7. Biodiesel (Including Agri-biodiesel) Fuel Credit
If you sell or use biodiesel (not in a mixture) as a fuel, you may be eligible for a general business credit on your income
tax return. The
biodiesel fuel credit consists of a straight biodiesel fuel credit and a biodiesel mixture credit. The biodiesel mixture credit
was discussed in
Chapter 5 earlier. See Chapter 5 for the definitions of biodiesel and agri-biodiesel.
Certification.
You must obtain and keep as part of your records a certification to you from the producer or importer of the biodiesel.
The certificate is required
for any biodiesel fuel credit claimed. The certificate must identify the product produced and the percentage of biodiesel
and agri-biodiesel in the
product. If the producer or importer of the biodiesel is also the taxpayer claiming the biodiesel credit, the certificate
is required. See
Model
Certificate F on page 20.
Straight biodiesel credit.
You can claim the credit for any biodiesel not mixed with diesel fuel.
You are eligible for the credit for straight biodiesel only if you met one of the following requirements during the
tax year.
The credit is not allowed for biodiesel (or agri-biodiesel) you used as a fuel in a trade or business if that biodiesel
(or agri-biodiesel) was
sold to you in a retail sale described above.
Mixing or failure to use as fuel.
If the credit applied to biodiesel you bought and you later mix the biodiesel or do not use it as a fuel, you must
pay a tax equal to the credit.
Report this tax on Form 720.
How to claim the credit.
You take the biodiesel fuel credit by completing Form 8864 and attaching it to your income tax return. All individuals
and corporations taking the
credit use Form 8864. Partnerships (including electing large partnerships), S corporations, estates, and trusts figure the
credit on Form 8864 but
divide the credit among their partners, shareholders, or beneficiaries.
If you take the biodiesel fuel credit, you must include the credit for the tax year in your gross income for that
year.
Form 8864 is the only form on which you can claim the straight biodiesel fuel credit.
General business credit.
You combine the biodiesel fuel credit with other credits on Form 3800, General Business Credit, to figure your general
business credit for the
year. See the Form 3800 instructions for a list of these credits and whether you must file Form 3800.