(a) Highway motor vehicle

For purposes of this subchapter, the term “highway motor vehicle” means any motor vehicle which is a highway vehicle.

(b) Taxable gross weight

Terms Used In 26 USC 4482

  • Secretary: means the Secretary of the Treasury or his delegate. See 26 USC 7701
  • State: shall be construed to include the District of Columbia, where such construction is necessary to carry out provisions of this title. See 26 USC 7701
  • United States: when used in a geographical sense includes only the States and the District of Columbia. See 26 USC 7701
  • vehicle: includes every description of carriage or other artificial contrivance used, or capable of being used, as a means of transportation on land. See 1 USC 4

For purposes of this subchapter, the term “taxable gross weight”, when used with respect to any highway motor vehicle, means the sum of—

(1) the actual unloaded weight of—

(A) such highway motor vehicle fully equipped for service, and

(B) the semitrailers and trailers (fully equipped for service) customarily used in connection with highway motor vehicles of the same type as such highway motor vehicle, and


(2) the weight of the maximum load customarily carried on highway motor vehicles of the same type as such highway motor vehicle and on the semitrailers and trailers referred to in paragraph (1)(B).


Taxable gross weight shall be determined under regulations prescribed by the Secretary (which regulations may include formulas or other methods for determining the taxable gross weight of vehicles by classes, specifications, or otherwise).

(c) Other definitions and special rule

For purposes of this subchapter—

(1) State

The term “State” means a State and the District of Columbia.

(2) Year

The term “year” means the one-year period beginning on July 1.

(3) Use

The term “use” means use in the United States on the public highways.

(4) Taxable period

The term “taxable period” means any year beginning before July 1, 2029, and the period which begins on July 1, 2029, and ends at the close of September 30, 2029.

(5) Customary use

A semitrailer or trailer shall be treated as customarily used in connection with a highway motor vehicle if such vehicle is equipped to tow such semitrailer or trailer.

(d) Special rule for taxable period in which termination date occurs

In the case of the taxable period which ends on September 30, 2029, the amount of the tax imposed by section 4481 with respect to any highway motor vehicle shall be determined by reducing each dollar amount in the table contained in section 4481(a) by 75 percent.