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Federal

Big Oil Windfall Profits Tax Act

Source: Congress.gov  ·  3,288 words in original text
This bill creates a new tax on oil companies' excess profits when crude oil prices rise above historical levels. The tax money collected goes into a special fund that pays rebates to individual taxpayers. ##
- Oil companies that extract or import more than 300,000 barrels of crude oil per day - Individual U.S. taxpayers filing income tax returns - U.S. territories with tax systems that mirror the federal system - The Internal Revenue Service (the federal tax agency) ##
- Oil companies pay a tax equal to 50 percent of the amount by which Brent crude oil prices exceed the average price from January 1, 2015 through December 31, 2019, adjusted for inflation after 2022. (Sec. 2(b)) - Individual taxpayers can claim a credit (a reduction in taxes owed) against their federal income taxes, with the amount determined by the Secretary based on the number of eligible individuals and tax revenues collected. (Sec. 3(a)) - Married couples filing joint returns receive 150 percent of the rebate amount that other taxpayers receive. (Sec. 3(b)(2)) - The credit phases out at higher incomes: it reduces by 5 percent for each dollar of adjusted gross income above $150,000 (joint return), $112,500 (head of household), or $75,000 (all other cases). (Sec. 3(b)(3)) - A trust fund called the "Protect Consumers from Gas Hikes Fund" collects the oil tax revenue and uses it to pay taxpayer rebates. (Sec. 4) ##
If this bill becomes law, oil companies that produce or import large quantities of crude oil would owe an additional federal tax when oil prices rise significantly above 2015-2019 levels. Individual taxpayers would receive annual rebates through the tax system based on how much revenue the oil tax generates. Taxpayers must provide a valid social security number to receive the rebate, or the amount becomes zero. ##
- **Taxable crude oil**: Crude oil, crude oil condensates (liquid hydrocarbons), and natural gasoline. (Sec. 2(a)) - **Barrel**: 42 United States gallons. (Sec. 2(a)) - **Covered taxpayer**: An oil company if it extracted and imported an average of more than 300,000 barrels per day during 2019 or during the current quarter. (Sec. 2(a)) - **Eligible individual**: Any individual who is not a nonresident alien, not a dependent of another taxpayer, and not an estate or trust. (Sec. 3(c)) - **Dependent**: Defined according to section 152 of the Internal Revenue Code. (Sec. 3(d)(1)) - **Mirror code tax system**: A territory's income tax system where residents' tax liability is determined by reference to U.S. federal income tax laws. (Sec. 3(b)(5)) ##
The oil tax applies to crude oil removed or entered after December 31, 2021, in calendar quarters ending after that date. The rebate credit applies to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2021. For calendar quarters ending in 2022, the oil tax is not due before March 31, 2023. Any refunds owed for taxable years ending in 2022 must be provided by June 30, 2023. (Sec. 2(c) and Sec. 3(d))
Important: This plain English summary was generated by AI and is provided for informational purposes only. It is not legal advice. Always consult the official bill text on Congress.gov or a qualified attorney for legal matters.