter shall pay to the department all of the motor fuel user fee the remitter collected from the sale of motor fuel subject to the user fee during the user fee period in addition to penalties and interest.

(F) If there is a legal diversion from a destination in this State to another state, Section 12-28-1525 applies, and an unlicensed exporter diverting the product shall apply for a refund from this State in conformity with Sections 12-28-710(A)(3) and 12-28-720 less the Section 12-28-960 allowance, except that a supplier may take a credit for diversions directed by that supplier for his own account, and the exporter, by mutual agreement with his supplier, may assign his claim to the supplier for which the supplier may take a credit.

SECTION 12-28-980. Final reports accompanied by payment; election to pay in installments.

(A) The final report required by Section 12-28-1350 must be accompanied by payment of the final month's liability except as otherwise provided in this section.

(B) A motor fuel vendor who possessed a license to sell motor fuel subject to the user fee at wholesale or at retail before the effective

State Codes and Statutes

Statutes > South-carolina > Title-12 > Chapter-28

Title 12 - Taxation

CHAPTER 28.

MOTOR FUELS SUBJECT TO USER FEES

ARTICLE 1.

DEFINITIONS

SECTION 12-28-110. Definitions.

As used in this chapter:

(1) "Alternative fuel" means a liquefied petroleum gas, compressed natural gas product, or a combination of liquefied petroleum gas and a compressed natural gas product used in an internal combustion engine or motor to propel any form of vehicle, machine, or mechanical contrivance. It includes all forms of fuel commonly or commercially known or sold as butane, propane, or compressed natural gas.

(2) "Blend stock" includes any petroleum product component of gasoline, such as naphtha, reformate, or toluene, that can be blended for use in a motor fuel. However, it does not include any substance that ultimately is used for consumer nonmotor fuel use and is sold or removed in drum quantities 55 gallons or less at the time of the removal or sale.

(3) "Blended fuel" means a mixture composed of gasoline or diesel fuel and another liquid, other than a de minimis amount of a product such as carburetor detergent or oxidation inhibitor, that can be used as a fuel in a highway vehicle.

(4) "Blender" includes a person who produces blended motor fuel outside the bulk transfer/terminal system.

(5) "Blending" means the mixing of one or more petroleum products, with or without another product, regardless of the original character of the product blended, if the product obtained by the blending is capable of use or otherwise sold for use in the generation of power for the propulsion of a motor vehicle, an airplane, or a motorboat. It does not include blending that occurs in the process of refining by the original refiner of crude petroleum or the blending or products known as lubricating oil and greases.

(6) "Bulk end user" means a person who receives into the person's own storage facilities in transport truck lots of motor fuel subject to the user fee for the person's consumption.

(7) "Bulk plant" means a motor fuel storage and distribution facility that is not a terminal and from which motor fuel may be removed at a rack.

(8) "Bulk transfer" means a transfer of motor fuel from one location to another by pipeline tender or marine delivery within bulk transfer/terminal system.

(9) "Bulk transfer/terminal system" means the motor fuel distribution system consisting of refineries, pipelines, vessels, and terminals. Gasoline in a refinery, pipeline, vessel, or terminal is in the bulk transfer/terminal system. Motor fuel subject to the user fee in the fuel supply tank of an engine, or in a tank car, rail car, trailer, truck, or other equipment suitable for ground transportation is not in the bulk transfer/terminal system.

(10) "Director" mean the administrative head of the Department of Revenue or his designee.

(11) "Dead storage" is the amount of motor fuel subject to the user fee that will not be pumped out of a storage tank because the motor fuel is below the mouth of the draw pipe. For this purpose, a dealer may assume that the amount of motor fuel in dead storage is two hundred gallons for a tank with a capacity of ten thousand gallons or less and four hundred gallons for a tank with a capacity of more than ten thousand gallons.

(12) "Delivery" means the placing of motor fuel subject to the user fee or any liquid into the fuel tank of a motor vehicle.

(13) "Department" means the South Carolina Department of Revenue.

(14) "Destination state" means the state, territory, or foreign country to which motor fuel is directed for delivery into a storage facility, a receptacle, a container, or a type of transportation equipment for the purpose of resale or use.

(15) "Diesel fuel" means a liquid, including biodiesel and a biodiesel blend that is commonly or commercially known or sold as a fuel that is suitable for use in a diesel-powered highway vehicle. A liquid meets this requirement if, without further processing or blending, the liquid has practical and commercial fitness for use in the propulsion engine of a diesel-powered highway vehicle. However, a liquid does not possess this practical and commercial fitness solely by reason of its possible or rare use as a fuel in the propulsion engine of a diesel-powered highway vehicle. "Diesel fuel" does not include jet fuel if the buyer is registered to purchase jet fuel subject to federal taxes applicable to jet fuel and the seller obtains certification of that fact satisfactory to the Internal Revenue Service before making the sale.

(16) "Diesel-powered highway vehicle" means a motor vehicle operated on a highway that is propelled by a diesel-powered engine.

(17) "Distributor" means a person who acquires motor fuel from a supplier or from another distributor for subsequent sale or use.

(18) "Dyed diesel fuel" means diesel fuel that is required to be dyed under United States Environmental Protection Agency and Internal Revenue Service rules or pursuant to other requirements subsequently set by the agency or service including any invisible marker requirements.

(19) "Eligible purchaser" means a person who has been authorized by the department pursuant to Section 12-28-930 to make the election under Section 12-28-925.

(20) "Enterer" includes a person who is the importer of record under federal customs law with respect to motor fuel subject to the user fee. If the importer of record is acting as an agent, the person for whom the agent is acting is the enterer. If there is no importer of record of motor fuel subject to the user fee entered into this State, the owner of the diesel fuel at the time it is brought into South Carolina is the enterer.

(21) "Entry" means the importing of motor fuel subject to the user fee into this State. However, if motor fuel subject to the user fee is brought into this State in the fuel tank of a motor vehicle, it is not deemed to be an "entry" if it is not removed from the fuel tank except as used for the propulsion of that motor vehicle, except to the extent that motor fuel subject to the user fee was acquired user fee-free for export or a refund of the user fee was claimed as a result of exportation from the state from which that motor fuel subject to the user fee was transported into South Carolina.

(22) "Ethanol" means "fuel grade ethanol".

(23) "Export" means to obtain motor fuel in this State for sale or other distribution in another state. In applying this definition, motor fuel delivered out-of-state by or for the seller constitutes an export by the seller and motor fuel delivered out-of-state by or for the purchaser constitutes an export by the purchaser.

(24) "Exporter" means a person, other than a supplier, who purchases motor fuel subject to the user fee in this State for the purpose of transporting or delivering the fuel to another state or country.

(25) "Fuel grade ethanol" means American Society for Testing and Materials standard in effect January 1, 1995, and successor rules, as the D-4806 specification for denatured fuel grade ethanol for blending with gasoline for use as automatic spark-ignition engine fuels.

(26) "Fuel transportation vehicle" means a vehicle designed for highway use which also is designed or used to transport motor fuels subject to the user fee and includes transport trucks and tank wagons.

(27) "Gasohol" means blended fuel composed of gasoline and fuel alcohol.

(28) "Gasoline" means all products commonly or commercially known or sold as gasoline that are suitable for use as a motor fuel. It does not include a product sold as a product other than gasoline and has an American Society for Testing Materials octane number of less than seventy-five as determined by the "motor method" and does not include aviation gasoline if the buyer is registered to purchase aviation gasoline free of user fees and the seller obtains certification of that fact satisfactory to the Department before making the sale.

(29) "Gasoline blend stocks" includes any petroleum product component of gasoline, such as naphtha, reformate, or toluene, that can be blended for use in a motor fuel. However, it does not include any substance that ultimately is used for consumer nonmotor fuel use and is sold or removed in drum quantities fifty-five gallons or less at the time of the removal or sale.

(30) "Gross gallons" means the total, measured product, exclusive of temperature or pressure adjustments, considerations or deductions, in United States gallons.

(31) "Heating oil" means a motor fuel subject to the user fee that is burned in a boiler, furnace, or stove for heating or industrial processing purposes.

(32) "Highway vehicle" means a self-propelled vehicle that is designed for use on a highway.

(33) "Import" means to bring motor fuel into this State for sale, use, or storage by any means of conveyance other than in the fuel supply tank of a motor vehicle. In applying this definition, motor fuel delivered into this State from out-of-state by or for the seller constitutes an import by the seller, and motor fuel delivered into this State from out-of-state by or for the purchaser constitutes an import by the purchaser.

(34) "Import verification number" means the number assigned by the department or its delegate or appointee with respect to a single transport truck delivery into this State from another state upon request for an assigned number by an importer or the transporter carrying motor fuel subject to the user fee into this State for the account of an importer.

(35) "In this State" means the area within the borders of South Carolina including all territories within the borders owned by or added to the United States of America.

(36) "Invoiced gallons" means the gallons actually billed on an invoice in payment to a supplier.

(37) "K-1 kerosene" means burner fuel designed for unvented space heaters which meets American Society for Testing Materials standard D-3699, in effect January 1, 1995, and successor rules, as the specification for #1-K kerosene.

(38) "Liquid" means a substance that is liquid in excess of sixty degrees Fahrenheit and a pressure of fourteen and seven-tenths pounds a square inch absolute.

(39) "Motor fuel" means gasoline, diesel fuel, substitute fuel, renewable fuel, and blended fuel.

(40) "Motor fuel transporter" means a person who transports motor fuel by transport truck or railroad tank car.

(41) "Motor vehicle" means a vehicle that is propelled by an internal combustion engine or motor and is designed to permit the vehicle's mobile use on highways. It does not include:

(a) farm machinery including machinery designed for off-road use but capable of movement on roads at low speeds;

(b) a vehicle operated on rails; or

(c) machinery designed principally for off-road use.

(42) "Net gallons" means the remaining product, after all considerations and deductions have been made, measured in United States gallons, corrected to a temperature of sixty degrees Fahrenheit, thirteen degrees Celsius, and a pressure of fourteen and seven-tenths pounds a square inch, the ultimate end amount.

(43) "Permissive supplier" means a person who does not meet the geographic jurisdictional connections to this State required of a supplier as defined in Section 12-28-920(A), but who:

(a) is a position holder in a federally qualified terminal located outside this State; or

(b) acquires a product in out-of-state terminals from a position holder in a transaction that otherwise qualifies as a two-party exchange under Section 12-28-110(63); and under this subitem and subitem (a);

(c) is registered under Section 4101 of the Internal Revenue Code for transactions in taxable motor fuels in the bulk transfer/terminal distribution system.

(44) "Person" means a natural person, a partnership, a firm, an association, a corporation, a representative appointed by a court, the State, a political subdivision or any other entity, group, or syndicate.

(45) "Position holder" means the person who holds the inventory position in motor fuel in a terminal, as reflected on the records of the terminal operator. A person holds the inventory position in motor fuel when that person has a contract with the terminal operator for the use of storage facilities and terminaling services for fuel at the terminal. The term includes a terminal operator who owns fuel in the terminal.

(46) "Public highway" means the entire width between boundary lines of each publicly maintained way in this State, including streets and alleys in municipalities, when any part of the way is open to the public use for vehicle travel.

(47) "Qualified terminal" means a qualified terminal as defined under Internal Revenue Code, regulation, and practices and which has been assigned a terminal control number by the Internal Revenue Service.

(48) "Rack" means a mechanism for delivering motor fuel from a refinery, a terminal, or a bulk plant into a railroad tank car, a transport truck, or another means of bulk transfer outside of the bulk transfer/terminal system.

(49) "Refiner" means a person who owns, operates, or otherwise controls a refinery within the United States.

(50) "Refinery" means a facility used to produce motor fuel subject to the user fee from crude oil, unfinished oils, natural gas liquids, or other hydrocarbons and from which motor fuel subject to the user fee may be removed by pipeline, by vessel, or at a rack.

(51) "Removal" means a physical transfer other than by evaporation, loss, or destruction of motor fuel subject to the user fee from a terminal, manufacturing plant, customs custody, pipeline, marine vessel including barges and tankers, refinery, or any receptacle that stores motor fuel subject to the user fee.

(52) "Retailer" means a person who engages in the business of selling or distributing to the end user within this State.

(53)(a) "Supplier" means a person who meets all the following conditions:

(i) is subject to the general taxing jurisdiction of this State;

(ii) is registered under Section 4101 of the Internal Revenue Code for transactions in taxable motor fuels in the bulk transfer/terminal distribution system; and

(iii) is one of the following:

1. is the "position holder" in a terminal or refinery in this State;

2. imports motor fuel subject to the user fee into this State from a foreign country;

3. acquires motor fuel subject to the user fee from a terminal or refinery in this State from a position holder pursuant to a "two-party exchange";

4. is the position holder in a terminal or refinery outside this State with respect to motor fuel subject to the user fee which that person imports into this State on his account.

