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This is an unofficial archived version.

This version was current from April 1, 2011 to June 15, 2011.

Note: It does not reflect any retroactive amendment enacted after June 15, 2011.
To find out if an amendment is retroactive, see the coming-into-force provisions
at the end of the amending Act.

Latest version


C.C.S.M. c. F192

The Fuel Tax Act

Table of contents

(Assented to June 17, 2010)

HER MAJESTY, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba, enacts as follows:

DEFINITIONS AND GENERAL MATTERS

Definitions

1

The following definitions apply in this Act.

"applicable rate" means the applicable rate of tax under section 8. (« taux applicable »)

"aviation fuel" means any fuel, such as aviation gas or jet fuel, that has been refined or produced specifically for use in an aircraft engine. (« carburant aviation »)

"bulk fuel" means more than 200 litres of fuel that is not stored in a fuel tank of a vehicle or other machine as part of the fuel system of that vehicle or machine. (« carburant en vrac »)

"bunker fuel" means a residual fuel oil that when used for heating requires or would ordinarily require preheating. (« mazout »)

"collector" means a person described in subsection 21(1). (« collecteur »)

"commercial cargo flight" means a commercial flight by an aircraft that is configured for carrying only cargo. (« vol commercial de transport de cargaison »)

"dealer" means a person who, in Manitoba, sells or offers to sell fuel, or keeps fuel for sale in the course of the person's business. (« marchand »)

"deputy collector" means a person described in subsection 21(2). (« collecteur adjoint »)

"director" means the Deputy Minister of Finance or an Assistant Deputy Minister of Finance. (« directeur »)

"farm building" means a building used by a person, in the course of farming, exclusively for one or more of the following purposes:

(a) raising or keeping livestock for sale or for the sale of livestock products;

(b) growing crops — or storing crops grown by the person — for sale or for use as feed for livestock being raised or kept by the person for sale or for the sale of livestock products. (« bâtiment agricole »)

"fuel" means any combustible gas or combustible liquid that can be used to generate power by means of an internal combustion or turbine engine, or for heating, and includes additives to that fuel. (« carburant »)

"international cargo" means cargo that is

(a) loaded onto a ship or aircraft at a port or airport outside Canada and unloaded from the ship or aircraft at a port or airport in Manitoba; or

(b) loaded onto a ship or aircraft at a port or airport in Manitoba and unloaded from the ship or aircraft at a port or airport outside Canada. (« cargaison internationale »)

"international cargo flight" means a commercial cargo flight carrying international cargo. (« vol international de transport de cargaison »)

"international shipping voyage" means a voyage by an international ocean-going ship carrying international cargo. (« trajet maritime international »)

"litre" means a litre of fuel that has been volume adjusted to a temperature of 15 degrees C. (« litre »)

"marked fuel" means fuel that is dyed or otherwise marked in accordance with the regulations. (« carburant marqué »)

"minister" means the Minister of Finance. (« ministre »)

"motor vehicle" means a motor vehicle as defined in The Highway Traffic Act. (« véhicule automobile »)

"person" includes a partnership, a trust and the Crown in right of Manitoba. (« personne »)

"refiner" means a person who manufactures or refines fuel for sale. (« raffineur »)

"regulations" means regulations made under this Act. (« règlements »)

"retail purchase" of fuel means a purchase of fuel for any use or purpose except sale or resale, and "retail sale" means the corresponding sale of that fuel. (« achat au détail »)

"tax" means a tax imposed under this Act, unless the context requires a different meaning. (« taxe »)

"taxpayer" means a person on whom a tax is imposed. (« contribuable »)

"tax proceeds" means money collected or required to be collected on account of or as proceeds of tax. (« produit de la taxe »)

Administration and enforcement

2

Part I of The Tax Administration and Miscellaneous Taxes Act applies to the administration and enforcement of this Act.

Tax payable to the government

3

Every tax imposed by this Act is payable to the government.

Act binds the Crown

4

This Act binds the Crown.

