Update, Promote, and Develop America's Transportation Essentials Act of 2015

To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to increase the excise tax on gasoline, diesel, and kerosene fuels. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Update, Promote, and Develop America’s Transportation Essentials Act of 2015 2. Findings; sense of Congress (a) Findings The Congress finds the following: (1) Since the passage of SAFETEA–LU, Congress has transferred over $60 billion from the General Fund to the Highway Trust Fund, in order to maintain solvency. (2) The Congressional Budget Office estimates after the end of Fiscal year 2017, annual General Fund transfers of approximately $15 billion will be necessary in order to maintain current Highway Trust Fund spending levels. (3) The Congressional Budget Office also estimates that in order to provide funding for surface transportation projects where the Federal benefit outweighs the cost, an additional $83 billion a year would need to be allocated to the Highway and Transit Trust Funds. (4) The American Society for Civil Engineers estimates that in order to meet our economic and transportation needs, the United States should invest at least an additional $500 billion in our surface transportation system by 2020. (5) The National Commission on Fiscal Reform and Responsibility report, often referred to as the Simpson-Bowles (6) The National Surface Transportation Infrastructure Financing Commission recommended, in their 2009 report, that Congress take action to prevent the Highway Trust Fund from becoming insolvent, and to avoid any reductions in infrastructure spending. The Commission also noted that a Federal funding system based on a vehicle miles traveled system, is the consensus choice for the future. (b) Sense of Congress regarding replacement of gas tax It is the sense of Congress that by 2024 the gas tax should be repealed and replaced with a more sustainable, stable funding source. 3. Tax on motor fuels (a) Gasoline other than aviation gasoline Section 4081(a)(2)(A)(i) (i) in the case of gasoline other than aviation gasoline— (I) for tax imposed before 2016, 18.3 cents per gallon, (II) for tax imposed during 2016, 26.3 cents per gallon, (III) for tax imposed during 2017, 30.3 cents per gallon, and (IV) for tax imposed after 2017 and before 2028, 33.3 cents per gallon, . (b) Diesel fuel or kerosene Section 4081(a)(2)(A)(iii) (iii) in the case of diesel fuel or kerosene— (I) for tax imposed before 2016, 24.3 cents per gallon, (II) for tax imposed during 2016, 32.3 cents per gallon, (III) for tax imposed during 2017, 36.3 cents per gallon, and (IV) for tax imposed after 2017 and before 2027, 39.3 cents per gallon, . (c) Increase for inflation Paragraph (2) of section 4081(a) of such Code is amended by adding at the end the following: (E) Adjustment for inflation In the case of any calendar year beginning after 2017, the rates of tax contained in clauses (i)(IV) and (iii)(IV) of subparagraph (A) shall each be increased by an amount equal to— (i) such rate, multiplied by (ii) the cost of living adjustment determined under section 1(f)(3) for the calendar year, determined by substituting calendar year 2016 calendar year 1992 Any increase under the preceding sentence shall be rounded to the nearest 0.1 cents. . (d) Diesel-Water fuel emulsion Section 4081(a)(2)(D) 19.7 cents 24.3 cents a rate equal to 71 percent of the rate in effect under subparagraph (A) (without regard to this subparagraph) (e) Termination Section 4081(d)(1) September 30, 2016 December 31, 2026 (f) Allocation in accounts in highway trust fund (1) In general Section 9503(e)(2)(A) (A) except as otherwise provided in this sentence— (i) 2.86 cents per gallon with respect to taxes imposed during calendar year 2015, (ii) 3.86 cents per gallon with respect to taxes imposed during calendar year 2016, (iii) 4.86 cents per gallon with respect to taxes imposed during calendar year 2017, and (iv) 5.86 cents per gallon with respect to taxes imposed after calendar year 2017, . (2) Adjustment for inflation Section 9503(e) (6) Adjustment for inflation In the case of any calendar year beginning after 2017, the rate of tax contained in paragraph (2)(A)(iv) shall be increased by an amount equal to— (A) such rate, multiplied by (B) the cost of living adjustment determined under section 1(f)(3) for the calendar year, determined by substituting calendar year 2016 calendar year 1992 Any increase under the preceding sentence shall be rounded to the nearest 0.1 cents. . (g) Effective date The amendments made by this section shall apply to fuels or liquids removed, entered, or sold after December 31, 2015. 