Heavy Truck, Tractor, and Trailer Retail Federal Excise Tax Repeal Act of 2017

To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal the excise tax on heavy trucks and trailers, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Heavy Truck, Tractor, and Trailer Retail Federal Excise Tax Repeal Act of 2017 2. Findings The Congress finds that— (1) there is a 12-percent Federal retail excise tax on certain new heavy trucks, tractors, and trailers, coupled with new regulatory mandates, significantly increasing the cost of new heavy-duty trucks, tractors, and trailers, and discourages the replacement of older, less environmentally clean and less fuel economical vehicles; (2) this 12-percent Federal retail excise tax is the highest percentage rate of any Federal ad valorem excise tax; (3) the Federal excise tax was first levied by Congress in 1917 to help finance America’s involvement in World War I; (4) in 2016, the average manufacturer suggested retail price for heavy trucks was over $175,921; (5) the 12-percent Federal retail excise tax routinely adds between $12,000 and $22,000 to the cost of a heavy truck, tractor, or trailer; (6) the average in-use, heavy truck is 9.5 years old, close to the historical all-time high; (7) the Environmental Protection Agency’s model year 2002–2010 tailpipe emissions rules account for $20,000 of the average price of today’s new heavy-duty trucks; (8) according to the 2011 Environmental Protection Agency and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Regulatory Impact Analysis entitled Final Rulemaking to Establish Greenhouse Gas Emissions Standards and Fuel Efficiency Standards for Medium and Heavy-Duty Engines and Vehicles (9) according to the 2016 Environmental Protection Agency and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Final Rule entitled Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Fuel Efficiency Standards for Medium and Heavy-Duty Engines and Vehicles—Phase 2 (10) the $39,183 average per truck cost of these regulatory mandates results in an additional $4,700 Federal excise tax, on average; (11) since the Federal retail excise tax on certain new heavy trucks, tractors, and trailers is based on annual sales, receipts from the tax deposited in the Highway Trust Fund can vary greatly; and (12) Congress should consider a more reliable and consistent revenue mechanism to protect the Highway Trust Fund. 3. Repeal of excise tax on heavy trucks and trailers (a) In general Chapter 31 (b) Conforming amendments (1) Section 4072(c) of such Code is amended to read as follows: (c) Tires of the type used on highway vehicles (1) In general For purposes of this part, the term tires of the type used on highway vehicles (A) motor vehicles which are highway vehicles, or (B) vehicles of the type used in connection with motor vehicles which are highway vehicles. (2) Exception for mobile machinery (A) In general Such term shall not include tires of a type used exclusively on mobile machinery. (B) Mobile machinery For purposes of subparagraph (A), the term mobile machinery (i) to which there has been permanently mounted (by welding, bolting, riveting, or other means) machinery or equipment to perform a construction, manufacturing, processing, farming, mining, drilling, timbering, or similar operation if the operation of the machinery or equipment is unrelated to transportation on or off the public highways, (ii) which has been specially designed to serve only as a mobile carriage and mount (and a power source, where applicable) for the particular machinery or equipment involved, whether or not such machinery or equipment is in operation, and (iii) which, by reason of such special design, could not, without substantial structural modification, be used as a component of a vehicle designed to perform a function of transporting any load other than that particular machinery or equipment or similar machinery or equipment requiring such a specially designed chassis. . (2) Section 4221 of such Code is amended— (A) by striking 4051 or (B) by striking and in the case of any article sold free of tax under section 4053(6), (3) Section 4222(d) of such Code is amended by striking 4053(6), (4) Section 4293 of such Code is amended by striking section 4051, (5) Section 6416(b)(2) of such Code is amended by striking or under section 4051 (6) Section 6416(b) of such Code is amended by striking paragraph (6). (7) Section 9503(b)(1) of such Code is amended by striking subparagraph (B) and by redesignating subparagraphs (C), (D), and (E) as subparagraphs (B), (C), and (D), respectively. (c) Effective date The amendments made by this section shall apply to sales and installations on or after the date of the introduction of this Act.

Summary: Heavy Truck, Tractor, and Trailer Retail Federal Excise Tax Repeal Act of 2017 This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to repeal the 12% excise tax on the retail sale of heavy trucks and trailers.