North Carolina’s 41-cent-per-gallon gas tax is suspended through Nov. 30, and Attorney General Jeff Jackson today put the state’s major gas retailers on notice that the law requires those savings to reach drivers. He also launched N.C. Fuel Check so drivers can report gas stations they believe aren’t passing the savings along.
“If gas stations see their costs drop by 41 cents per gallon but don’t pass that along to drivers, that’s a massive windfall for these companies instead of relief for families,” Jackson said in a press release. “My job is to make sure the savings reach the families.”
Last week, the General Assembly passed and Gov. Josh Stein signed into law Session Law 2026-62, which suspends the state’s tax on gasoline and diesel through Nov. 30. The suspension took effect Oct. 10.
Today (Oct. 13), Jackson sent letters to gas retailers and distributors, notifying them that the law requires them to pass their tax savings on to customers.
Prices won’t drop everywhere at once, officials said. Gas stations pay the tax when they receive a new delivery of gas. Many stations are still selling fuel they bought with the tax already paid, and the law accounts for that. Prices are expected to come down as stations receive new deliveries, which for most stations should happen within about a week. An informal survey of stations in Columbus and Bladen on Monday showed several reflected the new pricing, while most others were still reflective of the 41 cents tax.
To help enforce this suspension, Jackson is launching N.C. Fuel Check, which is designed to make sure these savings reach North Carolina drivers. NCDOJ will review publicly available gas price data to look for outliers, such as a station whose prices stay well above comparable stations nearby.
Members of the public can also report gas stations they believe aren’t complying with the law. To handle the volume of reports, NCDOJ has created a dedicated reporting page at ncdoj.gov/ncfuelcheck. Drivers can also call 1-877-5-NO-SCAM.
Reports should include:
- Station’s name and address.
- Date and time of the visit.
- Price per gallon.
- Grade of the fuel at the station.
- A photo of the price sign and the receipt.
- A detailed explanation of why you believe the savings weren’t passed on.
- Prices at nearby stations, if you noticed them.
- Additional supporting documentation.
