# Kerosene and Taxes

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kerosene-and-taxes/150957>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [January 26, 2003, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kerosene-and-taxes/150957 "2003-01-26T02:05:51Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\
**Post date:** [January 26, 2003, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kerosene-and-taxes/150957/1 "2003-01-26T02:05:51Z")

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Okay, on all the kerosene pumps at the local gas stations is a sign which reads something like, “Undyed kerosene intended for non-taxable use.” Okay, what’s a _taxable_ use for kerosene? I’ve also heard that if one uses kerosene to help heat their home they can write it off on their taxes. I can’t imagine how that would be true. Anybody got any answers?

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**Author:** ![Reeder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Reeder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeder)\
**Post date:** [January 26, 2003, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kerosene-and-taxes/150957/2 "2003-01-26T02:20:16Z")

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With a little tweaking, kerosene can be used in place of diesel fuel. As for the taxes you still pay state tax, just not federal tax.

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**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\
**Post date:** [January 26, 2003, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kerosene-and-taxes/150957/3 "2003-01-26T03:22:49Z")

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Might be similar to diesel fuel. There’s “on-road”, inteded for use in trucks and cars with diesel engines. Then there’s “off-road” intended for use in tractors and the like. “Off-road” has a red dye added and is allowed to contain a higher percentage of sulfer than on-road fuel. In Missouri off-road diesel runs about 35-40 cents per gallon cheaper.

So they are saying that you are not supposed to mix kerosine with your on-road diesel fuel to save money. Some folks mix kerosine and diesel for winter use to avoid gelling of the fuel.

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**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\
**Post date:** [January 26, 2003, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kerosene-and-taxes/150957/4 "2003-01-26T04:01:22Z")

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Also, kerosene and jet fuel are basically the same thing. I don’t think that they really worry about a 747 pulling up to the pump but you know lawyers.