What’s a Voluntary Gas Tax?

A Voluntary Gas Tax is a tax paid by group of people who voluntarily tax themselves for each gallon of gas they use. Aware that reliance on oil is a root cause of the war in Iraq as well as the ecological crisis, club members choose not to wait for federal taxes to properly reflect the true costs of American oil dependence.

Why Voluntary Gas Tax?

1. To change our own gas-buying behavior
• to decrease the need for war to ensure oil supply
• to encourage ourselves to use different modes of
transportation
• to encourage people to live close to where they work, shop, and play

2. To offset some of the damage caused by oil dependence
• to victims of war
• to land, rivers, flora and fauna

3. To fund organizations working to break our oil habit
• by providing incentives for alternative modes of transportation, including non-motor
• by supporting energy conservation

How to start your own Voluntary Gas Tax

1. Gather friends, neighbors and colleagues.
2. Decide on a tax rate together, for example, 50¢/gallon.
3. Get together regularly to collect your taxes.
4. Pick organizations to fund.

One Way to Calculate your Gas Tax

1. Every time you put gasoline in your motor vehicle, keep the receipt.
2. At the end of each quarter, total up the gallons of gasoline consumed.
3. Multiply the number of gallons by whatever tax you’ve chosen.

Want more information, examples of organizations we have funded, or tips on starting your own?

Check out our web site at www.voluntarygastax.org. Or write to us at

Dear Friends,

I would like to try this voluntary gas tax. Key word: Try. As in, not permanent. As in, guaranteed tax cut.  I would like to start a small reserve to fund “missional passions” and/or community needs. Perhaps this idea intrigues you? Let’s discuss over coffee or e-mail

-- Steve     

P.S. I had grandiose visions of writing a big article, but this flyer articulated the idea much more concisely. Please read the flyer and following info.

published in the SPIRE - March 2008