IMPOSITION OF TAX

Tax on retail purchase

5(1)

Subject to section 7 (tax on locomotive fuel) and the exemptions in sections 9 to 12, a person who buys fuel at a retail sale in Manitoba

(a) must pay tax on that fuel at the applicable rate; and

(b) must pay the tax at the time of receiving the fuel.

Tax in other circumstances

5(2)

Subject to the exemptions in sections 9 to 12, a person who, for any purpose other than sale or resale,

(a) refines fuel in Manitoba;

(b) brings bulk fuel into Manitoba; or

(c) receives in Manitoba fuel that was bought at a retail sale outside of Manitoba;

must, in accordance with the regulations, report to the director and pay tax on that fuel at the applicable rate.

Tax on fuel imported for sale

5(3)

A person who

(a) brings fuel into Manitoba for sale or resale; and

(b) is not a collector or deputy collector in relation to any other fuel;

may enter into an arrangement with the director under which

(c) the person reports to the director and pays the tax that would be payable under subsection (2) if the fuel were brought into Manitoba for any other purpose; and

(d) the person is not required to collect tax on the sale or resale of that fuel.

Tax on interjurisdictional use — with carrier licence

6(1)

A licensed carrier who

(a) buys fuel outside Manitoba; and

(b) uses that fuel in Manitoba in a qualified motor vehicle;

must pay a tax on that fuel at the applicable rate and in accordance with section 28.

Tax on interjurisdictional use — without carrier licence

6(2)

If a qualified motor vehicle is operated both inside and outside Manitoba on the same trip and is not being operated under a valid carrier licence, the operator must pay — to a person authorized by the minister to collect the tax payable under this subsection — a tax equal to the greater of

(a) $18; and

(b) 6.0¢ for each kilometre travelled or to be travelled in Manitoba as part of that trip, as estimated by the minister or a delegate of the minister.

Interpretation

6(3)

For the purposes of this section, "carrier licence", "licensed carrier" and "qualified motor vehicle" have the same meaning as in section 23.

Tax on locomotive fuel

7

A person who

(a) operates a locomotive both inside and outside Manitoba;

(b) buys fuel in Manitoba or outside Manitoba for use in operating the locomotive, and any equipment attached directly to the locomotive's fuel supply system, in Manitoba;

must, in accordance with the regulations, report to the director and pay a tax on that fuel at the applicable rate as if the person were a collector in relation to that fuel.

Rates of tax

8

The rates of tax are as follows:

(a) 1.5¢ per litre for aviation fuel delivered directly into the fuel tanks of an aircraft for a commercial cargo flight;

(b) 3.2¢ per litre for any other aviation fuel;

(c) 1.7¢ per litre for bunker fuel or crude oil to be used only for heating;

(d) 1.9¢ per litre for marked fuel to be used only for heating;

(e) 3.0¢ per litre or 6.0¢ per kilogram for butane or propane;

(f) 6.3¢ per litre for fuel to be used only for operating a locomotive and any equipment attached directly to the locomotive's fuel supply system;

(g) 11.5¢ per litre for any other fuel.

TAX EXEMPTIONS

Exemptions — fuel used for certain purposes

9(1)

No tax is payable by a buyer of marked fuel, propane, natural gas, bunker fuel or crude oil when it is purchased

Farming

(a) for use only in

(i) operating agricultural machinery, other than a motor vehicle that is not a farm truck, while carrying out agricultural work on farm land in Manitoba,

(ii) operating a truck registered as a farm truck under The Drivers and Vehicles Act while the truck is being used as permitted by section 180 of The Highway Traffic Act,

(iii) heating or cooling a farm building, or

(iv) drying crops with a grain dryer in the course of farming;

Fishing and trapping

(b) by the holder of a valid commercial fishing licence under the Fisheries Act (Canada) or The Fisheries Act for use only in

(i) operating a tractor, or a snowmobile or similar tracked vehicle, to transport fish over the surface of a frozen lake or stream during an open commercial fishing season, or

(ii) operating a boat for catching or transporting fish during an open commercial fishing season;

(c) by the holder of a valid trapper's licence under The Wildlife Act for use only in operating a boat or snowmobile for trapping during an open trapping season;

