Carbon Tax on Highway Fuels

(a)

In general

Paragraph (1) of section 4611(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by striking and at the end of subparagraph (A), by striking the period at the end of subparagraph (B) and inserting , and, and by inserting after subparagraph (B) the following new subparagraph:

(C)the carbon dioxide equivalent rate.

(b)

Rates

(1)

In general

Paragraph (2) of section 4611(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by striking and at the end of subparagraph (A), by striking the period at the end of subparagraph (B) and inserting , and, and by inserting after subparagraph (B) the following new subparagraph:

(C)the carbon dioxide equivalent rate is— (i)$50 per metric ton (or portion thereof) of total life-cycle emissions of carbon dioxide, and (ii)an equivalent amount per metric ton (or portion thereof) of total life-cycle emissions of any other greenhouse gas determined on a ratio of the amount such other greenhouse gas per metric ton as the amount of carbon dioxide per metric ton,

in the crude oil or petroleum product (as the case may be) subject to tax under subsection (a) which is to be refined into gasoline or diesel fuel.

For purposes of subparagraph (C), total life-cycle emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases shall be determined by the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency pursuant to section 4 of the Gas Tax Replacement Act of 2014.

(2)

Adjustment for inflation

Section 4611(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end the following:

(3)

Carbon dioxide equivalent rate inflation adjustment

(A)

In general

In the case of any calendar year after 2014, the dollar amount in paragraph (2)(C) shall be increased by an amount equal to— (i)such dollar amount, multiplied by (ii)the cost-of-living adjustment determined under section 1(f)(3) for the calendar year, determined by substituting “calendar year 2013” for “calendar year 1992” in subparagraph (B) thereof. (B)

Rounding

If any amount as increased under subparagraph (A) is not a multiple of $1, such amount shall be rounded to the nearest multiple of $1.

(c)

Alternative fuels producer excise tax

(1)

In general

Subchapter A of chapter 38 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by inserting after section 4611 the following:

4611A.

Certain alternative fuels

(a)

General Rule

There is hereby imposed a tax at the rate specified in subsection (b) on— (1)methanol, ethanol, and biodiesel produced in the United States by the producer thereof, and (2)methanol, ethanol, and biodiesel, and any blended product thereof, entered into the United States for consumption, use, or warehousing. (b)

Rate of tax

The rate of the tax imposed by this section is— (1)$50 per metric ton (or portion thereof) of total life-cycle emissions of carbon dioxide, and (2)an equivalent amount per metric ton (or portion thereof) of total life-cycle emissions of any other greenhouse gas determined on a ratio of the amount such other greenhouse gas per metric ton as the amount of carbon dioxide per metric ton,

in methanol, ethanol, and biodiesel, and any blended product thereof, produced or entered into in the United States. For purposes of the preceding sentence, total life-cycle emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases shall be determined by the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency pursuant to section 4 of the Gas Tax Replacement Act of 2014.

(c)

Persons liable for tax

(1)

United States production

The tax imposed by subsection (a)(1) shall be paid by the producer of the product on which such tax is imposed. (2)

Imported products

The tax imposed by subsection (a)(2) shall be paid by the person entering the product for consumption, use, or warehousing.

(2)

Clerical amendment

The table of sections for subchapter A of chapter 38 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 4611 the following new item:

Sec. 4611A. Certain alternative fuels.

(d)

Credits and payments for nontaxable uses

(1)

Gasoline used on farms

Section 6420 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by inserting after subsection (g) the following:

(h)

Special rule for carbon dioxide equivalent rate of tax

For purposes of this section, a gallon of gasoline refined from a barrel of crude oil or petroleum product on which tax was imposed under section 4611 at the carbon dioxide equivalent rate under subsection (c)(1)(C) thereof and used for a purpose described in subsection (a)— (1)shall be treated as a gallon of gasoline to which this section applies, and (2)the rate at which tax was imposed under section 4611 with respect to such gallon shall be the same fraction of so much of the tax imposed under section 4611 as is attributable to subsection (c)(1)(C) thereof on such barrel as the fraction of such gallon of gas is of the whole barrel.

