The American Jobs Creation Act of 2004 (JOBS Bill), signed into law in October of 2004, created the Volumetric Ethanol Excise Tax Credit (VEETC), which includes a tax credit for biodiesel. The Energy Policy Act of 2005 (H.R.6), extended the credit through December 31, 2008, and creates a similar tax credit for renewable diesel.
- The volumetric excise tax credit for Agri-Biodiesel is $1.00 per gallon. Agri-Biodiesel is defined as diesel fuel made from virgin oils derived from agricultural commodities and animal fats.
- The volumetric excise tax credit for Biodiesel remains at 50¢ per gallon. Biodiesel is defined as diesel fuel made from agricultural products and animal fats.
- The volumetric excise tax credit for Renewable Diesel is $1.00 per gallon. Renewable diesel refers to diesel fuel derived from biomass using a thermal depolymerization process.
H.R. 6 also created a new credit for small agri-biodiesel producers equal to 10 cents per gallon on the first 15 million gallons of agri-biodiesel produced at facilities with annual capacity not exceeding 60 million gallons. Historically, small
ethanol producers were allowed a similar credit. The tax credit is capped at $1.5 million per year per producer and like the small ethanol producer credit can be passed through to the farmer owners of a cooperative and the credit is allowed to be offset against the alternative minimum tax (AMT). The credit sunsets December 31, 2008.