(A) Any person who uses any motor fuel, on which the tax imposed by this chapter has been paid, for the purpose of operating stationary gas engines, tractors not used on public highways, unlicensed motor vehicles used exclusively in intraplant operations, vessels when used in trade, including vessels when used in connection with an activity that constitutes a person's chief business or means of livelihood or any other vessel used entirely for commercial purposes, vessels used for commercial fishing, vessels used by the sea scout department of the boy scouts of America chiefly for training scouts in seamanship, vessels used or owned by any railroad company, railroad car ferry company, the United States, this state, or any political subdivision of this state, or aircraft, or who uses any such fuel upon which such tax has been paid, for cleaning or for dyeing, or any purpose other than the operation of motor vehicles upon highways or upon waters within the boundaries of this state, shall be reimbursed in the amount of the tax so paid on such motor fuel as provided in this section; provided, that any person purchasing motor fuel in this state on which taxes levied under Title LVII of the Revised Code have been paid shall be reimbursed for such taxes paid in this state on such fuel used by that person in another state on which a tax is paid for such usage, except such tax used as a credit against the tax levied by section 5728.06 of the Revised Code. A person shall not be reimbursed for taxes paid on fuel that is used while a motor vehicle is idling or used to provide comfort or safety in the operation of a motor vehicle. Sales of motor fuel, on which the tax imposed by this chapter has been paid, from one person to another do not constitute use of the fuel and are not subject to a refund under this section.

(B) Any person who uses in this state any motor fuel with water intentionally added to the fuel, on which the taxes imposed by this chapter or Chapter 5728. of the Revised Code have been paid, shall be reimbursed in the amount of the taxes so paid on ninety-five per cent of the water. This division applies only to motor fuel that contains at least nine per cent water, by volume.

(C) A person claiming reimbursement under this section shall file with the tax commissioner an application for refund within one year from the date of purchase, stating the quantity of fuel used for the refundable purposes in division (A) or (B) of this section, except that no person shall file a claim for the tax on fewer than one hundred gallons of motor fuel. An application for refund filed for the purpose of division (B) of this section also shall state the quantity of water intentionally added to the motor fuel. No person shall claim reimbursement under that division on fewer than one hundred gallons of water. The application shall be accompanied by the statement described in section 5735.15 of the Revised Code showing such purchase, together with evidence of payment of the tax.

(D) After consideration of the application and statement, the commissioner shall determine the amount of refund to which the applicant is entitled. If the amount is not less than that claimed, the commissioner shall certify the amount to the director of budget and management and treasurer of state for payment from the tax refund fund created by section 5703.052 of the Revised Code. If the amount is less than that claimed, the commissioner shall proceed in accordance with section 5703.70 of the Revised Code.

No refund shall be authorized or paid under this section on a single claim for tax on fewer than one hundred gallons of motor fuel. And, when water has been intentionally added to fuel, no refund shall be authorized or paid under this section on a single claim for tax on fewer than one hundred gallons of water. The commissioner may require that the application be supported by the affidavit of the claimant.

(E) The right to receive any refund under this section or section 5703.70 of the Revised Code is not assignable. The payment of this refund shall not be made to any person other than the person originally entitled thereto who used the motor fuel upon which the claim for refund is based, except that such refunds, when allowed and certified as provided in this section, may be paid to the executor, administrator, receiver, trustee in bankruptcy, or assignee in insolvency proceedings of such person.

Amended by 132nd General Assembly File No. TBD, HB 26, §101.01, eff. 1/1/2018.

Effective Date: 09-26-2003 .