Kemp suspends Georgia's motor fuel tax

Gas_4571 — Motorists take advantage of a July 2024 promotion sponsored by Americans for Prosperity-Georgia. As part of the promotion, the group lowered gas prices at a Chevron in Dunwoody temporarily to $2.389 per gallon of regular unleaded gas, which the group said was the national average price per gallon in January 2021. (Photo by Todd DeFeo/The DeFeo Groupe)

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp has suspended the state’s motor fuel tax in response to Hurricane Helene.

Kemp signed an executive order on Tuesday suspending the tax. The suspension takes effect on Friday.

The governor took similar action in 2022 and 2023 when he suspended the collection of motor and locomotive fuel starting in March 2022.

Suspension of the excise tax will save Georgians 32.3 cents per gallon of gasoline and 36.2 cents per gallon of diesel fuel. The tax typically brings in between $160 million and $180 million per month.

As Georgians recover from Hurricane Helene, with the support of our legislative partners, I have suspended the gas tax for the duration of this State of Emergency – bringing relief to communities who continue to rely on fuel to power their homes and necessary equipment. pic.twitter.com/hrv5QKnewf

— Governor Brian P. Kemp (@GovKemp) October 1, 2024