Not sure of the specific question, but that tax has been around since 1980.
The Act also created the Gas Guzzler Tax[3] which applies to the sales of vehicles with official EPA-estimated gas mileage below certain specified levels. In 1980, the tax was $200 for a fuel efficiency of 14 to 15 miles per gallon, and was increased to $1800 in 1985. In 1980, the tax was $550 for fuel efficiencies of 13 mpg and below, and was changed in 1986 to $3,850 for ratings below 12.5 mpg. The Gas Guzzler Tax applies only to passenger cars. Trucks, sport utility vehicles (SUV), and minivans are not covered because these vehicle types were not widely available in 1978 and were rarely used for non-commercial purposes. The tax is collected by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and normally paid by the manufacturer or importer. The following chart shows the current tax for various levels of MPG that have been in effect since January 1, 1991.
Gas Guzzler Tax - EPA
The Act also created the Gas Guzzler Tax[3] which applies to the sales of vehicles with official EPA-estimated gas mileage below certain specified levels. In 1980, the tax was $200 for a fuel efficiency of 14 to 15 miles per gallon, and was increased to $1800 in 1985. In 1980, the tax was $550 for fuel efficiencies of 13 mpg and below, and was changed in 1986 to $3,850 for ratings below 12.5 mpg. The Gas Guzzler Tax applies only to passenger cars. Trucks, sport utility vehicles (SUV), and minivans are not covered because these vehicle types were not widely available in 1978 and were rarely used for non-commercial purposes. The tax is collected by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and normally paid by the manufacturer or importer. The following chart shows the current tax for various levels of MPG that have been in effect since January 1, 1991.
Unadjusted MPG (combined) | Tax |
---|---|
at least 22.5 | No tax |
at least 21.5, but less than 22.5 | $1000 |
at least 20.5, but less than 21.5 | $1300 |
at least 19.5, but less than 20.5 | $1700 |
at least 18.5, but less than 19.5 | $2100 |
at least 17.5, but less than 18.5 | $2600 |
at least 16.5, but less than 17.5 | $3000 |
at least 15.5, but less than 16.5 | $3700 |
at least 14.5, but less than 15.5 | $4500 |
at least 13.5, but less than 14.5 | $5400 |
at least 12.5, but less than 13.5 | $6400 |
less than 12.5 | $7700 |
Gas Guzzler Tax - EPA