Overbey wants kerosene for heating to be tax free

State Rep. Doug Overbey wants the state to drop the sales tax on kerosene used for home heating fuel.

On Dec. 13 he called on the Department of Revenue to clarify its position on the taxing of kerosene used as a home heating fuel. There have apparently been discrepancies regarding the department’s position, and Overbey said the matter cannot be overlooked.

“I poured over the department’s Technical Corrections Bill, which, by its very nature, is a long and complex document. We were told the section regarding taxable sales applied only to those sales of propane, not used for home heating purposes,” Overbey said. “But now the interpretation by the department is that kerosene used for home heating is taxable, and I believe they need to end it, consistent with the department’s explanation of this provision provided to the legislature.”

Overbey said he is asking that the department rescind its current interpretation and not tax kerosene used as home heating fuel. “It boils down to this: a large amount of the kerosene sold in my district during the winter months is for home heating purposes,” he said. “It is neither fair nor right to hit our citizens’ wallets this hard this time of year.”

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