Who can get a Missouri gas tax refund and how much

Missouri offers a gas tax refund to farmers, commercial fishermen, and certain other businesses that buy gasoline for off-road use. The refund covers the state excise tax on fuel used in farm equipment, fishing boats, or other non-highway vehicles. The amount you can recover depends on how much may have access to fuel you bought during the tax year — there is no fixed dollar limit, but you must have purchased at least $25 worth of taxable fuel to file.

The refund is administered by the Missouri Department of Revenue. You cannot get money back for fuel used in vehicles driven on public roads, even if you own a business. The tax you paid at the pump is what the state refunds; you are not getting a discount on future purchases.

Key Takeaways

  • Missouri gas tax refunds are only for farmers, commercial fishermen, and certain other businesses using fuel for off-road equipment or vehicles.
  • You must have spent at least $25 on may have access to fuel during the tax year to file a refund claim.
  • The refund form is filed with your Missouri income tax return or submitted separately to the Department of Revenue.
  • You will need to keep fuel receipts or invoices showing the date, amount, and type of fuel purchased.
  • Processing takes four to eight weeks after the Department of Revenue receives your complete claim.

What counts as may have access to fuel for the refund

Gasoline and diesel fuel used in farm equipment, irrigation pumps, grain dryers, and fishing boats all may have access to. Fuel for lawn mowers, generators, and other equipment used solely for business purposes on your own property also counts. The key test is that the fuel must not have been used to power a vehicle driven on a public road.

Fuel purchased with a tax-exempt certificate does not may have access to for a refund — you cannot claim the tax back if you did not pay it in the first place. If you bought fuel in bulk or had it delivered, you still need documentation showing the purchase date, quantity, and price.

How to file your Missouri gas tax refund claim

You have two filing routes. If you file a Missouri income tax return, you can include the refund claim on that return using Form MO-1040 with Schedule A attached. If you do not file an income tax return, you can submit the claim directly to the Missouri Department of Revenue using Form 4618 (Gas Tax Refund Claim).

Download Form 4618 from the Missouri Department of Revenue website or request it by mail. Fill in your name, address, tax identification number, and the total amount of may have access to fuel purchased during the tax year. Attach copies of your fuel receipts or invoices as proof of purchase. Mail the completed form and supporting documents to the address listed on the form, or deliver them in person to a Department of Revenue office.

The tax year runs January 1 through December 31. You must file your refund claim by April 15 of the following year to receive the refund for that tax year. If you file your income tax return late, your refund claim is also considered late unless you have a valid extension.

What documentation you need to keep

Save every receipt or invoice for fuel purchased for off-road use. The document must show the date of purchase, the quantity of fuel (in gallons), the type of fuel (gasoline or diesel), and the total price. Credit card statements alone are not enough — you need the actual receipt from the fuel seller.

If you buy fuel in bulk from a supplier or have it delivered, the delivery invoice counts as your receipt. If you purchased fuel from a farm co-op or fuel distributor, keep the itemized receipt showing the fuel type and amount. Handwritten records or personal logs are not accepted as proof; the Department of Revenue requires documentation from the seller.

Timeline for receiving your refund

After the Department of Revenue receives your complete claim, processing typically takes four to eight weeks. If you file your claim with your income tax return, the refund may be combined with any income tax refund you are owed and sent together. If you file the claim separately, the Department of Revenue will mail a check to the address on your form.

If your claim is incomplete — for example, if receipts are missing or illegible — the Department of Revenue will contact you and ask for the missing information. This can add two to four weeks to the timeline. If you do not respond within 30 days, your claim may be denied.

What to do if your refund is delayed or denied

Check the status of your claim by contacting the Missouri Department of Revenue directly. Call the Excise Tax Section at 573-751-4541 during business hours, or visit a Department of Revenue office in person with your claim number or tax ID. Have your filing date and the amount claimed ready when you call.

If your claim was denied, the Department of Revenue will send you a letter explaining why. Common reasons include incomplete documentation, fuel purchased for highway use, or filing after the April 15 deadline. If you believe the denial was wrong, you can request a review by submitting a written appeal with additional documentation within 60 days of the denial letter.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get a refund for fuel I bought last year if I did not file a claim?

No. Missouri requires gas tax refund claims to be filed by April 15 of the year following the purchase. If you missed that deadline, you cannot recover the tax for that year. Going forward, mark April 15 on your calendar each year to file on time.

What if I lost some of my fuel receipts?

You can only claim refunds for fuel you can document. If you have receipts for some purchases but not others, submit the claim with the receipts you have. The Department of Revenue will refund the tax on the documented amount only. Keep all receipts in a folder throughout the year to avoid this problem.

Do I need to file a separate claim if I use both gasoline and diesel?

No. Use one Form 4618 and list the total amount spent on all may have access to fuel types. The refund covers both gasoline and diesel at the same state tax rate, so you do not need separate forms.

Can I file a gas tax refund claim if I also file an income tax return?

Yes. You can include the refund claim on your income tax return, or file it separately — but not both. Filing it with your income tax return is usually faster because both are processed together.