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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

WHAT EXACTLY IS A SEVERANCE TAX?
Severance taxes are levied on the removal of certain natural resources from the soil or waters of the State of Alabama?

WHAT ITEMS ARE TAXED?
The statewide severance taxes are collected from oil, gas, coal, forest products, and iron ore. In addition, local taxes are collected for certain counties on coal, stone, rock, clay, sand, and gravel.

IS THERE A GREAT DEAL OF OIL AND GAS PRODUCTION IN ALABAMA?
Alabama is a major producer of both oil and gas in the United States. North Alabama is one of the great sources of methane gas which is extracted from coal seams. Many of the Southwestern counties have a great deal of oil production. There is also a large amount of activity currently in the Gulf waters off the Alabama coast. This offshore activity generates a great deal of gas and any production occurring within state waters is subject to Alabama severance taxes.

WHAT ARE THE SEVERANCE TAX RATES?

PRODUCT PRIVILEGE TAX OTHER TAX
Oil and Gas 2% to 8% of value production tax at 1% or 2% of value
Iron Ore $.03/ton  
Forest Products Various processor's tax 50% of privilege tax
Coal $.335/ton  
 

WHAT ARE THE LOCAL SEVERANCE TAX RATES?

Locality Tax Type Rate Authority
Statewide - Uniform
(Except:  Geneva, Lamar, Lee, Wilcox)
Natural Minerals, Sand, Gravel, Sandstone, Granite, Shale, Clay, Dolomite, Limestone 10¢ per ton §§40-13-50, 40-13-61, Code of Alabama, 1975
Coosa County Sand, Clay, Silt, Loam, Dirt, Gravel,
Rock, Sand-gravel, Sand-Clay
25¢ per ton 99-544
Jackson County Coal 20¢ per ton 79-349, 97-220
Marshall County Coal 20¢ per ton 81-482
 
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