State gas taxes · EIA figures for July 2026
Iowa gas tax
The 28th highest state gas tax of 51, and 3.8¢ below the state average. With the 18.4¢ federal tax, Iowa drivers pay 48.40¢ a gallon in fuel tax, about 12% of this week's price.
What makes up the tax on a gallon
| State excise tax | 30.00¢ |
|---|---|
| Other state taxes and fees | 0.00¢ |
| Federal excise tax | 18.40¢ |
| Total per gallon | 48.40¢ |
| On a 15-gallon fill | $7.26 |
| Over a typical year (480 gallons) | $232 |
| Regular gas this week | $4.043 |
From the EIA’s notes for Iowa: Environmental Protection Charge (EPC): Repealed as of 12/31/16 ($0.0100/gal on petroleum products).
Source: EIA federal and state motor fuel taxes, July 2026. The federal rate has not changed since 1993. County and city taxes are not included, so some drivers pay a little more.
Fuel tax in Iowa and its neighbours
Iowa has the lowest fuel tax of its neighbours. Drivers coming in from Illinois pay 41.7¢ a gallon less in state tax here, $6.25 on a 15-gallon fill.
| State | State tax | Versus IA | On a 15-gal tank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Missouri | 30.0¢ | Same | Same |
| South Dakota | 30.0¢ | Same | Same |
| Iowa | 30.0¢ | — | — |
| Minnesota | 32.7¢ | +2.7¢ | +$0.41 |
| Nebraska | 32.7¢ | +2.7¢ | +$0.41 |
| Wisconsin | 32.9¢ | +2.9¢ | +$0.43 |
| Illinois | 71.7¢ | +41.7¢ | +$6.25 |
Where Iowa sits in the ranking
| 26. Alabama | 31.00¢ |
|---|---|
| 27. Colorado | 30.18¢ |
| 28. Iowa | 30.00¢ |
| 29. South Dakota | 30.00¢ |
| 30. Missouri | 29.99¢ |
Ranked by total state tax per gallon, highest first. See all 51 ranked.
What this means for your driving
Tax is a fixed number of cents on every gallon, so the less fuel you burn, the less of it you pay. A car that gets 30 mpg pays $194 a year in fuel tax over 12,000 miles in Iowa; a pickup at 19 mpg pays $306.
Work out a trip or a year of driving with the Iowa fuel cost calculator, or see Iowa gas prices this week.
Iowa gas tax questions
- What is the gas tax in Iowa?
- Iowa charges 30.00¢ per gallon of gasoline in state tax: 30.00¢ of excise tax plus 0.00¢ in other per-gallon taxes and fees, according to the EIA's table updated July 2026. Add the 18.4¢ federal tax and drivers pay 48.40¢ a gallon in fuel tax.
- How does Iowa's gas tax compare with other states?
- It is the 28th highest of 51 (the 50 states and D.C.), and 3.8¢ a gallon below the average state tax of 33.8¢.
- How much gas tax does a Iowa driver pay in a year?
- About $232 in state and federal fuel tax for a typical year of 480 gallons (roughly 12,000 miles at 25 mpg), of which $144 goes to the state. A 15-gallon fill carries $7.26 of tax.
- Is gas tax included in the price at the pump?
- Yes. Federal and state per-gallon fuel taxes are built into the price posted on the sign; they are not added at the register. That is why tax differences between neighbouring states show up directly in pump prices.