Shipping

(d) for use only in operating, in the ordinary course of the buyer's business, a boat for shipping cargo for which the shipper or shipper's agent is charged a fee;

Prospecting and mining

(e) by the holder of a valid prospector's licence under The Mines and Minerals Act for use only in operating a boat for prospecting;

(f) for use only in operating an engine off-road exclusively for exploring for minerals as defined in The Mining Tax Act, other than in a mine as defined in that Act;

(g) by a buyer who is mining for minerals as defined in The Mining Tax Act, for use only in the buyer's mining operation and only for

(i) drying mineral ore concentrates,

(ii) heating the replacement air used to ventilate a processing plant or underground mine in Manitoba, or

(iii) operating an engine exclusively off-road to recover ore or to transport ore from a mine in Manitoba to a processing centre in Manitoba;

Forestry

(h) for use only in the buyer's commercial logging operation and only for

(i) operating an engine, other than a motor vehicle engine, in the course of harvesting, handling or processing forest products,

(ii) operating a motor vehicle engine for off-road transportation of forest products or waste material,

(iii) operating an engine in the construction or maintenance of a logging road, or

(iv) operating an engine off-road in connection with forest renewal activities, including scarification and site preparation;

Hospital

(i) for use only in operating machinery used by a hospital as defined in The Health Services Insurance Act;

Municipal

(j) for use by a municipality or local government district only in operating

(i) fire fighting equipment or a lighting plant, or

(ii) its own equipment, other than a motor vehicle, for constructing or maintaining municipal works; or

Residential heating

(k) for use only in heating a dwelling unit in which the buyer of the fuel resides.

Exemption — fuel not bought in Manitoba

9(2)

If a person refines or receives fuel in Manitoba, or brings fuel into Manitoba, for a purpose for which the person could buy the fuel in Manitoba exempt from tax under subsection (1), the fuel is exempt from the tax otherwise payable under subsection 5(2).

Exemption — fuel not delivered into buyer's container

10

No tax is payable on a retail purchase of

(a) natural gas;

(b) propane, butane or any other manufactured gas; or

(c) acetylene, a solvent, mechanical lighter fluid, fire starter fluid or any similar mixture or product;

unless it is delivered

(d) directly into a tank or other refillable container provided by the buyer from a pump, tank, vehicle, place or premises at or from which retail sales are made; or

(e) by means of a tank or other refillable container

(i) provided to the buyer in exchange for a similar tank or refillable container provided by the buyer, or

(ii) that the purchaser may later provide to a dealer for a refill or in exchange for a similar tank or container filled with fuel.

Exemption — fuel used in international shipping

11

No tax is payable on fuel when it is bought for use only in operating an international ocean-going ship on an international shipping voyage.

Exemption — 1-K Kerosene

12

No tax is payable on kerosene refined to the 1-K Kerosene standard fixed by the Canadian General Standards Board.

TAX REFUNDS

Refund of tax — aviation fuel used in aerial spraying

13(1)

A buyer of aviation fuel is entitled to a refund of the tax paid on that fuel if

(a) the buyer owns or leases a single seat aircraft that is configured and registered with Transport Canada for aerial spraying; and

(b) the fuel is bought for use only in the aerial spraying of farm land in Manitoba.

Refund of tax — aviation fuel used for international cargo flight

13(2)

A buyer of aviation fuel is entitled to a refund of the tax paid on that fuel if it is bought on the arrival or departure of an international cargo flight and is delivered directly into a fuel tank of the aircraft that made or is about to make that flight.

Refund of tax — marked fuel not available

13(3)

A buyer of fuel is entitled to a refund of the tax paid on that fuel if

(a) the fuel was bought in circumstances in which marked fuel was not available; and

(b) the buyer bought the fuel for a purpose for which he or she could have bought marked fuel exempt from tax if marked fuel had been available.

Refund of tax — fuel used to produce electricity

13(4)

A buyer of fuel who uses it to produce electricity for sale is entitled to a refund of the tax paid on that fuel.