(b) A terminal operator is not considered a supplier merely because the terminal operator handles motor fuel subject to the user fee consigned to it within a terminal. When the term "supplier" is used in this chapter other than in this section, it is deemed to also refer the term "permissive supplier" unless provided otherwise.

(54) "Tank wagon" means a straight truck having multiple compartments designed or used to carry liquid motor fuel.

(55) "Motor fuel subject to the user fee" means gasoline, diesel fuel, kerosene, blended fuel, substitute fuel, and blends of them and any other substance blended with them.

(56) "Terminal" is a storage and distribution facility for motor fuel subject to the user fee, supplied by pipeline or marine vessel, which has been registered as a qualified terminal by the Internal Revenue Service.

(57)(a) "Terminal bulk transfers" include, but are not limited to: a marine barge movement of fuel from a refinery or terminal to a terminal;

(b) pipeline movements of fuel from a refinery or terminal to a terminal.

(c) book transfers of products within a terminal between suppliers before completion of removal across the rack;

(d) two-party exchanges between licensed suppliers.

(58) "Terminal operator" is a person who owns, operates, or otherwise controls a terminal and does not use a substantial portion of the motor fuel subject to the user fee that is transferred through or stored in the terminal for its own use. "For its own use" means for its own consumption or in the manufacture of products other than motor fuel. A terminal operator may own the motor fuel subject to the user fee that is transferred through or stored in the terminal.

(59) "Throughputter" means a person who does all of the following:

(a) receives transfer of motor fuel subject to the user fee from refiners, importers, terminal operators, or other throughputters;

(b) stores the motor fuel subject to the user fee in a terminal;

(c) owns the motor fuel subject to the user fee or holds the inventory position to the motor fuel subject to the user fee, as reflected on the records of the terminal operator, at the time of removal or sale from a terminal.

(60) "Transmix" means the buffer or interface between two different products in a pipeline shipment or a mix of two different products within a refinery or terminal that results in an off-grade mixture.

(61) "Transport truck" means a semitrailer or trailer combination rig designed or used to transport liquid motor fuel over the highways.

(62) "Transporter" means a person engaged in the business of transporting motor fuels subject to the user fee.

(63) "Two-party exchange" means a transaction in which a product is transferred from one licensed supplier or licensed permissive supplier to another pursuant to an exchange agreement. An exchange agreement means an agreement between a licensed supplier or licensed permissive supplier and another licensed supplier or permissive supplier where one is a position holder in a terminal who agrees to deliver motor fuel subject to the user fee to the other party or the other party's customer at the loading rack of the terminal where the delivering party holds an inventory position.

(64) "Ultimate purchaser" means a person who uses motor fuel subject to the user fee.

(65) "Ultimate vendor" means a person who sells motor fuel subject to the user fee to the user of the fuel, the ultimate purchaser.

(66) "Undyed diesel fuel" means diesel fuel that is not subject to the United States Environmental Protection Agency requirements, or has not been dyed in accordance with Internal Revenue Service Fuel dyeing provisions.

(67) "Vehicle fuel tank" means any receptacle on a motor vehicle from which fuel is supplied for the propulsion of the motor vehicle.

(68) "Wholesaler" means a person who acquires motor fuel subject to the user fee from a supplier or from another wholesaler for subsequent sale and distribution at wholesale by tank cars, motor vehicles, or both.

(69) "Substitute fuel" means a liquid that is commonly and commercially known or sold as a fuel that is suitable for use in a highway vehicle. The fuel meets this requirement if, without further processing or blending, the fuel is a fluid and has practical and commercial fitness for use in the propulsion of a highway vehicle. This includes all liquids regardless of temperature or pressure.

(70) "Biodiesel" means a fuel composed of mono-alkyl esters of long chain fatty acids generally derived from vegetable oils or animal fats, commonly known as B100, that is commonly and commercially known or sold as a fuel that is suitable for use in a highway vehicle. The fuel meets this requirement if, without further processing or blending, the fuel is a fluid and has practical and commercial fitness for use in the propulsion of a highway vehicle. "Biodiesel" means a diesel fuel substitute produced from nonpetroleum renewable resources that meets the registration requirements for fuels and fuel additives established by the United States Environmental Protection Agency pursuant to Section 211 of the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7545) and that meets the American Society for Testing and Materials D6751-02a Standard Specification for Biodiesel Fuel (B100) Blend Stock for Distillate Fuels.

(71) "Biodiesel blend" means a blend of biodiesel fuel with petroleum based diesel fuel, commonly designated Bxx where xx represents the volume percentage of biodiesel fuel in the blend (for example B20 is 20 percent biodiesel, 80 percent petro diesel), and that is commonly and commercially known or sold as a fuel that is suitable for use in a highway vehicle. The fuel meets this requirement if, without further processing or blending, the fuel is a fluid and has practical and commercial fitness for use in the propulsion of a highway vehicle.

(72) "Renewable fuel" means liquid nonpetroleum based fuels that can be placed in vehicle fuel tanks and used as a fuel in a highway vehicle. It includes all forms of fuel commonly or commercially known or sold as biodiesel and ethanol.

ARTICLE 3.

IMPOSITION OF USER FEES

SECTION 12-28-310. User fees on gasoline and diesel fuel.

(A) Subject to the exemptions provided in this chapter, a user fee of sixteen cents a gallon is imposed on:

(1) all gasoline, gasohol, or blended fuels containing gasoline that are used or consumed for any purpose in this State; and

(2) all diesel fuel, substitute fuels, or alternative fuels, or blended fuels containing diesel fuel that are used or consumed in this State in producing or generating power for propelling motor vehicles.

(B) The user fee levied on motor fuel subject to the user fee pursuant to this chapter is a levy and assessment on the consumer, and the levy and assessment on other persons as specified in this chapter are as agents of the State for the collection of the user fee. This section does not affect the method of collecting the user fee as provided in this chapter. The user fee imposed by this section must be collected and paid at those times, in the manner, and by the persons specified in this chapter.

(C) The license user fee imposed by this section is instead of all sales, use, or other excise tax that may be imposed otherwise by any municipality, county, or other local political subdivision of the State.

SECTION 12-28-320. Presumption that fuel delivered to motor vehicle fuel supply tank is used in this State.

Except as otherwise provided under Article 7 of this chapter, the department shall consider it a presumption that all motor fuel subject to the user fee delivered in this State into a motor vehicle fuel supply tank is to be used or consumed on the highways in this State producing or generating power for propelling motor vehicles.

SECTION 12-28-330. Presumption that fuel from terminal in State, imported, or delivered into end user's storage tank is used in State.

The department considers it a rebuttable presumption, subject to proof of exemption pursuant to Article 7 of this chapter, that all motor fuel subject to the user fee removed from a terminal in this State, or imported into this State other than by a bulk transfer within the bulk transfer terminal system or delivered into an end user's storage tank, is to be used or consumed in this State, in the case of gasoline, gasohol, or blended fuels containing gasoline and is to be used or consumed on the highways in this State in producing or generating power for propelling motor vehicles in the case of all other motor fuel.

SECTION 12-28-340. Petroleum product and ethanol blenders requirements imposed on terminal; blender of record; Renewable Identification Number trading system.

(A) Regardless of other products offered, a terminal, as defined in Section 12-28-110(56), located within the State must offer a petroleum product that has not been blended with ethanol and that is suitable for subsequent blending with ethanol.

(B) A person or entity must not take any action to deny a distributor, as defined in Section 12-28-110(17), or retailer, as defined in Section 12-28-110(52), who is doing business in this State and who has registered with the Internal Revenue Service on Form 637(M) from being the blender of record afforded them by the acceptance by the Internal Revenue Service of Form 637(M).

(C) A distributor or retailer and a refiner must utilize the Renewable Identification Number (RIN) trading system. Nothing in this section should be construed to imply a market value for RINs.

ARTICLE 5.

MEASUREMENT OF USER FEES

SECTION 12-28-510. User fee on motor fuel measured by invoiced gallons.

The user fee imposed by this chapter on use of motor fuel subject to the user fee which was imported into this State by a licensed importer, other than by a bulk transfer, shall arise at the time the product is entered into the State and shall be measured by invoiced gallons received outside this State at a refinery, terminal, or at a bulk plant for delivery to a destination in this State.

SECTION 12-28-520. Measurement of user fees on motor fuel; user fee complemented by user fees measured annually at each terminal.

(A) Except as provided in Section 12-28-510, the user fee imposed by this chapter on the use of motor fuel subject to the user fee must be measured by invoiced gallons of motor fuel subject to the user fee removed, other than by a bulk transfer, by a licensed supplier from a qualified terminal or refinery within this State, and from a qualified terminal or refinery outside this State for delivery to a location in South Carolina as represented on the shipping papers if the supplier imports the motor fuel subject to the user fee for his own account or the supplier has made a user fee pre-collection election under Section 12-28-910. This user fee otherwise generally must be determined in the same manner as the tax imposed by Section 4081 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or the Code of Federal Regulations as it exists as of January 1, 1995, or as subsequently modified.

(B) The user fee imposed by this chapter on use of motor fuel subject to the user fee in this State as measured by gallons removed by a supplier, or terminal operator, from terminals in this State must be complemented by a user fee measured annually at each terminal in this State by the amount by which net gallons lost or unaccounted for, including transmix, within each terminal exceed the sum of net gallon gains plus one-half of one percent times the number of all net gallons removed from the terminal across the rack or in bulk.

SECTION 12-28-530. Increase in user fee rate.

(A) The user fee imposed by Section 12-28-310 on the date of an increase in the user fee rate set out in that section is applicable to motor fuel previously subject to the user fee:

(1) in excess of one thousand gallons held in storage by an end user;

(2) inventory held for sale by a fuel vendor.

(B) The user fee imposed by Section 12-28-310 is applicable to nonexempt inventory held by a person outside of the bulk transfer system in this State in quantities which, in the aggregate with respect to the person, exceed one thousand gallons, to the extent the inventory previously has not been subject to the user fee imposed by this State under the predecessor motor fuel tax statute. However, no user fee is payable with respect to motor fuel subject to the user fee which is dyed diesel fuel or held by an exempt user including government entities described under Sections 12-28-710(A)(6) and 12-28-710(A)(12).

(C) Persons in possession of taxable motor fuel subject to this section shall perform the following:

(1) take an inventory to determine the gallons in storage for purposes of determining the user fee on inventory;

(2) deduct the amount of motor fuel subject to the user fee in dead storage;

(3) deduct these gallons in which the user fee at the full rate previously has been paid;

(4) take a deduction for gallons of dyed diesel fuel included in item (1) above, if appropriate;

(5) report the gallons listed in item (1) on forms provided by the department.

(D) The amount of the inventory user fee is equal to the inventory user fee rate times the gallons in storage as determined under subsection (B). The inventory user fee rate is equal to the difference between the increased user fee rate minus the previous user fee rate to which those gallons were previously subjected to the user fee.

(E) Payment of this floorstock user fee must be made in conformity with Section 12-28-985.

ARTICLE 7.

EXEMPTIONS AND REFUNDS

SECTION 12-28-710. Exemption from the user fee on motor fuel.

