The TaxPayers’ Alliance (TPA) has launched a major new campaign with the Petrol Retailers’ Association (PRA) highlighting the burden of excessive fuel taxes in a bid to raise pressure on the Treasury to cut fuel duty.

More than 5,000 ‘fuel tax stands’ (pictured) will be going to independent forecourts across the UK so that customers can see exactly how much of their cash is going straight to the Treasury.

A website allowing users to write directly to their local MP about the level of fuel tax accompanies the launch of the campaign.

The stands display a breakdown of where money spent on filling up the tank actually goes. When drivers pay £30 at the till, around £18 of that is paid straight to the government, with only the remaining £12 covering the cost of the fuel – including just £1 to the retailer. 

The aim of the campaign is to inform people that 60% of what they pay at the pumps goes straight to the taxman. The TPA argues that, with greater transparency at the tills, pressure will mount on the Chancellor to cut fuel duty by 5ppl over five years or at the very least to freeze fuel duty for the rest of this Parliament.

Matthew Sinclair, chief executive of the TaxPayers’ Alliance said: “Fuel duty is an excessive and unfair burden on struggling families, whether they need to get to work, take their kids to school or do the weekly shop. Businesses also struggle with rising costs moving their goods. Too often staff in the forecourts get the flak for high fuel prices which are really the result of exorbitant taxes set by politicians. 

“That is why we produced the new fuel tax stands to show customers how much tax they actually pay when they fill up. By displaying it on their counter, retailers will be able to set people straight when they vent their frustration over high petrol and diesel prices. Fuel duty should at least be frozen for the rest of this Parliament, and motorists really deserve a cut in excessive taxes.”

PRA chairman Brian Madderson added: “We believe that the fuel tax stand is the perfect way to help explain to our customers that far from profiteering from high fuel prices, fuel retailers are also suffering as the government takes 60% of the cost of every litre. This amounts to a total tax-take of more than £30bn from forecourts every year.”

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