Excise Vs VAT On Fuel In Ireland

What this page covers

Define excise as a fixed per-litre charge and VAT as a percentage on the final sale price.

Use simple examples that show why VAT rises with higher underlying prices.

Link back to the pillar for full dated Irish fuel examples.

Short answer

Fuel is taxed in more than one way. This guide explains the difference in plain terms and points back to the dated examples.

For the full dated answer across petrol, diesel and heating oil, the canonical Tankful research page is How much of Irish fuel prices is tax?.

How to read this topic correctly

Irish fuel-price discussions often mix several things together. It is easier to separate fixed State charges, VAT, and the non-tax market and supply-chain costs that also shape the final litre.

What to read next

For the broad version, use the main explainer. For current consumer price context, use the recent price pages.

Pillar page

How Much Of Irish Fuel Prices Is Tax?

The full dated breakdown across petrol, diesel and heating oil, with FAQ answers and rate tables.

Price data

Recent heating-oil prices

Move from the tax explainer into recent county heating-oil prices and local supplier context.

FAQ

How much of petrol prices in Ireland is tax?

Using the 6 April 2026 European Commission weekly snapshot, tax and levies were about 95.6 cent per litre, or roughly 50.8% of the average petrol pump price in Ireland.

How much of diesel prices in Ireland is tax?

Using the same 6 April 2026 snapshot, tax and levies were about 86.6 cent per litre, or roughly 41.2% of the average diesel pump price in Ireland.