(A) Subject to the procedural requirements and conditions set out in this article, the following are exempt from the user fee imposed by Section 12-28-310 on motor fuel subject to the user fee:

(1) motor fuel subject to the user fee for which proof of export is available in the form of a terminal issued destination state shipping paper;

(a) exported by a supplier who is licensed in the destination state;

(b) sold by a supplier to another person for immediate export to a state for which the destination state's motor fuel user fee has been paid to the supplier who is licensed to remit user fees to the destination state;

(c) which is destined for use other than for resale within the destination state for which an exemption has been made available by the destination state subject to procedural regulations promulgated by the department;

(2) motor fuel subject to the user fee which was acquired by a licensed exporter and as to which the user fee imposed by this chapter previously has been paid or accrued, which motor fuel was placed into storage in this State and subsequently was exported by transport truck by or on behalf of the licensed exporter;

(3) motor fuel subject to the user fee which was acquired by an unlicensed exporter and as to which the user fee imposed by this chapter previously has been paid or accrued and subsequently was exported by transport truck by or on behalf of the licensed exporter in a diversion across state boundaries properly reported in conformity with Section 12-28-1525;

(4) motor fuel subject to the user fee exported out of a bulk plant in this State in a tank wagon if the destination of that vehicle does not exceed twenty-five miles from the borders of this State and as to which the user fee imposed by this chapter previously has been paid or accrued, subject to gallonage limits and other conditions established by the department;

(5) K-1 kerosene sold at retail through dispensers which have been designed and constructed to prevent delivery directly from the dispenser into a vehicle fuel supply tank and K-1 kerosene sold at retail through nonbarricaded dispensers in quantities of not more than twenty-one gallons for use other than for highway purposes, under regulations as the department reasonably requires;

(6) motor fuel subject to the user fee sold to the United States or its agencies or instrumentalities;

(7) subject to determination by the department, that portion of motor fuel subject to the user fee used to operate equipment attached to a motor vehicle, if the motor fuel subject to the user fee was placed into the fuel supply tank of a motor vehicle that has a common fuel reservoir for travel on a highway and for the operation of equipment;

(8) motor fuel subject to the user fee acquired by an end user out-of-state and carried into this State, retained within and consumed from the same vehicle fuel supply tank within which it was imported;

(9) kerosene and diesel fuel used as heating oil or in trains or used in equipment not licensed as a motor vehicle other than as expressly exempted under another provision;

(10) motor fuel subject to the user fee which was lost or destroyed as a direct result of a sudden and unexpected casualty;

(11) diesel fuel subject to the user fee which has been contaminated by dye so as to be unsalable or unusable as highway fuel;

(12) motor fuel subject to the user fee used in state-owned school buses and in state-owned administration and service vehicles used in the pupil transportation program and transportation of students by state-funded institutions of higher learning;

(13) motor fuel subject to the user fee used in manufacture of fuel oil;

(14) motor fuel subject to the user fee sold for use in commercial shrimp boats;

(15) gasoline subject to the user fee used in operating tractors or other farm equipment used exclusively in farm operations, no part of which is used in any vehicle or equipment driven upon the public roads, streets, or highways of this State. A claim for refund must be made under Section 12-28-790;

(16) gasoline used in aircraft.

SECTION 12-28-720. Perfection of exemption for imports.

The exemption for exports:

(1) under Section 12-28-710(A)(1) must be perfected by a deduction on the report of the supplier which is otherwise responsible for user fees on removal of the product from a terminal or refinery in this State;

(2) under Section 12-28-710(A)(2) and 12-28-710(A)(4) may be perfected at the option of the exporter by a refund claim if the claim in the aggregate month to date exceeds one thousand dollars, by a refund claimed on the licensed exporter report for that month's activity, or under Section 12-28-710(A)(3) if a diversion by an unlicensed exporter upon a refund application is made to the department within three years.

SECTION 12-28-730. Exempt use of K-1 kerosene.

Exempt use of K-1 kerosene is governed by regulations promulgated by the department which must follow regulations governing the exemption promulgated by the federal government to the extent that impositions of conforming regulations is practical and does not work a hardship on sellers and end users in this State.

SECTION 12-28-740. Perfection of exemption for federal government, agencies, instrumentalities, and reservations, and state-owned buses and vehicles used in an educational program.

The exemption for sales of motor fuel subject to the user fee for use by the federal government, federal agencies, instrumentalities, and federal reservations, and state-owned buses and vehicles used in an educational program provided under Section 12-28-710(A)(6) and (12) must be perfected as follows:

(1) by refund claim by a licensed fuel vendor which made a sale of user fee-paid motor fuel as ultimate vendor to an exempt government user listed above on behalf of the exempt user. The claim must be made directly to the department under regulations and procedures and on forms provided by the department. The department shall issue a refund within thirty days of receipt of the claim for refund from the licensed fuel vendor;

(2) if the department makes a finding that its collections would not be jeopardized by application by an ultimate vendor for a Government Exempt Bulk Sales Permit which entitles that person to make purchases of fuel user fee-free for resale for exempt government use under the following conditions:

(a) The vendor shall make application with the department for the permit on a form acceptable to the department. The application must include:

(i) proof of financial responsibility or bond in an amount not to exceed the user fee on the total gallons to be purchased user fee-exempt in any year;

(ii) an estimate of total user fee-exempt gallons to be sold under the permit on an annual basis, which amount constitutes the limit of user fee-exempt purchases which the applicant is authorized to make, absent re-application pursuant to subitem (f) of this item;

(iii) the name of the suppliers from which the applicant shall make the user fee-exempt purchases under this permit for the term covered by the permit. This subitem does not mandate sales by a supplier to another person;

(iv) a list of government user fee-exempt purchasers qualifying under subsubitem (c) of this subitem and estimated volumes for them;

(v) other information the department reasonably requires.

(b) Upon evaluation of the data provided by applicant and independent investigation of that information the department in its discretion makes, the department shall issue the permit provided under this section to the applicant with a copy to each supplier named by the applicant pursuant to subitem (a) of this item.

(c) In order for a government entity to qualify as a government user fee-exempt purchaser eligible for user fee-exempt sales under this section, the ultimate vendor shall obtain a properly completed Federal Form 1094, its state equivalent, or successor form from the government entity and shall send to the department a copy of this form with an estimate of the annual quantity of motor fuel subject to the user fee to be supplied to that government entity purchaser. The department shall assign an approval number for that government entity and location and shall issue a permit to the ultimate vendor authorizing the ultimate vendor to make user fee-exempt sales of that estimated quantity of fuel to the agency.

(d) The department may not require that the identical gallons purchased by the ultimate vendor under the permit be delivered to the eligible government entity, only that the total gallons purchased under the permit user fee exempt equal the total gallons delivered to all eligible government entities.

(e) If the ultimate vendor fails to deliver any quantity of the user fee-exempt purchases to eligible government entities, the ultimate vendor is liable for the user fee on that quantity. If the excess of user fee-exempt gallons purchased exceeds gallons sold for user fee-exempt use by ten percent, the department in its discretion may levy a penalty equal to ten percent of the user fee due in addition to user fees due.

(f) If the ultimate vendor needs to purchase additional gallons above that estimated to fulfill his commitments, he shall notify the department. If the department is satisfied with the reports submitted accounting for the user fee-exempt fuel previously submitted, it shall increase the quantity authorized on the permit and so notify the supplier.

(3) If the sale to the eligible government entities of motor fuel subject to the user fee occur at a fixed retail pump available to the general public by:

(a) application by the ultimate vendor, having made the sale to the eligible government entity without the user fee, for a refund from the department by submitting the application and supporting documentation the department reasonably prescribes by regulation;

(b) by application for a refund, if the purchase is charged to a credit card issued to an eligible government entity, the issuer of the card elects to be the ultimate vendor, and the federal agency is billed without the user fee;

(c) if the sale to the government entity includes the user fee levied by this chapter, by application for a refund by the government entity from the department including submitting such supporting documentation the department reasonably prescribes by regulation.

SECTION 12-28-750. Perfection by refund claim filed by end user for fuel used to operate machinery.

The exemptions per use pursuant to Section 12-28-710(A)(7) must be perfected by refund claim filed by the end user who shall provide evidence of an allocation of use satisfactory to the department.

SECTION 12-28-760. No user fee on motor fuel carried into State, retained in vehicle and consumed by an end user.

No user fee imposed by this chapter may be paid by or levied upon motor fuel consumed by an end user who meets the requirement of Section 12-28-710(A)(8).

SECTION 12-28-770. Refund upon application after contamination or loss of motor fuel.

The exemption for motor fuel subject to the user fee pursuant to Section 12-28-710(A)(10) and (11) which was purchased user fee-paid for a user fee use and, after the purchase, was contaminated by the presence of a dye or marker or subject to a sudden and unexpected casualty loss, must be refunded to the person responsible for the contamination or loss event upon application and on proof shown acceptable to the department.

SECTION 12-28-780. Refund of motor fuel user fees erroneously paid.

The motor fuel user fee that has otherwise been erroneously paid by a person must be refunded by the department upon proof shown satisfactory to the department. The department's authority under this section must be construed broadly to prevent unjust and unintended payment of user fees on exempt uses or by exempt users.

SECTION 12-28-785. Perfection of exemptions not covered under Sections 12-28-720 through 12-28-780.

All exemptions under Section 12-28-710, not expressly covered under Sections 12-28-720 through 12-28-780, must be perfected as follows:

(1) A supplier or tank wagon importer shall take a deduction against motor fuel subject to the user fee shown on his monthly report for those gallons of diesel fuel removed from a terminal or refinery destined for delivery to a point in this State as shown on the shipping papers, as to which dye was added in a manner which conforms to federal requirements established by the Internal Revenue Code and regulations issued under it.

(2) The end user shall apply for refund with respect to motor fuel subject to the user fee purchased by the end user for consumption in an exempt use described under Section 12-28-710 as to which the user fee imposed by this chapter previously was paid and no refund previously issued.

(3) An importer shall take a deduction against the user fee owed under Section 12-28-905(A) or (B) or dyed diesel fuel if such diesel fuel would have met the requirements of item (1).

SECTION 12-28-790. Refunds claims.

(A) To claim a refund under Sections 12-28-720 through 12-28-780, a person shall present to the department a statement that contains a written verification that the claim is made under penalties of perjury and lists the total amount of motor fuel subject to the user fee purchased and used for exempt purposes. The claim must be filed not more than three years after the date the motor fuel subject to the user fee was purchased. The statement must show that payment for the purchase has been made and the amount of the user fee paid on the purchase has been remitted to the seller.

(B) The department may make investigations it considers necessary before refunding the motor fuel user fee to a person and may investigate a refund after the refund has been issued and within the time frame for making adjustments to the user fee under this chapter.

(C) To facilitate efficient administration and instead of the individual refund procedures, the department may provide by regulation an alternative election by the applicant for a refund by way of credit against state income tax liability.

SECTION 12-28-795. Interest on refund.

Interest on a claim for refund must be paid at the rate and in the manner provided for in Section 12-54-25.

ARTICLE 9.

PAYMENTS; LIABILITY; ELIGIBILITY; COLLECTIONS

SECTION 12-28-905. Time for payment of motor fuel user fees imported from another state.

(A) Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, the user fee imposed by Section 12-28-310 on motor fuel subject to the user fee measured by gallons imported from another state must be paid by the licensed occasional importer who has imported the nonexempt motor fuel subject to the user fee within three business days of the earlier of the time the nonexempt motor fuel subject to the user fee was entered into the State or the time a valid import verification number required by Section 12-28-1125 was assigned by the department under regulations the department promulgates. However, if the supplier has made a blanket election to pre-collect the user fee under Section 12-28-910(B), he is jointly liable with the importer for the user fee and shall remit the user fee to the department on behalf of the importer under the same terms as a supplier payment under Section 12-28-915, and no import verification number is required.

(B) Except as otherwise provided in this section, the user fee imposed by Section 12-28-310 on motor fuel subject to the user fee measured by gallons imported from another state must be paid by the licensed bonded importer who has imported the nonexempt motor fuel subject to the user fee during a month before the twenty-second day of the following month unless the day falls upon a weekend or state or banking holiday, in which case the liability is due the next succeeding business day, if before the time of import the importer obtains a valid import verification number required by Section 12-28-1125, assigned by the department under regulations promulgated by the department. However, if the supplier has made a blanket election to pre-collect the user fee under Section 12-28-910(B), he is jointly liable with the importer for the user fee and shall remit the user fee to the department on behalf of the importer under the same terms as a supplier payment under Section 12-28-915, and no import verification number is required.

SECTION 12-28-910. Blanket election to treat all removals from out-of-state terminals as if from in-state terminals; notice of election.

(A) Any licensed supplier or licensed permissive supplier may make a blanket election with the department to treat all removals from all of its out-of-state terminals with a destination in this State as shown on the terminal issued shipping paper as if the removals were removed across the rack by the supplier from a terminal in this State for all purposes.

(B) This election must be made by filing "notice of election" with the department as provided in this section.

(C) The department shall release a list of electing suppliers under subsection (B) upon request by any person.

(D) The absence of an election by a supplier under this section does not relieve the supplier of responsibility for remitting the user fee imposed by this chapter upon the removal from an out-of-state terminal for import into this State by the supplier.

(E) A supplier which makes the election provided by this section shall pre-collect the user fee imposed by this chapter on all removals from a qualified terminal on its account as a position holder or a person receiving fuel from a position holder pursuant to a two-party exchange agreement without regard to the license status of the person acquiring the fuel from the supplier, the point or terms of sale, or the character of delivery.

SECTION 12-28-915. User fees collected and remitted by supplier; due date; late user fees.

(A) The user fee imposed by Section 12-28-310 measured by motor fuel subject to the user fee removed by a licensed supplier from a terminal or refinery in this State other than a bulk transfer, must be collected and remitted to the State by the supplier, as shown in the terminal operator's records, who removes the gallons subject to the user fee.

