
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, April 29, 1990                   TAG: 9004300004
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: C13   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: bill cochran
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

GAS TAX REFUND FOR BOATERS ENDING

Pleasure boaters have been able to save 16 cents per gallon on their boat fuel by filing a tax refund form with the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles, but that will end July 1.

Action by the 1990 General Assembly will eliminate the refund just about the time the boating season heats up. Commercial boaters will continue to get the refund.

The refund money that boaters would have received will be diverted to the Virginia Marine Resources Commission, an agency involved with the management of saltwater fishing. The change was sought by Gov. Douglas Wilder in an effort to provide additional federal matching funds for the agency.

In the past, when boaters have filed for a refund, the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries has received a 1 1/2-cents-per-gallon payment to be used for providing boating facilities on inland and coastal waters.

Boaters can receive a refund on the fuel they use until July 1, and they have 12 months from the date of purchase to file. Gasoline must be purchased in quantities of at least 5 gallons, and a receipt or credit-card ticket must be obtained for filing purposes.

Filing forms are available from the Fuels Tax Department, DMV, Box 27422, Richmond 23269.

by CNB