Refund of tax — bulk fuel exported for sale

13(5)

A buyer of bulk fuel who exports that fuel to a jurisdiction outside Manitoba for the purpose of sale or resale in that jurisdiction is entitled to a refund of any tax paid, or amount paid on account of tax, by the buyer on that fuel.

Refund of tax — bulk fuel exported for use

13(6)

A buyer of bulk fuel who exports that fuel to a jurisdiction outside Manitoba for use by the buyer in that jurisdiction is entitled to a refund of the tax paid by the buyer on that fuel if the buyer pays tax on that fuel in the other jurisdiction.

Refund of tax — fuel used in international shipping

13(7)

A buyer of fuel that is delivered directly into the fuel tanks of an international ocean-going ship upon its arrival in Manitoba, or departure from Manitoba, as part of an international shipping voyage, is entitled to a refund of any tax paid by the buyer on that fuel.

Refund of tax — non-engine use of fuel

13(8)

A buyer of fuel who uses that fuel

(a) for manufacturing, mixing or thinning paint;

(b) for cleaning

(i) machinery parts in the course of the buyer's business,

(ii) fuel drums or containers, or

(iii) fabrics; or

(c) for operating an incinerator;

is entitled to a refund of the tax paid on that fuel.

Refund application

14

To obtain a refund under section 13 in relation to a purchase of fuel, the buyer must file with the director, within two years after the date of the purchase, an application that includes

(a) a copy of the invoice for the purchase; and

(b) evidence sufficient to satisfy the director that the buyer is entitled to the refund.

RESTRICTIONS

Possession of bulk fuel

15

No person shall have possession of bulk fuel for any purpose other than sale or resale of that fuel unless the person

(a) is in possession of the fuel for a tax-exempt purpose;

(b) is a common carrier under a contract for the transport of the fuel;

(c) has paid the tax payable under subsection 5(1) on that fuel; or

(d) as required by subsection 5(2), has reported to the director and paid the tax, if any, payable on that fuel.

Use of marked fuel

16(1)

No person shall use marked fuel for anything other than heating or a tax-exempt use described in section 9.

Marking of fuel

16(2)

No person shall mark fuel for the purposes of this Act unless

(a) the person is authorized by the director to mark fuel; and

(b) the fuel is being marked in accordance with the regulations.

LICENCES AND PERMITS

Dealer licence required

17

No person shall carry on business or otherwise act as a dealer in Manitoba except as authorized by a dealer licence issued by the director.

No sale to unlicensed dealer

18

No dealer shall sell or offer to sell fuel in Manitoba to another dealer who does not hold a valid dealer licence.

Refiner licence required

19

No person shall carry on business or act as a refiner in Manitoba except as authorized by a refiner licence issued by the director or by a licence issued under The Biofuels Act for the production of a biofuel.

Authority to blend fuel

20

No person shall blend fuel with anything unless

(a) the blending is being done as authorized by a blending permit issued by the director; or

(b) the blended product is to be sold as fuel and will be subject to tax when it is sold.

For this purpose, blending does not include anything done to mark fuel in accordance with the regulations.

COLLECTORS AND DEPUTY COLLECTORS

When is a dealer a collector?

21(1)

A dealer is a collector in relation to fuel that the dealer

(a) manufactures or refines in Manitoba for sale in Manitoba;

(b) brings or imports into Manitoba for sale in Manitoba, unless it is brought into Manitoba under an arrangement described in subsection 5(3);

(c) otherwise acquires or comes into possession of, for resale in Manitoba, from a person who is not a collector or deputy collector in relation to that fuel; or

(d) buys from another dealer, but only if the buyer

(i) is registered with the director as a collector, and

(ii) advises the seller that he or she is buying the fuel as a collector.

When is a dealer a deputy collector?

21(2)

A dealer who buys fuel from another dealer is, in relation to that fuel, a deputy collector for the seller, unless the buyer is a collector in relation to that fuel.

