Will New York Suspend Gas Tax? Lawmakers Urge Governor Hochul

If you’ve filled up your tank lately, you’ve felt that sting immediately. Gas prices across the state have climbed way up, and now state and federal leaders are debating whether to temporarily suspend gas taxes to give drivers a little breathing room.

For many New Yorkers, especially those with long commutes, trucks, SUVs, or jobs that keep them on the road all day, even a small drop in gas prices could make a noticeable difference.

What New Yorkers Currently Pay in Gas Taxes

Right now, every gallon of gas sold in New York includes a mix of federal, state, and local taxes.

New York’s state gas taxes currently total somewhere around 24 to 26 cents per gallon once the motor fuel tax and petroleum business taxes are combined. Then there’s the federal gas tax, which adds another 18.4 cents per gallon. Depending on where you live, local sales taxes can push the total tax burden to more than 50 cents per gallon.

That means a decent chunk of what you’re paying at the pump is taxes before you even factor in the actual fuel price.

New York Senators Want a State Gas Tax Holiday

Fifteen New York state senators are now urging Governor Kathy Hochul to approve a temporary gas tax holiday similar to the one New York offered in 2022.

The push comes as fuel prices continue rising following growing conflict in the Middle East. In some parts of New York, prices have already climbed above $4.50 per gallon.

Lawmakers backing the proposal say families are already stretched thin by grocery costs, utility bills, and higher housing expenses, and they believe suspending some gas taxes could offer immediate relief.

So far, though, Governor Hochul has not officially approved a statewide suspension.

President Trump Is Also Pushing a Federal Gas Tax Pause

At the same time, President Donald Trump is calling for a temporary suspension of the federal gas tax.

“I think it’s a great idea,” Trump told CBS News this week. “We’re going to take off the gas tax for a period of time, and when gas goes down, we’ll let it phase back in.”

The federal gas tax currently adds 18.4 cents per gallon for gasoline and 24.4 cents per gallon for diesel fuel.

Any federal suspension would still need approval from Congress before it could happen.

How Much Could New Yorkers Actually Save?

This is the question most drivers really care about.

If both the federal and state gas taxes were temporarily suspended, some estimates suggest drivers could save anywhere from 40 cents to potentially 80 cents per gallon once local tax caps are included.

But experts say the real savings would probably be smaller because gas stations and suppliers do not always pass every penny of tax savings directly to consumers.

Even so, a reduction of 10 to 30 cents per gallon could still help New Yorkers who are filling up multiple times each week.

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For someone driving a large SUV or pickup truck, that could mean saving several dollars every single fill-up.