Georgia AG Threatens Prosecution for Businesses Defying Gas Tax Suspension

State's top legal authority warns non-compliant gas stations will face investigation and potential prosecution.

Mar. 28, 2026 at 8:50pm

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About a week after Georgia Governor Brian Kemp signed legislation to suspend the state's gas tax for 60 days, Attorney General Chris Carr has threatened to prosecute any gas stations that fail to deduct the tax from their prices. Carr stated that businesses that do not comply will be investigated immediately, and the state will not hesitate to take legal action if warranted.

Why it matters

The gas tax suspension was introduced to provide relief to Georgia consumers as oil prices have surged globally due to the ongoing conflict in Iran. However, the Attorney General's warning suggests some businesses may be attempting to profit from the situation by not passing along the tax savings to customers as required by law.

The details

The bill signed by Governor Kemp on March 20 cuts the gas tax by 33.3 cents per gallon for regular fuel and 37.3 cents per gallon for diesel. According to the Attorney General, failing to deduct these amounts constitutes an 'unfair or deceptive act' that violates the state's Fair Business Practices Act of 1975. Carr stated that any business found to be 'purposefully' non-compliant will face immediate investigation and potential prosecution.

  • The gas tax suspension legislation was signed into law by Governor Kemp on March 20, 2026.
  • The Attorney General's warning was issued on March 28, 2026, about a week after the tax cut went into effect.

The players

Brian Kemp

The Governor of Georgia who signed the legislation to suspend the state's gas tax for 60 days.

Chris Carr

The Attorney General of Georgia who has threatened to prosecute any businesses that fail to comply with the gas tax suspension.

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What they’re saying

“We commend Governor Kemp and our partners in the legislature for passing this critical measure to lower costs at the pump. Any business that purposefully fails to comply with the law will be investigated immediately, and we will not hesitate to prosecute if warranted. Now is not the time to play games at the expense of Georgia consumers.”

— Chris Carr, Attorney General of Georgia

What’s next

The Attorney General's office has stated they will immediately investigate any reports of gas stations failing to comply with the gas tax suspension, and will prosecute violators if warranted.

The takeaway

This case highlights the state government's efforts to provide direct relief to consumers by suspending the gas tax, but also the potential for some businesses to undermine those efforts by not passing along the savings. The Attorney General's strong warning sends a clear message that non-compliance will not be tolerated.