(B) The supplier and each reseller shall list the amount of user fees as a separate line item on all invoices or billings.

(C) All user fees to be paid by a supplier with respect to gallons removed on his account during a calendar month is due and payable before the twenty-second day of the following month unless the day falls upon a weekend or state or banking holiday in which case the liability is due the next succeeding business day.

(D) A supplier shall give notification of late user fees remitted to the supplier by an eligible purchaser and give timely notification to the department of late remittances if that supplier previously gave notice to the department of an uncollectible user fee amount pursuant to Section 12-28-940(B).

SECTION 12-28-920. Liability of terminal operator for motor fuel user fee; payment.

(A) The terminal operator of a terminal in this State is jointly and severally liable for the user fee imposed under Section 12-28-310 and shall remit payment to this State upon discovery of either of the following conditions:

(1) The supplier with respect to the motor fuel subject to the user fee is a person other than the terminal operator and is not a licensed supplier. The terminal operator is relieved of liability if he establishes all of the following:

(a) The terminal operator has a valid terminal operator's license issued for the facility from which the motor fuel is withdrawn.

(b) The terminal operator has an unexpired notification certificate from the supplier as required by the department or the Internal Revenue Service.

(c) The terminal operator has no reason to believe that any information on the certificate is false.

(2) In connection with the removal of diesel fuel that is not dyed and marked in accordance with Internal Revenue Service requirements, the terminal operator provides a person with a bill of lading, shipping paper, or similar document indicating that the diesel fuel is dyed and marked in accordance with Internal Revenue Service requirements.

(B) The terminal operator is severally liable for the user fee imposed by this chapter and measured in accordance with Section 12-28-520(B) which is not allocable to a licensed supplier and shall remit the user fee due with the annual report required under Section 12-28-1330(E). No user fee is due if the terminal operator can establish by substantial evidence that the gallons lost were diesel fuel dyed before receipt by that terminal operator. No collection allowance or deductions are allowed with respect to payment of this user fee. If the gallons lost or unaccounted for exceed five percent of the gallons removed from that terminal across the rack, a penalty of one hundred percent of the user fee otherwise due must be paid by the terminal operator with the user fee due.

SECTION 12-28-925. Collection of motor fuel user fees from purchaser; election to defer user fee payment.

Each supplier and bonded importer who sells motor fuel subject to the user fee shall collect from the purchaser the motor fuel user fee imposed under Section 12-28-310. At the election of an eligible purchaser evidenced by a written statement from the department as to the purchaser eligibility status as determined under Section 12-28-930, the seller may not require a payment of motor fuel user fees on transport truckloads from the purchaser sooner than one business day before the date on which the user fee is required to be remitted by the supplier or bonded importer under Section 12-28-915. This election is subject to a condition that the eligible purchaser's remittances of all amounts of user fees due the seller must be paid by electronic funds transfer. Failure of a supplier or bonded importer to comply with the requirements of this section may result in suspension or revocation of the license in accordance with Section 12-28-1180(B). The eligible purchaser's election under this subsection may be terminated by the seller if the eligible purchaser does not make timely payments to the seller as required by this section.

SECTION 12-28-930. Qualifications of purchasers for election under Section 12-28-930; bond.

Each purchaser who desires to make an election under Section 12-28-925 shall present evidence to the department that the applicant was a licensee in good standing under the predecessor motor fuel statute as to which he remitted user fees to the department, or the applicant meets the financial responsibility and bonding requirements imposed by this chapter which bond shall conform to the specific requirements of this section. The department may require a purchaser who pays the user fee to a supplier to file with the department a surety bond payable to the State, upon which the purchaser is the obligor or other financial security, in an amount satisfactory to the department. The department may require that the bond indemnify the department against uncollectible user fee credits claimed by the supplier under Section 12-28-940.

SECTION 12-28-935. Recision of purchaser's eligibility and election to defer payment of user fees.

The department may rescind a purchaser's eligibility and election to defer motor fuel user fee remittances after a hearing and upon a showing of good cause, including failure to make timely user fee deferred payment to a supplier of the user fee under Section 12-28-925 by sending written notice to all suppliers or publishing notice of the revocation pursuant to regulations. The department may require further assurance of the purchaser's financial responsibility, may increase the bond requirement for that purchaser, or may take other action to ensure remittance of the motor fuel user fee. The department shall follow the revocation procedures under Section 12-28-1180 in rescinding eligible purchaser status.

SECTION 12-28-940. Computing amount of motor fuel user fees due.

(A) In computing the amount of motor fuel user fees due, the supplier is entitled to a credit against the user fee payable in the amount of the user fee paid by the supplier that is uncollectible from an eligible purchaser.

(B) The supplier shall provide notice to the department of a failure to collect user fees within ten days following the earliest date on which the supplier was entitled to collect the user from the eligible purchaser under Section 12-28-925.

(C) The department may promulgate regulations establishing the evidence a supplier shall provide to receive the credit.

(D) The credit must be claimed on the first return following the date of the failure of the eligible purchaser if the payment remains unpaid as of the filing date of that return or the credit is disallowed.

(E) The claim for credit must identify the defaulting eligible purchaser and any user fee liability that remains unpaid.

(F) If an eligible purchaser fails to make a timely payment of the amount of user fees due, the supplier's credit is limited to the amount due from the purchaser, plus any user fee that accrues from that purchaser for a period ending upon the date the supplier receives notice from the department of revocation of eligible purchaser status.

(G) No additional credit is allowed to a supplier under this section until the department authorizes the purchaser to make a new election under Section 12-28-925.

SECTION 12-28-945. Licensed tank wagon operator-importer; payment of user fees.

Each licensed tank wagon operator-importer who is liable for the user fee imposed by this chapter on nonexempt motor fuel imported by a tank wagon as to which the user fee previously has not been paid to a supplier, shall remit the motor fuel user fee for the preceding month's import activities with his monthly report of activities. A licensed tank wagon importer is allowed to retain the tare allowance provided for in Section 12-28-960(A).

SECTION 12-28-950. Payment of user fees by electronic fund transfer.

All suppliers and bonded importers required to remit the motor fuel user fee shall remit the motor fuel user fees due by electronic fund transfer acceptable to the department, if required by regulation. The transfer or payment must be made on or before the date the user fee is due.

SECTION 12-28-955. Supplier may retain one-tenth percent of user fee to cover cost of administration.

Every supplier and permissive supplier who properly remits user fees under this chapter is allowed to retain one-tenth percent of the user fee imposed by this chapter and collected and remitted by that supplier in accordance with this chapter to cover the cost of administration including reporting, audit compliance, dye injection, and shipping paper preparation.

SECTION 12-28-960. Tare allowance allowed to eligible purchaser, licensee importer, and supplier.

(A) A tare allowance is allowed to each eligible purchaser, licensee importer, and supplier who lawfully is engaged in the distribution of user fee-paid motor fuel within this State to offset thermal shrinkage and measurement differences occurring after removal of the motor fuel subject to the user fee from the terminal. The amount of the tare allowance is equal to two and sixty-five one-hundredths percent not to exceed two thousand dollars a month of the amount of the user fee imposed by this chapter and paid by the person, directly or indirectly, subject to the requirements and limitations set out in subsections (B) and (C). However, the tare allowance is not applicable more than once to any motor fuel subject to the user fee.

(B) Every eligible purchaser who acquires motor fuel subject to the user fee from a supplier or licensed importer for distribution and use in this State, which motor fuel was previously subject to the user fee imposed by this chapter, is entitled to the tare allowance provided by subsection (A) by way of quarterly refund application to the department under regulations promulgated by and on forms prescribed by the department. The total amount of tare allowance claimed by the person may not exceed two thousand dollars for any month.

(C) Every licensed importer and supplier making sales of user fee-paid motor fuel to persons other than eligible purchasers is entitled to the tare allowance provided by subsection (A) by way of a credit against user fee remittances due to the State payable by the person. The total amount of tare allowance claimed by the person may not exceed two thousand dollars for any month.

SECTION 12-28-965. User fees collected on motor fuel belongs to State and is held in trust by collector; personal liability for user fee, penalty and interest.

The user fee that a supplier, importer, or fuel vendor collects on the sale of motor fuel subject to the user fee belongs to the State. These persons shall hold the money in trust for the State and for payment to the department as provided in this chapter. For a corporation or partnership, each officer, employee, or member of the employer who is in that capacity is under a duty to collect the user fee and is personally liable for the user fee, penalty, and interest.

SECTION 12-28-970. Backup user fee equal to the user fee imposed.

(A) A backup user fee equal to the user fee imposed by Section 12-28-310 is imposed and must be administered in accordance with procedures established by the department on the use on the highways of motor fuel subject to the user fee by an end user, including operators of state and local government vehicles, American Red Cross vehicles, and buses, and other persons exempted from the full federal highway tax, unless the person is exempted otherwise under Section 12-28-710(A)(12), upon the delivery in this State into the fuel supply tank of a highway vehicle of:

(1) diesel fuel that contains a dye;

(2) motor fuel subject to the user fee on which a claim for refund has been made;

(3) alternative fuels; or

(4) substitute fuel on which a user fee previously has not been imposed by this chapter.

(B) The ultimate vendor of motor fuel subject to the user fee is jointly and severally liable for the user fee imposed by subsection (A) if the ultimate vendor knows or has reason to know that the motor fuel, as to which the user fee imposed by this chapter has not been paid, is or will be consumed in a nonexempt use.

(C)(1) A back-up user fee equal to the user fee imposed by Section 12-28-310 is imposed on a liquid or gas that is not otherwise taxed pursuant to this chapter and that is commonly or commercially known or sold as a fuel suitable for use in a highway vehicle. The user fee is due upon the first receipt of the product when received from a source outside of South Carolina by any wholesaler, retailer, or end-user and the user fee is imposed upon, and is the liability of, the wholesaler, retailer, or end-user who first received the product into the State.

(2) A back-up user fee equal to the user fee imposed by Section 12-28-310 is imposed on any liquid or gas that is not otherwise taxed pursuant to this chapter and that is commonly or commercially known or sold as a fuel suitable for use in a highway vehicle. The user fee is due upon the first sale or use of the product when produced in this State by a person and the user fee is imposed upon the first in-state sale or use by that person. The user fee is imposed upon, and is the liability of, the producer of the product.

SECTION 12-28-975. Diversion of motor fuel subject to the user fee.

(A) If an exporter diverts motor fuel subject to the user fee removed from a terminal in this State from an intended destination outside South Carolina as shown on the terminal-issued shipping papers to a destination within this State, the exporter, in addition to compliance with the notification provided for by Section 12-28-780, shall notify and pay the user fee imposed by Section 12-28-310 to the State upon the same terms and conditions as if the exporter were an occasional importer licensed under Section 12-28-905(A) without deduction for the allowances provided by Section 12-28-960.

(B) If an exporter removes from a bulk plant in this State motor fuel subject to the user fee as to which the user fee imposed by this chapter previously has been paid or accrued, the exporter may apply for and the State shall issue a refund of the user fee upon a showing of proof of export satisfactory to the department in conformity with Section 12-28-720, net of the allowances provided by Section 12-28-960.

(C) If an unlicensed importer diverts motor fuel subject to the user fee from a destination outside this State to a destination inside this State after having removed the product from a terminal outside South Carolina, the importer, in addition to compliance with the notification provided for by Section 12-28-1525, shall notify the State and shall pay the user fee imposed by this chapter to South Carolina upon the same terms and conditions as if the unlicensed importer were a licensed occasional importer subject to Section 12-28-905(A) without deduction for the allowances provided by Section 12-28-960.

(D) All licensed importers otherwise shall report and pay user fees on diversions into this State of imported motor fuel subject to the user fee under Section 12-28-905(A) or (B) in accordance with the regulations applicable to that license class. No Section 12-28-960 allowances may be deducted with respect to diverted shipments. An importer who has purchased the product from a licensed supplier, by mutual agreement with the supplier, may permit the supplier to assume the importer's liability and adjust the importer's user fees payable to the supplier.

(E) If a monthly report is filed or the amount due is remitted later than the time required by this chapter, the user fee remitter shall pay to the department all of the motor fuel user fee the remitter collected from the sale of motor fuel subject to the user fee during the user fee period in addition to penalties and interest.

(F) If there is a legal diversion from a destination in this State to another state, Section 12-28-1525 applies, and an unlicensed exporter diverting the product shall apply for a refund from this State in conformity with Sections 12-28-710(A)(3) and 12-28-720 less the Section 12-28-960 allowance, except that a supplier may take a credit for diversions directed by that supplier for his own account, and the exporter, by mutual agreement with his supplier, may assign his claim to the supplier for which the supplier may take a credit.