Collector's duties

22(1)

A dealer who sells fuel in relation to which the dealer is a collector must

(a) collect any tax payable on a retail sale of that fuel by the collector;

(b) ensure that any tax payable on a retail sale of that fuel by a deputy collector of the collector in relation that fuel is collected and remitted to the collector;

(c) remit the tax proceeds to the government in accordance with the regulations;

(d) file returns with the director in accordance the regulations; and

(e) report to the director, in accordance with the regulations, the names and addresses of the collector's deputy collectors.

Deputy collector's duties

22(2)

A dealer who sells fuel in relation to which the dealer is a deputy collector (referred to in this subsection as the "seller") must

(a) collect any tax payable on a purchase of the fuel;

(b) if the seller sells the fuel to another dealer for resale, ensure that any tax payable on a subsequent purchase of that fuel is collected and remitted to the seller; and

(c) remit the tax proceeds to the collector or deputy collector from whom the seller acquired the fuel.

INTERNATIONAL FUEL TAX AGREEMENT

Definitions

23

The following definitions apply in this section and sections 6 and 24 to 30.

"carrier" means a person who owns or operates one or more motor vehicles used interprovincially or internationally for the commercial carriage of passengers or goods. (« transporteur »)

"carrier decal" means a decal issued to a carrier for the purposes of IFTA. (« autocollant de transporteur »)

"carrier licence" means a licence that has been issued to a carrier for the purposes of IFTA, has not expired or been cancelled and is not suspended. (« licence de transporteur »)

"IFTA" means the International Fuel Tax Agreement, an agreement that facilitates the collection, remission and enforcement of fuel taxes imposed by the laws of the member jurisdictions. (« Entente internationale concernant la taxe sur les carburants » ou « Entente internationale »)

"licensed carrier" means a person who holds a carrier licence. (« transporteur autorisé »)

"Manitoba licensed carrier" means a person who holds a carrier licence issued by the director. (« transporteur autorisé du Manitoba »)

"member jurisdiction" means a jurisdiction that is a member under IFTA. (« autorité législative membre »)

"qualified motor vehicle" means a motor vehicle that is used interprovincially or internationally for the commercial carriage of passengers or goods and that

(a) has two axles and a gross vehicle weight or registered gross vehicle weight greater than 11,797 kg;

(b) has a gross vehicle weight or registered gross vehicle weight that, when combined with the gross vehicle weight or registered gross vehicle weight of the trailer with which it is used, is greater than 11,797 kg; or

(c) has three or more axles. (« véhicule automobile admissible »)

Minister may enter into IFTA

24

The minister may enter into IFTA with the approval of the Lieutenant Governor in Council.

Conflict with IFTA

25

If there is a conflict between IFTA and this Act, IFTA applies to the extent of that conflict.

Carrier licence and decals

26(1)

Upon application by a carrier and payment of the applicable fees, the director may issue to the carrier

(a) a licence recognizing the carrier as a person to whom IFTA applies; and

(b) two decals for each qualified motor vehicle owned or operated by the carrier.

Additional decals

26(2)

Upon application by a Manitoba licensed carrier and payment of the applicable fee, the director may issue to the carrier two decals for each additional qualified motor vehicle

(a) that is owned or operated by the carrier; and

(b) for which decals were not issued when the carrier licence was issued under this section.

Licence and decal fees

26(3)

The applicable fees are as follows:

(a) for a carrier licence, $65;

(b) for each set of two carrier decals, $5.

Term of licence and decals

26(4)

A carrier licence and the related carrier decals are valid only until the end of the year for which they are issued.

Temporary decal permit

26(5)

The director may, in accordance with IFTA, issue a temporary decal permit to a Manitoba licenced carrier for a qualified motor vehicle, which the carrier may use in lieu of decals for that vehicle for a period of not more than 30 days. No fee is payable for the permit.

Carrier licence and decals not transferable

26(6)

No person shall, without the director's permission, assign or otherwise transfer a carrier licence or carrier decals issued by the director.

