§ 4083 Definitions; special rule; administrative authority
(a) Taxable fuel
For purposes of this subpart—
(2) Gasoline
The term “gasoline”—
(A) includes any gasoline blend, other than qualified methanol or ethanol fuel (as defined in section ), partially exempt methanol or ethanol fuel (as defined in section ), or a denatured alcohol, and
(B) includes, to the extent prescribed in regulations—
(i) any gasoline blend stock, and
(ii) any product commonly used as an additive in gasoline (other than alcohol).
For purposes of subparagraph (B)(i), the term “gasoline blend stock” means any petroleum product component of gasoline.
(3) Diesel fuel
(A) In general
The term “diesel fuel” means—
(i) any liquid (other than gasoline) which is suitable for use as a fuel in a diesel-powered highway vehicle, or a diesel-powered train,
(ii) transmix, and
(iii) diesel fuel blend stocks identified by the Secretary.
(B) Transmix
For purposes of subparagraph (A), the term “transmix” means a byproduct of refined products pipeline operations created by the mixing of different specification products during pipeline transportation.
(b) Commercial aviation
For purposes of this subpart, the term “commercial aviation” means any use of an aircraft in a business of transporting persons or property for compensation or hire by air, unless properly allocable to any transportation exempt from the taxes imposed by sections and by reason of section or or by reason of subsection (h) or (i) of section . Such term shall not include the use of any aircraft before October 1, 2028, if tax is imposed under section with respect to the fuel consumed in such use or if no tax is imposed on such use under section by reason of subsection (c)(5) thereof.
(c) Certain uses defined as removal
If any person uses taxable fuel (other than in the production of taxable fuels or special fuels referred to in section ), such use shall for the purposes of this chapter be considered a removal.
(d) Administrative authority
(1) In general
In addition to the authority otherwise granted by this title, the Secretary may in administering compliance with this subpart, section , and penalties and other administrative provisions related thereto—
(A) enter any place at which taxable fuel is produced or is stored (or may be stored) for purposes of—
(i) examining the equipment used to determine the amount or composition of such fuel and the equipment used to store such fuel,
(ii) taking and removing samples of such fuel, and
(iii) inspecting any books and records and any shipping papers pertaining to such fuel, and
(B) detain, for the purposes referred in subparagraph (A), any container which contains or may contain any taxable fuel.
(2) Inspection sites
The Secretary may establish inspection sites for purposes of carrying out the Secretary’s authority under paragraph (1)(B).
(3) Penalty for refusal of entry
(A) Forfeiture
The penalty provided by section shall apply to any refusal to admit entry or other refusal to permit an action by the Secretary authorized by paragraph (1), except that section shall be applied by substituting “$1,000” for “$500” for each such refusal.
(B) Assessable penalty
For additional assessable penalty for the refusal to admit entry or other refusal to permit an action by the Secretary authorized by paragraph (1), see section .
(Aug. 16, 1954, ch. 736, 68A Stat. 483; Pub. L. 94–455, title XIX, § 1906(b)(13)(A), Oct. 4, 1976, 90 Stat. 1834; Pub. L. 99–514, title XVII, § 1703(a), Oct. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 2776; Pub. L. 103–66, title XIII, § 13242(a), Aug. 10, 1993, 107 Stat. 517; Pub. L. 105–34, title IX, § 902(b)(3), title X, § 1032(a), (e)(4), Aug. 5, 1997, 111 Stat. 873, 933, 935; Pub. L. 105–206, title VI, § 6010(h)(1), July 22, 1998, 112 Stat. 815; Pub. L. 108–357, title III, § 301(c)(8), title VIII, §§ 853(b), 858(a), 859(b)(1), 870(a), Oct. 22, 2004, 118 Stat. 1461, 1611, 1617, 1618, 1623; Pub. L. 109–59, title XI, § 11123(b), Aug. 10, 2005, 119 Stat. 1952; Pub. L. 112–95, title XI, § 1103(b), Feb. 14, 2012, 126 Stat. 151; Pub. L. 114–55, title II, § 202(c)(1), Sept. 30, 2015, 129 Stat. 525; Pub. L. 114–141, title II, § 202(c)(1), Mar. 30, 2016, 130 Stat. 324; Pub. L. 114–190, title I, § 1202(c)(1), July 15, 2016, 130 Stat. 619; Pub. L. 115–63, title II, § 202(c)(1), Sept. 29, 2017, 131 Stat. 1171; Pub. L. 115–141, div. M, title I, § 202(c)(1), Mar. 23, 2018, 132 Stat. 1048; Pub. L. 115–254, div. B, title VIII, § 802(c)(2), Oct. 5, 2018, 132 Stat. 3429; Pub. L. 118–15, div. B, title II, § 2212(c)(2), Sept. 30, 2023, 137 Stat. 85; Pub. L. 118–34, title II, § 202(c)(2), Dec. 26, 2023, 137 Stat. 1116; Pub. L. 118–41, title II, § 202(c)(2), Mar. 8, 2024, 138 Stat. 24; Pub. L. 118–63, title XIII, § 1302(c)(2), May 16, 2024, 138 Stat. 1433.)
Operative text only. Editorial notes, amendment history, and effective dates: official OLRC text of § 4083