4. Floor stocks tax (a) Imposition of tax In the case of any taxable liquid which is held on the floor stocks tax date by any person, there is hereby imposed a floor stocks tax equal to the excess of the tax which would be imposed on such liquid under section 4041 or 4081 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 had the taxable event occurred on the floor stocks tax date over the tax paid under any such section on such liquid. (b) Liability for tax and method of payment (1) Liability for tax A person holding a liquid on the floor stocks tax date to which the tax imposed by subsection (a) applies shall be liable for such tax. (2) Method of payment The tax imposed by subsection (a) shall be paid in such manner as the Secretary shall prescribe. (3) Time of payment The tax imposed by subsection (a) shall be paid on or before the date which is 6 months after the floor stocks tax date. (c) Definitions For purposes of this section— (1) Held by a person A liquid shall be considered as held by a person if title thereto has passed to such person (whether or not delivery to the person has been made). (2) Taxable liquid The term taxable liquid (3) Floor stocks date The term floor stocks tax date (4) Secretary The term Secretary (d) Exception for exempt uses The tax imposed by subsection (a) shall not apply to taxable liquid held by any person exclusively for any use to the extent a credit or refund of the tax imposed by a section of such Code is allowable for such use. (e) Exception for fuel held in vehicle tank No tax shall be imposed by subsection (a) on taxable liquid held in the tank of a motor vehicle or motorboat. (f) Exception for certain amounts of fuel (1) In general No tax shall be imposed by subsection (A) on any liquid held on the floor stocks tax date by any person if the aggregate amount of liquid held by such person on such date does not exceed 2,000 gallons. The preceding sentence shall apply only if such person submits to the Secretary (at the time and in the manner required by the Secretary) such information as the Secretary shall require for purposes of this paragraph. (2) Exempt fuel For purposes of paragraph (1), there shall not be taken into account fuel held by any person which is exempt from the tax imposed by subsection (a) by reason of subsection (d) or (e). (3) Controlled groups For purposes of this section— (A) Corporations (i) In general All persons treated as a controlled group shall be treated as 1 person. (ii) Controlled group The term controlled group more than 50 percent at least 80 percent (B) Nonincorporated persons under common control Under regulations prescribed by the Secretary, principles similar to the principles of clause (i) shall apply to a group of persons under common control where one or more of such persons is not a corporation. (g) Other laws applicable All provisions of law, including penalties, applicable with respect to the taxes imposed by chapter 31 or 32 of such Code shall, insofar as applicable and not inconsistent with the provisions of this section, apply with respect to the floor stock taxes imposed by subsection (a) to the same extent as if such taxes were imposed by such chapter.

Summary: Update, Promote, and Develop America's Transportation Essentials Act of 2015 Expresses the sense of Congress that by 2024 the gas tax should be repealed and replaced with a more sustainable, stable funding source. Amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to the excise tax on motor fuels, to increase the rate of tax on: (1) gasoline other than aviation gasoline to 26.3 cents per gallon in 2016, 30.3 cents per gallon in 2017, and 33.3 cents per gallon after 2017 and before 2028; (2) diesel fuel or kerosene to 32.3 cents per gallon in 2016, 36.3 cents per gallon in 2017, and 39.3 cents per gallon after 2017 and before 2027; and (3) diesel-water fuel emulsion. Delays the termination of such increased rates from the end of FY2016 to December 31, 2026. Requires an adjustment for inflation to such increased rates beginning after 2017. Increases allocations in the Mass Transit Account of the Highway Trust Fund in 2016 and 2017 and after 2017. Imposes a floor stocks tax on rate increases for gasoline, diesel fuel, and  kerosene (other than aviation-grade kerosene), subject to specified exemptions for exempt uses and low-volume producers.