In Spain, filling the car tank has become an important expense for any family in recent years. When the price of gasoline or diesel rises, as has happened this last week, we usually always hear the same explanation: “oil has gone up.” However, content creator Juanjo Ebenezer, from the Talleres Ebenezer mechanical workshop, wanted to break that myth in a video that has quickly gone viral on his TikTok channel (@talleresebenezer). In it, he explains clearly and directly how the price of fuel is actually made up, and what part goes directly to taxes.
“If taxes were not paid on fuel, you would be paying half of what you are paying now for a liter of fuel,” the video begins. As he explains, four elements intervene in the final price of gasoline: the cost of the raw material, the logistics costs of distribution and profits, the special tax on hydrocarbons and VAT. That is, beyond oil, the State also has a leading role in the final cost.
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A liter of gasoline, more than 50% in taxes
Ebenezer details that “the hydrocarbon tax is currently approximately 50 cents per liter on gasoline cars, well, on gasoline fuel and about 40 cents per liter on diesel vehicles.” Added to this is VAT, which is not only applied to the base price of fuel, but also to that previous tax, which means that taxes are paid upon taxes. “VAT is calculated on the total sum of everything, so apart from the hydrocarbon tax, you are paying VAT on the hydrocarbon tax,” says the mechanic.
In this way, the creator calculates that more than 50% of the price per liter that the driver pays goes to the State. “I’m tired of hearing that fuel is more expensive because oil prices have risen and don’t be fooled,” he warns. And, although the variation in crude oil has an influence, the fiscal weight is decisive in the final price.
An explanation with impact on networks
Ebenezer’s message has connected with thousands of users due to its close and direct tone. And it is no wonder, since it has more than 1,200 ‘likes’ and a multitude of comments. His explanation is reminiscent of what businessmen in the sector have made on other occasions, who have already denounced that half of the price of fuel is taxes and that profit margins are very small.
Beyond the debate, his video invites us to reflect on how much of the money we pay when refueling really goes to the State and how much to the oil companies or distribution. A reminder that, when fuel prices rise, not everything depends on oil: the tax burden remains the true driver of the price.