(2)

Gasoline used for certain nonhighway purposes, etc

Section 6421 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by redesignating subsection (j) as subsection (k) and by inserting after subsection (i) the following:

(j)

Special rule for carbon dioxide equivalent rate of tax

For purposes of this section, in the case of a gallon of gasoline refined from a barrel of crude oil or petroleum product on which tax was imposed under section 4611 at the carbon dioxide equivalent rate under subsection (c)(1)(C) thereof— (1)if such gallon is used for a purpose described in subsection (a) or (b) or is sold for a purpose described in subsection (c), such gallon shall be treated as a gallon of gasoline to which this section applies, and (2)the rate at which tax was imposed under section 4611 with respect to such gallon shall be the same fraction of so much of the tax imposed under section 4611 as is attributable to subsection (c)(1)(C) thereof on such barrel as the fraction of such gallon of gas is of the whole barrel.

(3)

Credit for alcohol fuel, biodiesel, and alternative fuel mixtures

Section 6426(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by striking and at the end of paragraph (1), by striking the period at the end of paragraph (2) and inserting a comma, and by inserting after paragraph (2) the following:

(3)against so much of the tax imposed by section 4611 as is attributable to the carbon dioxide equivalent rate of tax under subsection (c)(1)(C) an amount equal to the credit described in subsection (c), determined on the same fraction of the amount of such tax as the number of gallons of diesel used by the taxpayer in producing any biodiesel mixture for sale or use in a trade or business of the taxpayer, and (4)against the tax imposed by section 4611A an amount equal to the sum of the credits described in subsections (b), (c), and (e), determined on the same fraction of the amount of such tax as the number of gallons of alcohol, biodiesel, or alternative fuel used by the taxpayer in producing any fuel mixture of taxable fuel.

(4)

Fuels not used for taxable purposes

Section 6427 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by redesignating subsection (p) as subsection (q) and by inserting after subsection (o) the following:

(p)

Special rule for carbon dioxide equivalent rate

For purposes of this section, in the case of a gallon of fuel refined from a barrel of crude oil or petroleum product on which tax was imposed under section 4611 at the carbon dioxide equivalent rate of tax under subsection (c)(1)(C) thereof, or produced from methanol, ethanol, or biodiesel on which tax was imposed under section 4611A, if the sale or use of such fuel would give rise to a payment under this section but for the fact that such fuel was taxed under section 4611 or 4611A and not section 4041 or 4081— (1)this section shall be applied as if such fuel had been taxed under section 4041 or 4081, and (2)the rate at which tax was imposed under section 4611 or 4611A with respect to such fuel shall be— (A)in the case of tax imposed under section 4611(c)(1)(C), the same fraction of such tax on such barrel as the fraction of a gallon of such fuel is of the whole barrel, and (B)in the case of tax imposed under section 4611A, the same fraction of the amount of such tax as the amount of fuel giving rise to a payment under this section.

(e)

Effective date

The amendments made by this section shall take effect on January 1, 2016.

Life-cycle emissions

(a)

Carbon dioxide emissions report

Not later than the first ____ occurring at least 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall transmit to the Internal Revenue Service and make public a report on the total life-cycle emissions of carbon dioxide for each covered transportation fuel, expressed in tons of carbon dioxide emissions per barrel of fuel or an appropriate alternate measure. Such report shall take into account the differences in carbon dioxide emissions per barrel of fuel across different regions and countries due to means of resource extraction and production, transportation, and other factors, with each covered transportation fuel being as regionally specific as determined by the Administrator. (b)

Addition of covered transportation fuel

The Administrator shall— (1)from time to time determine which transportation fuels have achieved a sufficient share of the on-road transportation fuel market to warrant being considered a covered transportation fuel, and (2)update the report transmitted under subsection (a), and transmit such updated report to Congress, with the specifications on the total life-cycle emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases for each fuel newly determined under paragraph (1) to be considered a covered transportation fuel. (c)

Definitions

In this section: (1)

Administrator

The term Administrator means the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. (2)

Biofuel

The term biofuel means the biofuel component of a transportation fuel. (3)

Covered transportation fuel

The term covered transportation fuel means gasoline, diesel fuel, biofuel, and any other fuel the Administrator determines has achieved a sufficient share of the on-road transportation fuel market to warrant regulation under this section. (4)

Greenhouse gas

The term greenhouse gas has the same meaning given the term in section 211(o)(1) of the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7545(o)(1)). (5)

Life-cycle emissions

The term life-cycle emissions means emissions from all activities included in the production, transport, storage, and use of a fuel, including land use changes, means of resource extraction and production, transportation systems, and leakages.