SECTION 12-28-980. Final reports accompanied by payment; election to pay in installments.

(A) The final report required by Section 12-28-1350 must be accompanied by payment of the final month's liability except as otherwise provided in this section.

(B) A motor fuel vendor who possessed a license to sell motor fuel subject to the user fee at wholesale or at retail before the effective


State Codes and Statutes

State Codes and Statutes

Statutes > South-carolina > Title-12 > Chapter-28

Title 12 - Taxation

CHAPTER 28.

MOTOR FUELS SUBJECT TO USER FEES

ARTICLE 1.

DEFINITIONS

SECTION 12-28-110. Definitions.

As used in this chapter:

(1) "Alternative fuel" means a liquefied petroleum gas, compressed natural gas product, or a combination of liquefied petroleum gas and a compressed natural gas product used in an internal combustion engine or motor to propel any form of vehicle, machine, or mechanical contrivance. It includes all forms of fuel commonly or commercially known or sold as butane, propane, or compressed natural gas.

(2) "Blend stock" includes any petroleum product component of gasoline, such as naphtha, reformate, or toluene, that can be blended for use in a motor fuel. However, it does not include any substance that ultimately is used for consumer nonmotor fuel use and is sold or removed in drum quantities 55 gallons or less at the time of the removal or sale.

(3) "Blended fuel" means a mixture composed of gasoline or diesel fuel and another liquid, other than a de minimis amount of a product such as carburetor detergent or oxidation inhibitor, that can be used as a fuel in a highway vehicle.

(4) "Blender" includes a person who produces blended motor fuel outside the bulk transfer/terminal system.

(5) "Blending" means the mixing of one or more petroleum products, with or without another product, regardless of the original character of the product blended, if the product obtained by the blending is capable of use or otherwise sold for use in the generation of power for the propulsion of a motor vehicle, an airplane, or a motorboat. It does not include blending that occurs in the process of refining by the original refiner of crude petroleum or the blending or products known as lubricating oil and greases.

(6) "Bulk end user" means a person who receives into the person's own storage facilities in transport truck lots of motor fuel subject to the user fee for the person's consumption.

(7) "Bulk plant" means a motor fuel storage and distribution facility that is not a terminal and from which motor fuel may be removed at a rack.

(8) "Bulk transfer" means a transfer of motor fuel from one location to another by pipeline tender or marine delivery within bulk transfer/terminal system.

(9) "Bulk transfer/terminal system" means the motor fuel distribution system consisting of refineries, pipelines, vessels, and terminals. Gasoline in a refinery, pipeline, vessel, or terminal is in the bulk transfer/terminal system. Motor fuel subject to the user fee in the fuel supply tank of an engine, or in a tank car, rail car, trailer, truck, or other equipment suitable for ground transportation is not in the bulk transfer/terminal system.

(10) "Director" mean the administrative head of the Department of Revenue or his designee.

(11) "Dead storage" is the amount of motor fuel subject to the user fee that will not be pumped out of a storage tank because the motor fuel is below the mouth of the draw pipe. For this purpose, a dealer may assume that the amount of motor fuel in dead storage is two hundred gallons for a tank with a capacity of ten thousand gallons or less and four hundred gallons for a tank with a capacity of more than ten thousand gallons.

(12) "Delivery" means the placing of motor fuel subject to the user fee or any liquid into the fuel tank of a motor vehicle.

(13) "Department" means the South Carolina Department of Revenue.

(14) "Destination state" means the state, territory, or foreign country to which motor fuel is directed for delivery into a storage facility, a receptacle, a container, or a type of transportation equipment for the purpose of resale or use.

(15) "Diesel fuel" means a liquid, including biodiesel and a biodiesel blend that is commonly or commercially known or sold as a fuel that is suitable for use in a diesel-powered highway vehicle. A liquid meets this requirement if, without further processing or blending, the liquid has practical and commercial fitness for use in the propulsion engine of a diesel-powered highway vehicle. However, a liquid does not possess this practical and commercial fitness solely by reason of its possible or rare use as a fuel in the propulsion engine of a diesel-powered highway vehicle. "Diesel fuel" does not include jet fuel if the buyer is registered to purchase jet fuel subject to federal taxes applicable to jet fuel and the seller obtains certification of that fact satisfactory to the Internal Revenue Service before making the sale.

(16) "Diesel-powered highway vehicle" means a motor vehicle operated on a highway that is propelled by a diesel-powered engine.

(17) "Distributor" means a person who acquires motor fuel from a supplier or from another distributor for subsequent sale or use.

(18) "Dyed diesel fuel" means diesel fuel that is required to be dyed under United States Environmental Protection Agency and Internal Revenue Service rules or pursuant to other requirements subsequently set by the agency or service including any invisible marker requirements.

(19) "Eligible purchaser" means a person who has been authorized by the department pursuant to Section 12-28-930 to make the election under Section 12-28-925.

(20) "Enterer" includes a person who is the importer of record under federal customs law with respect to motor fuel subject to the user fee. If the importer of record is acting as an agent, the person for whom the agent is acting is the enterer. If there is no importer of record of motor fuel subject to the user fee entered into this State, the owner of the diesel fuel at the time it is brought into South Carolina is the enterer.

(21) "Entry" means the importing of motor fuel subject to the user fee into this State. However, if motor fuel subject to the user fee is brought into this State in the fuel tank of a motor vehicle, it is not deemed to be an "entry" if it is not removed from the fuel tank except as used for the propulsion of that motor vehicle, except to the extent that motor fuel subject to the user fee was acquired user fee-free for export or a refund of the user fee was claimed as a result of exportation from the state from which that motor fuel subject to the user fee was transported into South Carolina.

(22) "Ethanol" means "fuel grade ethanol".

(23) "Export" means to obtain motor fuel in this State for sale or other distribution in another state. In applying this definition, motor fuel delivered out-of-state by or for the seller constitutes an export by the seller and motor fuel delivered out-of-state by or for the purchaser constitutes an export by the purchaser.

(24) "Exporter" means a person, other than a supplier, who purchases motor fuel subject to the user fee in this State for the purpose of transporting or delivering the fuel to another state or country.

(25) "Fuel grade ethanol" means American Society for Testing and Materials standard in effect January 1, 1995, and successor rules, as the D-4806 specification for denatured fuel grade ethanol for blending with gasoline for use as automatic spark-ignition engine fuels.

(26) "Fuel transportation vehicle" means a vehicle designed for highway use which also is designed or used to transport motor fuels subject to the user fee and includes transport trucks and tank wagons.

(27) "Gasohol" means blended fuel composed of gasoline and fuel alcohol.

(28) "Gasoline" means all products commonly or commercially known or sold as gasoline that are suitable for use as a motor fuel. It does not include a product sold as a product other than gasoline and has an American Society for Testing Materials octane number of less than seventy-five as determined by the "motor method" and does not include aviation gasoline if the buyer is registered to purchase aviation gasoline free of user fees and the seller obtains certification of that fact satisfactory to the Department before making the sale.

(29) "Gasoline blend stocks" includes any petroleum product component of gasoline, such as naphtha, reformate, or toluene, that can be blended for use in a motor fuel. However, it does not include any substance that ultimately is used for consumer nonmotor fuel use and is sold or removed in drum quantities fifty-five gallons or less at the time of the removal or sale.

(30) "Gross gallons" means the total, measured product, exclusive of temperature or pressure adjustments, considerations or deductions, in United States gallons.

(31) "Heating oil" means a motor fuel subject to the user fee that is burned in a boiler, furnace, or stove for heating or industrial processing purposes.

(32) "Highway vehicle" means a self-propelled vehicle that is designed for use on a highway.

(33) "Import" means to bring motor fuel into this State for sale, use, or storage by any means of conveyance other than in the fuel supply tank of a motor vehicle. In applying this definition, motor fuel delivered into this State from out-of-state by or for the seller constitutes an import by the seller, and motor fuel delivered into this State from out-of-state by or for the purchaser constitutes an import by the purchaser.

(34) "Import verification number" means the number assigned by the department or its delegate or appointee with respect to a single transport truck delivery into this State from another state upon request for an assigned number by an importer or the transporter carrying motor fuel subject to the user fee into this State for the account of an importer.

(35) "In this State" means the area within the borders of South Carolina including all territories within the borders owned by or added to the United States of America.

(36) "Invoiced gallons" means the gallons actually billed on an invoice in payment to a supplier.

(37) "K-1 kerosene" means burner fuel designed for unvented space heaters which meets American Society for Testing Materials standard D-3699, in effect January 1, 1995, and successor rules, as the specification for #1-K kerosene.

(38) "Liquid" means a substance that is liquid in excess of sixty degrees Fahrenheit and a pressure of fourteen and seven-tenths pounds a square inch absolute.

(39) "Motor fuel" means gasoline, diesel fuel, substitute fuel, renewable fuel, and blended fuel.

(40) "Motor fuel transporter" means a person who transports motor fuel by transport truck or railroad tank car.

(41) "Motor vehicle" means a vehicle that is propelled by an internal combustion engine or motor and is designed to permit the vehicle's mobile use on highways. It does not include:

(a) farm machinery including machinery designed for off-road use but capable of movement on roads at low speeds;

(b) a vehicle operated on rails; or

(c) machinery designed principally for off-road use.

(42) "Net gallons" means the remaining product, after all considerations and deductions have been made, measured in United States gallons, corrected to a temperature of sixty degrees Fahrenheit, thirteen degrees Celsius, and a pressure of fourteen and seven-tenths pounds a square inch, the ultimate end amount.

(43) "Permissive supplier" means a person who does not meet the geographic jurisdictional connections to this State required of a supplier as defined in Section 12-28-920(A), but who:

(a) is a position holder in a federally qualified terminal located outside this State; or

(b) acquires a product in out-of-state terminals from a position holder in a transaction that otherwise qualifies as a two-party exchange under Section 12-28-110(63); and under this subitem and subitem (a);

(c) is registered under Section 4101 of the Internal Revenue Code for transactions in taxable motor fuels in the bulk transfer/terminal distribution system.

(44) "Person" means a natural person, a partnership, a firm, an association, a corporation, a representative appointed by a court, the State, a political subdivision or any other entity, group, or syndicate.

(45) "Position holder" means the person who holds the inventory position in motor fuel in a terminal, as reflected on the records of the terminal operator. A person holds the inventory position in motor fuel when that person has a contract with the terminal operator for the use of storage facilities and terminaling services for fuel at the terminal. The term includes a terminal operator who owns fuel in the terminal.

(46) "Public highway" means the entire width between boundary lines of each publicly maintained way in this State, including streets and alleys in municipalities, when any part of the way is open to the public use for vehicle travel.

(47) "Qualified terminal" means a qualified terminal as defined under Internal Revenue Code, regulation, and practices and which has been assigned a terminal control number by the Internal Revenue Service.

(48) "Rack" means a mechanism for delivering motor fuel from a refinery, a terminal, or a bulk plant into a railroad tank car, a transport truck, or another means of bulk transfer outside of the bulk transfer/terminal system.

(49) "Refiner" means a person who owns, operates, or otherwise controls a refinery within the United States.

(50) "Refinery" means a facility used to produce motor fuel subject to the user fee from crude oil, unfinished oils, natural gas liquids, or other hydrocarbons and from which motor fuel subject to the user fee may be removed by pipeline, by vessel, or at a rack.

(51) "Removal" means a physical transfer other than by evaporation, loss, or destruction of motor fuel subject to the user fee from a terminal, manufacturing plant, customs custody, pipeline, marine vessel including barges and tankers, refinery, or any receptacle that stores motor fuel subject to the user fee.

(52) "Retailer" means a person who engages in the business of selling or distributing to the end user within this State.

(53)(a) "Supplier" means a person who meets all the following conditions:

(i) is subject to the general taxing jurisdiction of this State;

(ii) is registered under Section 4101 of the Internal Revenue Code for transactions in taxable motor fuels in the bulk transfer/terminal distribution system; and

(iii) is one of the following:

1. is the "position holder" in a terminal or refinery in this State;

2. imports motor fuel subject to the user fee into this State from a foreign country;

3. acquires motor fuel subject to the user fee from a terminal or refinery in this State from a position holder pursuant to a "two-party exchange";

4. is the position holder in a terminal or refinery outside this State with respect to motor fuel subject to the user fee which that person imports into this State on his account.

(b) A terminal operator is not considered a supplier merely because the terminal operator handles motor fuel subject to the user fee consigned to it within a terminal. When the term "supplier" is used in this chapter other than in this section, it is deemed to also refer the term "permissive supplier" unless provided otherwise.

