If you purchase fuel in B.C. for resale, you pay security to your supplier equal to the tax that would be collected if the fuel was sold to an end purchaser.
When the carbon tax or motor fuel tax rate changes, you must complete an inventory return to report the amount of security-paid fuel you own for resale purposes as of the end of day that immediately precedes the effective date of the tax rate change.
For example, for tax rate changes effective April 1, you must determine your fuel inventory as of the end of day March 31. You must pay additional security, or you may claim a refund of security, equal to the difference between the old and new tax rates, multiplied by the volume of security-paid fuel in your inventory.
The requirement to file inventory returns applies to all deputy collectors and retail dealers. If you purchase fuel in B.C. for resale and paid or will be paying security to your supplier, you are considered a deputy collector or retail dealer for that fuel.
This information does not apply to natural gas sellers.
You must take inventory of your fuel as of the end of day that immediately precedes the effective date of the tax rate change. For example, if a tax rate change is effective April 1, you must take inventory at the end of the day March 31.
To take inventory, you must determine the amount of security-paid fuel you own, or are deemed to own, for resale in your inventory on which you have paid security or are required to pay security.
You’re deemed to own fuel as of the end of the day that immediately precedes the effective date of the tax rate change if:
If you’re a retail dealer, you’re deemed to own fuel at the end of the day that immediately precedes the effective date of the tax rate change if:
To report your security-paid fuel inventory for the April 1, 2025 tax rate change and receive a refund of security paid, you must file a Carbon Tax Inventory Return in your Carbon Inventory (CIV) account using eTaxBC. Your inventory return calculates your security refund based on the security-paid fuel inventory you report.
To claim a refund on security-paid fuel inventory you own, or are deemed to own, as of the end of day March 31, 2025, your carbon tax inventory return must include documentation that supports the total volume of each type of fuel you owned. Evidence may include:
Note: The April 1, 2025, tax rate change is subject to the legislation being introduced and passed.
If you received a CIV inventory requirement letter, but you do not have an eTaxBC logon, you can use the letter ID to enrol for access to eTaxBC. If you do not have a CIV account or did not receive a letter, please contact us at FuelTax@gov.bc.ca
You do not need to enrol again if you previously added your CIV account to your eTaxBC logon.
Don’t have an eTaxBC logon? Enrol now and learn more about eTaxBC.
The next carbon tax rate change, which will eliminate the carbon tax, is on April 1, 2025. This means your inventory return is due on or before April 15, 2025.
Your inventory return must be received on or before the due date to be considered on time.
Your inventory return is considered on time if it is posted to eTaxBC by 11:59 pm (Pacific Time) on the due date. You must file a nil return on time even if you have no inventory to report.
You can manage your account, file returns and make payments online using eTaxBC.
For help with eTaxBC, visit our eTaxBC help guide.
Don't have an eTaxBC logon? Enrol now and learn more about eTaxBC.
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Contact us with your questions about the motor fuel tax or carbon tax.
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