Licence and decal obligations of operators and owners

27

When a qualified motor vehicle is operated in Manitoba under a carrier licence,

(a) the vehicle's operator must

(i) carry a copy of the licence in the cab of the vehicle at all times,

(ii) produce the copy for inspection upon the request of a peace officer or other authorized person, and

(iii) ensure that carrier decals are affixed to the exterior of the cab in two clearly visible locations, one on the lower rear portion of each side of the cab, or carry a temporary decal permit that, under IFTA, may be used in lieu of decals; and

(b) the vehicle's owner, if he or she is not its operator, must

(i) ensure that a copy of the licence is carried by the operator in the cab of the vehicle at all times, and

(ii) ensure that carrier decals are affixed to the cab as described in subclause (a)(iii), or that the operator is carrying a temporary decal permit that, under IFTA, may be used in lieu of decals.

Remittance of tax

28(1)

The tax payable by a licensed carrier under subsection 6(1) must be remitted

(a) in the case of a Manitoba licensed carrier, to the minister in accordance with subsection (2); and

(b) in the case of any other licensed carrier, to the applicable member jurisdiction in accordance with the licence terms.

Quarterly returns and remittances

28(2)

A Manitoba licensed carrier must

(a) file quarterly returns with the director in accordance with the regulations and in a form required under IFTA and approved by the director; and

(b) remit to the minister with each return an amount equal to the total of the net taxes, interest and penalties, if any, payable in relation to fuel to the member jurisdictions.

Refund to licensed carrier

29

The minister may refund to a Manitoba licensed carrier the amount of any overpayment of fuel taxes or other amounts paid to member jurisdictions.

Payments to member jurisdictions

30(1)

The minister may pay to

(a) a member jurisdiction; or

(b) a person authorized by the member jurisdiction to accept the payment;

the part of the tax, or any other amount remitted to the minister in accordance with this Act or IFTA, that is payable to that jurisdiction under IFTA.

Payments out of Consolidated Fund

30(2)

Any payment under subsection (1) is payable out of the Consolidated Fund from the proceeds of the taxes remitted under this Act.

REGULATIONS

Regulations

31(1)

The Lieutenant Governor in Council may make regulations

(a) respecting the marking of fuel, including regulations that establish or adopt standards for marked fuel or for any dye that is to be used for marking fuel;

(b) respecting information, reports and returns to be provided under this Act;

(c) respecting the payment of tax or remittance of tax proceeds;

(d) providing for allowances that may be claimed when accounting for tax proceeds;

(e) that the Lieutenant Governor in Council considers necessary or advisable for

(i) the administration of IFTA,

(ii) the administration of tax under this Act in accordance with IFTA, and

(iii) the administration of licences, decals and permits in accordance with IFTA;

(f) respecting any other matter that the Lieutenant Governor in Council considers necessary or advisable to carry out the purposes of this Act.

Effective date

31(2)

A regulation under this section may be made retroactive to the extent the Lieutenant Governor in Council considers it necessary to implement or give effect to

(a) a tax or administrative measure included in a budget presented to the Legislative Assembly; or

(b) an amendment to IFTA or this Act.

TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS

Transitional — licences and permits

32(1)

On the coming into force of this Act, a licence or permit that was issued under or for the purposes of The Gasoline Tax Act or The Motive Fuel Tax Act continues in effect for the purposes of this Act as if it were issued under or for the purposes of this Act.

Transitional — carrier licences and decals

32(2)

On the coming into force of this Act, a carrier licence or carrier decal that was issued for the purpose of IFTA under The Gasoline Tax Act or The Motive Fuel Tax Act continues in effect as if it were issued under this Act for the purpose of IFTA.

CONSEQUENTIAL AMENDMENTS

33 to 39

NOTE: These sections contained consequential amendments to other Acts that are now included in those Acts.

REPEAL, C.C.S.M. REFERENCE AND COMING INTO FORCE

Repeal

40

The following Acts are repealed:

(a) The Gasoline Tax Act, R.S.M. 1987, c. G40;

(b) The Motive Fuel Tax Act, R.S.M. 1988, c. M220.

C.C.S.M. reference

41

This Act may be referred to as chapter F192 of the Continuing Consolidation of the Statutes of Manitoba.

Coming into force

42

This Act comes into force on April 1, 2011.