(54) "Tank wagon" means a straight truck having multiple compartments designed or used to carry liquid motor fuel.

(55) "Motor fuel subject to the user fee" means gasoline, diesel fuel, kerosene, blended fuel, substitute fuel, and blends of them and any other substance blended with them.

(56) "Terminal" is a storage and distribution facility for motor fuel subject to the user fee, supplied by pipeline or marine vessel, which has been registered as a qualified terminal by the Internal Revenue Service.

(57)(a) "Terminal bulk transfers" include, but are not limited to: a marine barge movement of fuel from a refinery or terminal to a terminal;

(b) pipeline movements of fuel from a refinery or terminal to a terminal.

(c) book transfers of products within a terminal between suppliers before completion of removal across the rack;

(d) two-party exchanges between licensed suppliers.

(58) "Terminal operator" is a person who owns, operates, or otherwise controls a terminal and does not use a substantial portion of the motor fuel subject to the user fee that is transferred through or stored in the terminal for its own use. "For its own use" means for its own consumption or in the manufacture of products other than motor fuel. A terminal operator may own the motor fuel subject to the user fee that is transferred through or stored in the terminal.

(59) "Throughputter" means a person who does all of the following:

(a) receives transfer of motor fuel subject to the user fee from refiners, importers, terminal operators, or other throughputters;

(b) stores the motor fuel subject to the user fee in a terminal;

(c) owns the motor fuel subject to the user fee or holds the inventory position to the motor fuel subject to the user fee, as reflected on the records of the terminal operator, at the time of removal or sale from a terminal.

(60) "Transmix" means the buffer or interface between two different products in a pipeline shipment or a mix of two different products within a refinery or terminal that results in an off-grade mixture.

(61) "Transport truck" means a semitrailer or trailer combination rig designed or used to transport liquid motor fuel over the highways.

(62) "Transporter" means a person engaged in the business of transporting motor fuels subject to the user fee.

(63) "Two-party exchange" means a transaction in which a product is transferred from one licensed supplier or licensed permissive supplier to another pursuant to an exchange agreement. An exchange agreement means an agreement between a licensed supplier or licensed permissive supplier and another licensed supplier or permissive supplier where one is a position holder in a terminal who agrees to deliver motor fuel subject to the user fee to the other party or the other party's customer at the loading rack of the terminal where the delivering party holds an inventory position.

(64) "Ultimate purchaser" means a person who uses motor fuel subject to the user fee.

(65) "Ultimate vendor" means a person who sells motor fuel subject to the user fee to the user of the fuel, the ultimate purchaser.

(66) "Undyed diesel fuel" means diesel fuel that is not subject to the United States Environmental Protection Agency requirements, or has not been dyed in accordance with Internal Revenue Service Fuel dyeing provisions.

(67) "Vehicle fuel tank" means any receptacle on a motor vehicle from which fuel is supplied for the propulsion of the motor vehicle.

(68) "Wholesaler" means a person who acquires motor fuel subject to the user fee from a supplier or from another wholesaler for subsequent sale and distribution at wholesale by tank cars, motor vehicles, or both.

(69) "Substitute fuel" means a liquid that is commonly and commercially known or sold as a fuel that is suitable for use in a highway vehicle. The fuel meets this requirement if, without further processing or blending, the fuel is a fluid and has practical and commercial fitness for use in the propulsion of a highway vehicle. This includes all liquids regardless of temperature or pressure.

(70) "Biodiesel" means a fuel composed of mono-alkyl esters of long chain fatty acids generally derived from vegetable oils or animal fats, commonly known as B100, that is commonly and commercially known or sold as a fuel that is suitable for use in a highway vehicle. The fuel meets this requirement if, without further processing or blending, the fuel is a fluid and has practical and commercial fitness for use in the propulsion of a highway vehicle. "Biodiesel" means a diesel fuel substitute produced from nonpetroleum renewable resources that meets the registration requirements for fuels and fuel additives established by the United States Environmental Protection Agency pursuant to Section 211 of the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7545) and that meets the American Society for Testing and Materials D6751-02a Standard Specification for Biodiesel Fuel (B100) Blend Stock for Distillate Fuels.

(71) "Biodiesel blend" means a blend of biodiesel fuel with petroleum based diesel fuel, commonly designated Bxx where xx represents the volume percentage of biodiesel fuel in the blend (for example B20 is 20 percent biodiesel, 80 percent petro diesel), and that is commonly and commercially known or sold as a fuel that is suitable for use in a highway vehicle. The fuel meets this requirement if, without further processing or blending, the fuel is a fluid and has practical and commercial fitness for use in the propulsion of a highway vehicle.

(72) "Renewable fuel" means liquid nonpetroleum based fuels that can be placed in vehicle fuel tanks and used as a fuel in a highway vehicle. It includes all forms of fuel commonly or commercially known or sold as biodiesel and ethanol.

ARTICLE 3.

IMPOSITION OF USER FEES

SECTION 12-28-310. User fees on gasoline and diesel fuel.

(A) Subject to the exemptions provided in this chapter, a user fee of sixteen cents a gallon is imposed on:

(1) all gasoline, gasohol, or blended fuels containing gasoline that are used or consumed for any purpose in this State; and

(2) all diesel fuel, substitute fuels, or alternative fuels, or blended fuels containing diesel fuel that are used or consumed in this State in producing or generating power for propelling motor vehicles.

(B) The user fee levied on motor fuel subject to the user fee pursuant to this chapter is a levy and assessment on the consumer, and the levy and assessment on other persons as specified in this chapter are as agents of the State for the collection of the user fee. This section does not affect the method of collecting the user fee as provided in this chapter. The user fee imposed by this section must be collected and paid at those times, in the manner, and by the persons specified in this chapter.

(C) The license user fee imposed by this section is instead of all sales, use, or other excise tax that may be imposed otherwise by any municipality, county, or other local political subdivision of the State.

SECTION 12-28-320. Presumption that fuel delivered to motor vehicle fuel supply tank is used in this State.

Except as otherwise provided under Article 7 of this chapter, the department shall consider it a presumption that all motor fuel subject to the user fee delivered in this State into a motor vehicle fuel supply tank is to be used or consumed on the highways in this State producing or generating power for propelling motor vehicles.

SECTION 12-28-330. Presumption that fuel from terminal in State, imported, or delivered into end user's storage tank is used in State.

The department considers it a rebuttable presumption, subject to proof of exemption pursuant to Article 7 of this chapter, that all motor fuel subject to the user fee removed from a terminal in this State, or imported into this State other than by a bulk transfer within the bulk transfer terminal system or delivered into an end user's storage tank, is to be used or consumed in this State, in the case of gasoline, gasohol, or blended fuels containing gasoline and is to be used or consumed on the highways in this State in producing or generating power for propelling motor vehicles in the case of all other motor fuel.

SECTION 12-28-340. Petroleum product and ethanol blenders requirements imposed on terminal; blender of record; Renewable Identification Number trading system.

(A) Regardless of other products offered, a terminal, as defined in Section 12-28-110(56), located within the State must offer a petroleum product that has not been blended with ethanol and that is suitable for subsequent blending with ethanol.

(B) A person or entity must not take any action to deny a distributor, as defined in Section 12-28-110(17), or retailer, as defined in Section 12-28-110(52), who is doing business in this State and who has registered with the Internal Revenue Service on Form 637(M) from being the blender of record afforded them by the acceptance by the Internal Revenue Service of Form 637(M).

(C) A distributor or retailer and a refiner must utilize the Renewable Identification Number (RIN) trading system. Nothing in this section should be construed to imply a market value for RINs.

ARTICLE 5.

MEASUREMENT OF USER FEES

SECTION 12-28-510. User fee on motor fuel measured by invoiced gallons.

The user fee imposed by this chapter on use of motor fuel subject to the user fee which was imported into this State by a licensed importer, other than by a bulk transfer, shall arise at the time the product is entered into the State and shall be measured by invoiced gallons received outside this State at a refinery, terminal, or at a bulk plant for delivery to a destination in this State.

SECTION 12-28-520. Measurement of user fees on motor fuel; user fee complemented by user fees measured annually at each terminal.

(A) Except as provided in Section 12-28-510, the user fee imposed by this chapter on the use of motor fuel subject to the user fee must be measured by invoiced gallons of motor fuel subject to the user fee removed, other than by a bulk transfer, by a licensed supplier from a qualified terminal or refinery within this State, and from a qualified terminal or refinery outside this State for delivery to a location in South Carolina as represented on the shipping papers if the supplier imports the motor fuel subject to the user fee for his own account or the supplier has made a user fee pre-collection election under Section 12-28-910. This user fee otherwise generally must be determined in the same manner as the tax imposed by Section 4081 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or the Code of Federal Regulations as it exists as of January 1, 1995, or as subsequently modified.

(B) The user fee imposed by this chapter on use of motor fuel subject to the user fee in this State as measured by gallons removed by a supplier, or terminal operator, from terminals in this State must be complemented by a user fee measured annually at each terminal in this State by the amount by which net gallons lost or unaccounted for, including transmix, within each terminal exceed the sum of net gallon gains plus one-half of one percent times the number of all net gallons removed from the terminal across the rack or in bulk.

SECTION 12-28-530. Increase in user fee rate.

(A) The user fee imposed by Section 12-28-310 on the date of an increase in the user fee rate set out in that section is applicable to motor fuel previously subject to the user fee:

(1) in excess of one thousand gallons held in storage by an end user;

(2) inventory held for sale by a fuel vendor.

(B) The user fee imposed by Section 12-28-310 is applicable to nonexempt inventory held by a person outside of the bulk transfer system in this State in quantities which, in the aggregate with respect to the person, exceed one thousand gallons, to the extent the inventory previously has not been subject to the user fee imposed by this State under the predecessor motor fuel tax statute. However, no user fee is payable with respect to motor fuel subject to the user fee which is dyed diesel fuel or held by an exempt user including government entities described under Sections 12-28-710(A)(6) and 12-28-710(A)(12).

(C) Persons in possession of taxable motor fuel subject to this section shall perform the following:

(1) take an inventory to determine the gallons in storage for purposes of determining the user fee on inventory;

(2) deduct the amount of motor fuel subject to the user fee in dead storage;

(3) deduct these gallons in which the user fee at the full rate previously has been paid;

(4) take a deduction for gallons of dyed diesel fuel included in item (1) above, if appropriate;

(5) report the gallons listed in item (1) on forms provided by the department.

(D) The amount of the inventory user fee is equal to the inventory user fee rate times the gallons in storage as determined under subsection (B). The inventory user fee rate is equal to the difference between the increased user fee rate minus the previous user fee rate to which those gallons were previously subjected to the user fee.

(E) Payment of this floorstock user fee must be made in conformity with Section 12-28-985.

ARTICLE 7.

EXEMPTIONS AND REFUNDS

SECTION 12-28-710. Exemption from the user fee on motor fuel.

(A) Subject to the procedural requirements and conditions set out in this article, the following are exempt from the user fee imposed by Section 12-28-310 on motor fuel subject to the user fee:

(1) motor fuel subject to the user fee for which proof of export is available in the form of a terminal issued destination state shipping paper;

(a) exported by a supplier who is licensed in the destination state;

(b) sold by a supplier to another person for immediate export to a state for which the destination state's motor fuel user fee has been paid to the supplier who is licensed to remit user fees to the destination state;

(c) which is destined for use other than for resale within the destination state for which an exemption has been made available by the destination state subject to procedural regulations promulgated by the department;

(2) motor fuel subject to the user fee which was acquired by a licensed exporter and as to which the user fee imposed by this chapter previously has been paid or accrued, which motor fuel was placed into storage in this State and subsequently was exported by transport truck by or on behalf of the licensed exporter;

(3) motor fuel subject to the user fee which was acquired by an unlicensed exporter and as to which the user fee imposed by this chapter previously has been paid or accrued and subsequently was exported by transport truck by or on behalf of the licensed exporter in a diversion across state boundaries properly reported in conformity with Section 12-28-1525;

(4) motor fuel subject to the user fee exported out of a bulk plant in this State in a tank wagon if the destination of that vehicle does not exceed twenty-five miles from the borders of this State and as to which the user fee imposed by this chapter previously has been paid or accrued, subject to gallonage limits and other conditions established by the department;

(5) K-1 kerosene sold at retail through dispensers which have been designed and constructed to prevent delivery directly from the dispenser into a vehicle fuel supply tank and K-1 kerosene sold at retail through nonbarricaded dispensers in quantities of not more than twenty-one gallons for use other than for highway purposes, under regulations as the department reasonably requires;

(6) motor fuel subject to the user fee sold to the United States or its agencies or instrumentalities;

(7) subject to determination by the department, that portion of motor fuel subject to the user fee used to operate equipment attached to a motor vehicle, if the motor fuel subject to the user fee was placed into the fuel supply tank of a motor vehicle that has a common fuel reservoir for travel on a highway and for the operation of equipment;

(8) motor fuel subject to the user fee acquired by an end user out-of-state and carried into this State, retained within and consumed from the same vehicle fuel supply tank within which it was imported;

(9) kerosene and diesel fuel used as heating oil or in trains or used in equipment not licensed as a motor vehicle other than as expressly exempted under another provision;

(10) motor fuel subject to the user fee which was lost or destroyed as a direct result of a sudden and unexpected casualty;

(11) diesel fuel subject to the user fee which has been contaminated by dye so as to be unsalable or unusable as highway fuel;

(12) motor fuel subject to the user fee used in state-owned school buses and in state-owned administration and service vehicles used in the pupil transportation program and transportation of students by state-funded institutions of higher learning;

(13) motor fuel subject to the user fee used in manufacture of fuel oil;

(14) motor fuel subject to the user fee sold for use in commercial shrimp boats;

(15) gasoline subject to the user fee used in operating tractors or other farm equipment used exclusively in farm operations, no part of which is used in any vehicle or equipment driven upon the public roads, streets, or highways of this State. A claim for refund must be made under Section 12-28-790;

(16) gasoline used in aircraft.

