IFTA Tax Rates in Utah (2026)
Utah is the rare state that got cheaper for gasoline trucks in 2026 and slightly dearer for diesel ones. Effective July 1, 2026 the motor fuel (gasoline) rate is 31.9 cents a gallon under a temporary six-month cut, while the special fuel (diesel) rate is 38.5 cents. Here is what that means line by line on your IFTA return.
By the HaulMath editorial team · Updated $1
Key numbers at a glance
| Fuel | Rate Jan 1 – Jun 30, 2026 | Rate from Jul 1, 2026 | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (motor fuel) | 37.9¢/gal | 31.9¢/gal | Utah State Tax Commission |
| Diesel (special fuel) | 37.9¢/gal | 38.5¢/gal | Utah State Tax Commission |
| Certain alternative fuels | 21.9¢ per GGE or DGE beginning January 1, 2026 | Utah rate announcements | |
| Federal excise (not part of IFTA) | 24.4¢ diesel / 18.4¢ gasoline | Outside IFTA entirely | |
IFTA tax rates in Utah
Rates below are as of Q4 2026 — confirm the current official IFTA matrix before filing. Utah is jurisdiction code 49 on your IFTA return.
| Fuel | Rate Jan 1 – Jun 30, 2026 | Rate from Jul 1, 2026 | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (motor fuel) | 37.9¢/gal | 31.9¢/gal | Utah State Tax Commission |
| Diesel (special fuel) | 37.9¢/gal | 38.5¢/gal | Utah State Tax Commission |
| Certain alternative fuels | 21.9¢ per GGE or DGE beginning January 1, 2026 | Utah rate announcements | |
| Federal excise (not part of IFTA) | 24.4¢ diesel / 18.4¢ gasoline | Outside IFTA entirely | |
The backstory matters more than the snapshot. Utah indexes its fuel taxes, and the statutory calculation for 2026 nudged rates down 0.6 cents from their 2025 levels, putting both fuels at 37.9 cents on January 1. Then HB 575 cut the motor fuel rate by about 15 percent — six cents — from July 1 through December 31, 2026, a temporary reduction, per the Utah State Tax Commission and NCSL. Diesel did not get the holiday; the special fuel rate actually settled at 38.5 cents from July 1. Because the change landed exactly on a quarter boundary, your Q3 and Q4 2026 returns use the new rates with no mid-quarter splitting. The Tax Foundation's July 2026 table shows Utah's gasoline burden at roughly 32.55 cents and diesel at 38.55 cents once minor fees are counted.
For a diesel truck, Utah is one of the pricier western states: at 6.5 MPG, 1,000 Utah miles burn 153.8 gallons and owe $59.23 at 38.5 cents — more than double Wyoming's $36.92 for the same miles at its 24-cent rate, and well above Texas at $30.77. Run your own numbers with the IFTA calculator, and see every state on the IFTA rates by state hub.
How Utah IFTA affects your filings
IFTA taxes fuel where it is burned, not where it is bought, so Utah's rate changes flow through your return even if you never fuel there. The winning move in 2026 was to buy gasoline in Utah before July 1 at the 37.9-cent prepaid rate only if you were burning cheaper miles elsewhere — and for diesel carriers the calculus reversed, since the July increase to 38.5 cents made pre-July Utah diesel slightly cheaper than post-July. Looking ahead to Q1 2027, the temporary gasoline cut is scheduled to expire; budget for the snap-back and re-check the Utah State Tax Commission rates page or the IFTA Inc. matrix before you file.
If Utah is your base state, the State Tax Commission handles licensing and returns (most schedules file electronically; Publication 66 is the reference). If Utah is a pass-through on I-80, I-15 or I-70, your obligation is the same as anywhere: exact per-state miles from an ELD or GPS system and receipts that match them. The quarterly calendar never changes:
| Quarter | Period | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 | Jan 1 – Mar 31 | April 30 |
| Q2 | Apr 1 – Jun 30 | July 31 |
| Q3 | Jul 1 – Sep 30 | October 31 |
| Q4 | Oct 1 – Dec 31 | January 31 (next year) |
One budgeting habit ties it together: Utah's roughly 5.9 cents per mile of diesel fuel tax (at 6.5 MPG) should be accruing in your cost per mile all quarter, and your fuel surcharge should be collecting it. Carriers who treat IFTA as a surprise bill in January are the ones who forgot the accrual in March.
FAQ
What is Utah's IFTA diesel tax rate in Q4 2026?
38.5 cents per gallon effective July 1, 2026, per the Utah State Tax Commission's fuel tax rates page (the rate was 37.9 cents from January 1, 2026). Confirm the figure on the current official IFTA matrix before filing.
Why did Utah's gasoline tax drop in 2026?
Under HB 575, Utah cut its motor fuel tax from 37.9 cents to 31.9 cents per gallon — roughly a 15 percent reduction — for July 1 through December 31, 2026. It is a temporary six-month reduction, so plan on the rate snapping back unless lawmakers extend it.
Do the July 1 changes fall neatly on IFTA quarters?
Yes. The new rates took effect July 1, exactly the start of Q3, so Q3 and Q4 2026 returns use 31.9 cents for gasoline and 38.5 cents for diesel, with no mid-quarter splitting needed. Q1 and Q2 2026 used 37.9 cents for both.
How are alternative fuels taxed for IFTA in Utah?
Utah taxes certain alternative fuels at rates set per gasoline gallon equivalent (GGE) or diesel gallon equivalent (DGE) — reported at 21.9 cents beginning January 1, 2026. Check the Utah State Tax Commission's rates page for the fuel type you run.
Who administers IFTA in Utah?
The Utah State Tax Commission. It publishes current and historical fuel tax rates, fuel tax bulletins and Publication 66 (fuel taxes), and most Utah fuel tax schedules must be filed electronically.
How much Utah fuel tax do I owe per mile?
Taxable gallons equal Utah miles divided by your MPG, times the rate. At 6.5 MPG on diesel at 38.5 cents, Utah costs about 5.9 cents per mile — one of the pricier western states for fuel tax.