SECTION 12-28-720. Perfection of exemption for imports.

The exemption for exports:

(1) under Section 12-28-710(A)(1) must be perfected by a deduction on the report of the supplier which is otherwise responsible for user fees on removal of the product from a terminal or refinery in this State;

(2) under Section 12-28-710(A)(2) and 12-28-710(A)(4) may be perfected at the option of the exporter by a refund claim if the claim in the aggregate month to date exceeds one thousand dollars, by a refund claimed on the licensed exporter report for that month's activity, or under Section 12-28-710(A)(3) if a diversion by an unlicensed exporter upon a refund application is made to the department within three years.

SECTION 12-28-730. Exempt use of K-1 kerosene.

Exempt use of K-1 kerosene is governed by regulations promulgated by the department which must follow regulations governing the exemption promulgated by the federal government to the extent that impositions of conforming regulations is practical and does not work a hardship on sellers and end users in this State.

SECTION 12-28-740. Perfection of exemption for federal government, agencies, instrumentalities, and reservations, and state-owned buses and vehicles used in an educational program.

The exemption for sales of motor fuel subject to the user fee for use by the federal government, federal agencies, instrumentalities, and federal reservations, and state-owned buses and vehicles used in an educational program provided under Section 12-28-710(A)(6) and (12) must be perfected as follows:

(1) by refund claim by a licensed fuel vendor which made a sale of user fee-paid motor fuel as ultimate vendor to an exempt government user listed above on behalf of the exempt user. The claim must be made directly to the department under regulations and procedures and on forms provided by the department. The department shall issue a refund within thirty days of receipt of the claim for refund from the licensed fuel vendor;

(2) if the department makes a finding that its collections would not be jeopardized by application by an ultimate vendor for a Government Exempt Bulk Sales Permit which entitles that person to make purchases of fuel user fee-free for resale for exempt government use under the following conditions:

(a) The vendor shall make application with the department for the permit on a form acceptable to the department. The application must include:

(i) proof of financial responsibility or bond in an amount not to exceed the user fee on the total gallons to be purchased user fee-exempt in any year;

(ii) an estimate of total user fee-exempt gallons to be sold under the permit on an annual basis, which amount constitutes the limit of user fee-exempt purchases which the applicant is authorized to make, absent re-application pursuant to subitem (f) of this item;

(iii) the name of the suppliers from which the applicant shall make the user fee-exempt purchases under this permit for the term covered by the permit. This subitem does not mandate sales by a supplier to another person;

(iv) a list of government user fee-exempt purchasers qualifying under subsubitem (c) of this subitem and estimated volumes for them;

(v) other information the department reasonably requires.

(b) Upon evaluation of the data provided by applicant and independent investigation of that information the department in its discretion makes, the department shall issue the permit provided under this section to the applicant with a copy to each supplier named by the applicant pursuant to subitem (a) of this item.

(c) In order for a government entity to qualify as a government user fee-exempt purchaser eligible for user fee-exempt sales under this section, the ultimate vendor shall obtain a properly completed Federal Form 1094, its state equivalent, or successor form from the government entity and shall send to the department a copy of this form with an estimate of the annual quantity of motor fuel subject to the user fee to be supplied to that government entity purchaser. The department shall assign an approval number for that government entity and location and shall issue a permit to the ultimate vendor authorizing the ultimate vendor to make user fee-exempt sales of that estimated quantity of fuel to the agency.

(d) The department may not require that the identical gallons purchased by the ultimate vendor under the permit be delivered to the eligible government entity, only that the total gallons purchased under the permit user fee exempt equal the total gallons delivered to all eligible government entities.

(e) If the ultimate vendor fails to deliver any quantity of the user fee-exempt purchases to eligible government entities, the ultimate vendor is liable for the user fee on that quantity. If the excess of user fee-exempt gallons purchased exceeds gallons sold for user fee-exempt use by ten percent, the department in its discretion may levy a penalty equal to ten percent of the user fee due in addition to user fees due.

(f) If the ultimate vendor needs to purchase additional gallons above that estimated to fulfill his commitments, he shall notify the department. If the department is satisfied with the reports submitted accounting for the user fee-exempt fuel previously submitted, it shall increase the quantity authorized on the permit and so notify the supplier.

(3) If the sale to the eligible government entities of motor fuel subject to the user fee occur at a fixed retail pump available to the general public by:

(a) application by the ultimate vendor, having made the sale to the eligible government entity without the user fee, for a refund from the department by submitting the application and supporting documentation the department reasonably prescribes by regulation;

(b) by application for a refund, if the purchase is charged to a credit card issued to an eligible government entity, the issuer of the card elects to be the ultimate vendor, and the federal agency is billed without the user fee;

(c) if the sale to the government entity includes the user fee levied by this chapter, by application for a refund by the government entity from the department including submitting such supporting documentation the department reasonably prescribes by regulation.

SECTION 12-28-750. Perfection by refund claim filed by end user for fuel used to operate machinery.

The exemptions per use pursuant to Section 12-28-710(A)(7) must be perfected by refund claim filed by the end user who shall provide evidence of an allocation of use satisfactory to the department.

SECTION 12-28-760. No user fee on motor fuel carried into State, retained in vehicle and consumed by an end user.

No user fee imposed by this chapter may be paid by or levied upon motor fuel consumed by an end user who meets the requirement of Section 12-28-710(A)(8).

SECTION 12-28-770. Refund upon application after contamination or loss of motor fuel.

The exemption for motor fuel subject to the user fee pursuant to Section 12-28-710(A)(10) and (11) which was purchased user fee-paid for a user fee use and, after the purchase, was contaminated by the presence of a dye or marker or subject to a sudden and unexpected casualty loss, must be refunded to the person responsible for the contamination or loss event upon application and on proof shown acceptable to the department.

SECTION 12-28-780. Refund of motor fuel user fees erroneously paid.

The motor fuel user fee that has otherwise been erroneously paid by a person must be refunded by the department upon proof shown satisfactory to the department. The department's authority under this section must be construed broadly to prevent unjust and unintended payment of user fees on exempt uses or by exempt users.

SECTION 12-28-785. Perfection of exemptions not covered under Sections 12-28-720 through 12-28-780.

All exemptions under Section 12-28-710, not expressly covered under Sections 12-28-720 through 12-28-780, must be perfected as follows:

(1) A supplier or tank wagon importer shall take a deduction against motor fuel subject to the user fee shown on his monthly report for those gallons of diesel fuel removed from a terminal or refinery destined for delivery to a point in this State as shown on the shipping papers, as to which dye was added in a manner which conforms to federal requirements established by the Internal Revenue Code and regulations issued under it.

(2) The end user shall apply for refund with respect to motor fuel subject to the user fee purchased by the end user for consumption in an exempt use described under Section 12-28-710 as to which the user fee imposed by this chapter previously was paid and no refund previously issued.

(3) An importer shall take a deduction against the user fee owed under Section 12-28-905(A) or (B) or dyed diesel fuel if such diesel fuel would have met the requirements of item (1).

SECTION 12-28-790. Refunds claims.

(A) To claim a refund under Sections 12-28-720 through 12-28-780, a person shall present to the department a statement that contains a written verification that the claim is made under penalties of perjury and lists the total amount of motor fuel subject to the user fee purchased and used for exempt purposes. The claim must be filed not more than three years after the date the motor fuel subject to the user fee was purchased. The statement must show that payment for the purchase has been made and the amount of the user fee paid on the purchase has been remitted to the seller.

(B) The department may make investigations it considers necessary before refunding the motor fuel user fee to a person and may investigate a refund after the refund has been issued and within the time frame for making adjustments to the user fee under this chapter.

(C) To facilitate efficient administration and instead of the individual refund procedures, the department may provide by regulation an alternative election by the applicant for a refund by way of credit against state income tax liability.

SECTION 12-28-795. Interest on refund.

Interest on a claim for refund must be paid at the rate and in the manner provided for in Section 12-54-25.

ARTICLE 9.

PAYMENTS; LIABILITY; ELIGIBILITY; COLLECTIONS

SECTION 12-28-905. Time for payment of motor fuel user fees imported from another state.

(A) Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, the user fee imposed by Section 12-28-310 on motor fuel subject to the user fee measured by gallons imported from another state must be paid by the licensed occasional importer who has imported the nonexempt motor fuel subject to the user fee within three business days of the earlier of the time the nonexempt motor fuel subject to the user fee was entered into the State or the time a valid import verification number required by Section 12-28-1125 was assigned by the department under regulations the department promulgates. However, if the supplier has made a blanket election to pre-collect the user fee under Section 12-28-910(B), he is jointly liable with the importer for the user fee and shall remit the user fee to the department on behalf of the importer under the same terms as a supplier payment under Section 12-28-915, and no import verification number is required.

(B) Except as otherwise provided in this section, the user fee imposed by Section 12-28-310 on motor fuel subject to the user fee measured by gallons imported from another state must be paid by the licensed bonded importer who has imported the nonexempt motor fuel subject to the user fee during a month before the twenty-second day of the following month unless the day falls upon a weekend or state or banking holiday, in which case the liability is due the next succeeding business day, if before the time of import the importer obtains a valid import verification number required by Section 12-28-1125, assigned by the department under regulations promulgated by the department. However, if the supplier has made a blanket election to pre-collect the user fee under Section 12-28-910(B), he is jointly liable with the importer for the user fee and shall remit the user fee to the department on behalf of the importer under the same terms as a supplier payment under Section 12-28-915, and no import verification number is required.

SECTION 12-28-910. Blanket election to treat all removals from out-of-state terminals as if from in-state terminals; notice of election.

(A) Any licensed supplier or licensed permissive supplier may make a blanket election with the department to treat all removals from all of its out-of-state terminals with a destination in this State as shown on the terminal issued shipping paper as if the removals were removed across the rack by the supplier from a terminal in this State for all purposes.

(B) This election must be made by filing "notice of election" with the department as provided in this section.

(C) The department shall release a list of electing suppliers under subsection (B) upon request by any person.

(D) The absence of an election by a supplier under this section does not relieve the supplier of responsibility for remitting the user fee imposed by this chapter upon the removal from an out-of-state terminal for import into this State by the supplier.

(E) A supplier which makes the election provided by this section shall pre-collect the user fee imposed by this chapter on all removals from a qualified terminal on its account as a position holder or a person receiving fuel from a position holder pursuant to a two-party exchange agreement without regard to the license status of the person acquiring the fuel from the supplier, the point or terms of sale, or the character of delivery.

SECTION 12-28-915. User fees collected and remitted by supplier; due date; late user fees.

(A) The user fee imposed by Section 12-28-310 measured by motor fuel subject to the user fee removed by a licensed supplier from a terminal or refinery in this State other than a bulk transfer, must be collected and remitted to the State by the supplier, as shown in the terminal operator's records, who removes the gallons subject to the user fee.

(B) The supplier and each reseller shall list the amount of user fees as a separate line item on all invoices or billings.

(C) All user fees to be paid by a supplier with respect to gallons removed on his account during a calendar month is due and payable before the twenty-second day of the following month unless the day falls upon a weekend or state or banking holiday in which case the liability is due the next succeeding business day.

(D) A supplier shall give notification of late user fees remitted to the supplier by an eligible purchaser and give timely notification to the department of late remittances if that supplier previously gave notice to the department of an uncollectible user fee amount pursuant to Section 12-28-940(B).

SECTION 12-28-920. Liability of terminal operator for motor fuel user fee; payment.

(A) The terminal operator of a terminal in this State is jointly and severally liable for the user fee imposed under Section 12-28-310 and shall remit payment to this State upon discovery of either of the following conditions:

(1) The supplier with respect to the motor fuel subject to the user fee is a person other than the terminal operator and is not a licensed supplier. The terminal operator is relieved of liability if he establishes all of the following:

(a) The terminal operator has a valid terminal operator's license issued for the facility from which the motor fuel is withdrawn.

(b) The terminal operator has an unexpired notification certificate from the supplier as required by the department or the Internal Revenue Service.

(c) The terminal operator has no reason to believe that any information on the certificate is false.

(2) In connection with the removal of diesel fuel that is not dyed and marked in accordance with Internal Revenue Service requirements, the terminal operator provides a person with a bill of lading, shipping paper, or similar document indicating that the diesel fuel is dyed and marked in accordance with Internal Revenue Service requirements.

(B) The terminal operator is severally liable for the user fee imposed by this chapter and measured in accordance with Section 12-28-520(B) which is not allocable to a licensed supplier and shall remit the user fee due with the annual report required under Section 12-28-1330(E). No user fee is due if the terminal operator can establish by substantial evidence that the gallons lost were diesel fuel dyed before receipt by that terminal operator. No collection allowance or deductions are allowed with respect to payment of this user fee. If the gallons lost or unaccounted for exceed five percent of the gallons removed from that terminal across the rack, a penalty of one hundred percent of the user fee otherwise due must be paid by the terminal operator with the user fee due.

SECTION 12-28-925. Collection of motor fuel user fees from purchaser; election to defer user fee payment.

Each supplier and bonded importer who sells motor fuel subject to the user fee shall collect from the purchaser the motor fuel user fee imposed under Section 12-28-310. At the election of an eligible purchaser evidenced by a written statement from the department as to the purchaser eligibility status as determined under Section 12-28-930, the seller may not require a payment of motor fuel user fees on transport truckloads from the purchaser sooner than one business day before the date on which the user fee is required to be remitted by the supplier or bonded importer under Section 12-28-915. This election is subject to a condition that the eligible purchaser's remittances of all amounts of user fees due the seller must be paid by electronic funds transfer. Failure of a supplier or bonded importer to comply with the requirements of this section may result in suspension or revocation of the license in accordance with Section 12-28-1180(B). The eligible purchaser's election under this subsection may be terminated by the seller if the eligible purchaser does not make timely payments to the seller as required by this section.

SECTION 12-28-930. Qualifications of purchasers for election under Section 12-28-930; bond.

Each purchaser who desires to make an election under Section 12-28-925 shall present evidence to the department that the applicant was a licensee in good standing under the predecessor motor fuel statute as to which he remitted user fees to the department, or the applicant meets the financial responsibility and bonding requirements imposed by this chapter which bond shall conform to the specific requirements of this section. The department may require a purchaser who pays the user fee to a supplier to file with the department a surety bond payable to the State, upon which the purchaser is the obligor or other financial security, in an amount satisfactory to the department. The department may require that the bond indemnify the department against uncollectible user fee credits claimed by the supplier under Section 12-28-940.

SECTION 12-28-935. Recision of purchaser's eligibility and election to defer payment of user fees.

The department may rescind a purchaser's eligibility and election to defer motor fuel user fee remittances after a hearing and upon a showing of good cause, including failure to make timely user fee deferred payment to a supplier of the user fee under Section 12-28-925 by sending written notice to all suppliers or publishing notice of the revocation pursuant to regulations. The department may require further assurance of the purchaser's financial responsibility, may increase the bond requirement for that purchaser, or may take other action to ensure remittance of the motor fuel user fee. The department shall follow the revocation procedures under Section 12-28-1180 in rescinding eligible purchaser status.

SECTION 12-28-940. Computing amount of motor fuel user fees due.

(A) In computing the amount of motor fuel user fees due, the supplier is entitled to a credit against the user fee payable in the amount of the user fee paid by the supplier that is uncollectible from an eligible purchaser.

(B) The supplier shall provide notice to the department of a failure to collect user fees within ten days following the earliest date on which the supplier was entitled to collect the user from the eligible purchaser under Section 12-28-925.

(C) The department may promulgate regulations establishing the evidence a supplier shall provide to receive the credit.

(D) The credit must be claimed on the first return following the date of the failure of the eligible purchaser if the payment remains unpaid as of the filing date of that return or the credit is disallowed.

(E) The claim for credit must identify the defaulting eligible purchaser and any user fee liability that remains unpaid.

(F) If an eligible purchaser fails to make a timely payment of the amount of user fees due, the supplier's credit is limited to the amount due from the purchaser, plus any user fee that accrues from that purchaser for a period ending upon the date the supplier receives notice from the department of revocation of eligible purchaser status.

(G) No additional credit is allowed to a supplier under this section until the department authorizes the purchaser to make a new election under Section 12-28-925.

SECTION 12-28-945. Licensed tank wagon operator-importer; payment of user fees.

Each licensed tank wagon operator-importer who is liable for the user fee imposed by this chapter on nonexempt motor fuel imported by a tank wagon as to which the user fee previously has not been paid to a supplier, shall remit the motor fuel user fee for the preceding month's import activities with his monthly report of activities. A licensed tank wagon importer is allowed to retain the tare allowance provided for in Section 12-28-960(A).

SECTION 12-28-950. Payment of user fees by electronic fund transfer.

All suppliers and bonded importers required to remit the motor fuel user fee shall remit the motor fuel user fees due by electronic fund transfer acceptable to the department, if required by regulation. The transfer or payment must be made on or before the date the user fee is due.

SECTION 12-28-955. Supplier may retain one-tenth percent of user fee to cover cost of administration.

Every supplier and permissive supplier who properly remits user fees under this chapter is allowed to retain one-tenth percent of the user fee imposed by this chapter and collected and remitted by that supplier in accordance with this chapter to cover the cost of administration including reporting, audit compliance, dye injection, and shipping paper preparation.

SECTION 12-28-960. Tare allowance allowed to eligible purchaser, licensee importer, and supplier.

(A) A tare allowance is allowed to each eligible purchaser, licensee importer, and supplier who lawfully is engaged in the distribution of user fee-paid motor fuel within this State to offset thermal shrinkage and measurement differences occurring after removal of the motor fuel subject to the user fee from the terminal. The amount of the tare allowance is equal to two and sixty-five one-hundredths percent not to exceed two thousand dollars a month of the amount of the user fee imposed by this chapter and paid by the person, directly or indirectly, subject to the requirements and limitations set out in subsections (B) and (C). However, the tare allowance is not applicable more than once to any motor fuel subject to the user fee.

(B) Every eligible purchaser who acquires motor fuel subject to the user fee from a supplier or licensed importer for distribution and use in this State, which motor fuel was previously subject to the user fee imposed by this chapter, is entitled to the tare allowance provided by subsection (A) by way of quarterly refund application to the department under regulations promulgated by and on forms prescribed by the department. The total amount of tare allowance claimed by the person may not exceed two thousand dollars for any month.

(C) Every licensed importer and supplier making sales of user fee-paid motor fuel to persons other than eligible purchasers is entitled to the tare allowance provided by subsection (A) by way of a credit against user fee remittances due to the State payable by the person. The total amount of tare allowance claimed by the person may not exceed two thousand dollars for any month.

SECTION 12-28-965. User fees collected on motor fuel belongs to State and is held in trust by collector; personal liability for user fee, penalty and interest.

The user fee that a supplier, importer, or fuel vendor collects on the sale of motor fuel subject to the user fee belongs to the State. These persons shall hold the money in trust for the State and for payment to the department as provided in this chapter. For a corporation or partnership, each officer, employee, or member of the employer who is in that capacity is under a duty to collect the user fee and is personally liable for the user fee, penalty, and interest.

SECTION 12-28-970. Backup user fee equal to the user fee imposed.

(A) A backup user fee equal to the user fee imposed by Section 12-28-310 is imposed and must be administered in accordance with procedures established by the department on the use on the highways of motor fuel subject to the user fee by an end user, including operators of state and local government vehicles, American Red Cross vehicles, and buses, and other persons exempted from the full federal highway tax, unless the person is exempted otherwise under Section 12-28-710(A)(12), upon the delivery in this State into the fuel supply tank of a highway vehicle of:

(1) diesel fuel that contains a dye;

(2) motor fuel subject to the user fee on which a claim for refund has been made;

(3) alternative fuels; or

(4) substitute fuel on which a user fee previously has not been imposed by this chapter.

(B) The ultimate vendor of motor fuel subject to the user fee is jointly and severally liable for the user fee imposed by subsection (A) if the ultimate vendor knows or has reason to know that the motor fuel, as to which the user fee imposed by this chapter has not been paid, is or will be consumed in a nonexempt use.

(C)(1) A back-up user fee equal to the user fee imposed by Section 12-28-310 is imposed on a liquid or gas that is not otherwise taxed pursuant to this chapter and that is commonly or commercially known or sold as a fuel suitable for use in a highway vehicle. The user fee is due upon the first receipt of the product when received from a source outside of South Carolina by any wholesaler, retailer, or end-user and the user fee is imposed upon, and is the liability of, the wholesaler, retailer, or end-user who first received the product into the State.

(2) A back-up user fee equal to the user fee imposed by Section 12-28-310 is imposed on any liquid or gas that is not otherwise taxed pursuant to this chapter and that is commonly or commercially known or sold as a fuel suitable for use in a highway vehicle. The user fee is due upon the first sale or use of the product when produced in this State by a person and the user fee is imposed upon the first in-state sale or use by that person. The user fee is imposed upon, and is the liability of, the producer of the product.

SECTION 12-28-975. Diversion of motor fuel subject to the user fee.

(A) If an exporter diverts motor fuel subject to the user fee removed from a terminal in this State from an intended destination outside South Carolina as shown on the terminal-issued shipping papers to a destination within this State, the exporter, in addition to compliance with the notification provided for by Section 12-28-780, shall notify and pay the user fee imposed by Section 12-28-310 to the State upon the same terms and conditions as if the exporter were an occasional importer licensed under Section 12-28-905(A) without deduction for the allowances provided by Section 12-28-960.

(B) If an exporter removes from a bulk plant in this State motor fuel subject to the user fee as to which the user fee imposed by this chapter previously has been paid or accrued, the exporter may apply for and the State shall issue a refund of the user fee upon a showing of proof of export satisfactory to the department in conformity with Section 12-28-720, net of the allowances provided by Section 12-28-960.

(C) If an unlicensed importer diverts motor fuel subject to the user fee from a destination outside this State to a destination inside this State after having removed the product from a terminal outside South Carolina, the importer, in addition to compliance with the notification provided for by Section 12-28-1525, shall notify the State and shall pay the user fee imposed by this chapter to South Carolina upon the same terms and conditions as if the unlicensed importer were a licensed occasional importer subject to Section 12-28-905(A) without deduction for the allowances provided by Section 12-28-960.

(D) All licensed importers otherwise shall report and pay user fees on diversions into this State of imported motor fuel subject to the user fee under Section 12-28-905(A) or (B) in accordance with the regulations applicable to that license class. No Section 12-28-960 allowances may be deducted with respect to diverted shipments. An importer who has purchased the product from a licensed supplier, by mutual agreement with the supplier, may permit the supplier to assume the importer's liability and adjust the importer's user fees payable to the supplier.

(E) If a monthly report is filed or the amount due is remitted later than the time required by this chapter, the user fee remitter shall pay to the department all of the motor fuel user fee the remitter collected from the sale of motor fuel subject to the user fee during the user fee period in addition to penalties and interest.

(F) If there is a legal diversion from a destination in this State to another state, Section 12-28-1525 applies, and an unlicensed exporter diverting the product shall apply for a refund from this State in conformity with Sections 12-28-710(A)(3) and 12-28-720 less the Section 12-28-960 allowance, except that a supplier may take a credit for diversions directed by that supplier for his own account, and the exporter, by mutual agreement with his supplier, may assign his claim to the supplier for which the supplier may take a credit.

SECTION 12-28-980. Final reports accompanied by payment; election to pay in installments.

(A) The final report required by Section 12-28-1350 must be accompanied by payment of the final month's liability except as otherwise provided in this section.

(B) A motor fuel vendor who possessed a license to sell motor fuel subject to the user fee at wholesale or at retail before the effective