SOUND PAYMENTS PRESS RELEASE: ARE YOU EMV COMPLIANT?
EDA ANNOUNCES PHASE 4 GRANTS
NJEDA announced this week that they would be adding $84M into phase 4 of the CARES program. Phase 4 will provide grants to New Jersey small-businesses (50 or fewer full-time equivalent employees) that have been impacted by the pandemic. In order to apply for a grant you must pre-register. Pre-registration will begin on Monday, April 19, 2021 at 9:00 a.m. and will close on April 29, 2021 at 5:00 p.m.
KEROSENE
Though warmer weather is right around the corner, we recently came across the following notice from a sister association and thought to send out a quick reminder on the proper taxation and labeling of kerosene fuel.
Though they have fallen somewhat out of favor in recent years, many individuals use portable kerosene heaters to heat their home in the winter. Kerosene, much like diesel fuel, is taxed at different rates depending on the final end user. To prevent retailers from passing off taxable fuel as nontaxable, the fuel can be dyed so tax and law enforcement officials can distinguish which was vended. Kerosene can be used in diesel fueled vehicles as well as home heating furnaces. Diesel fuel is taxed heavily and home heating fuel is not, thus a heavy incentive for drivers to put kerosene in to their diesel vehicles. With these rules, specific labeling directions must be followed (labeling requirements for diesel dyed diesel dispensers have been in place since 1993; and for dyed and clear kerosene since 1998).
Consumers who heat their home with kerosene fuel do not pay a motor fuels sales tax on their purchase. There are specific mandates that must be followed when dispensing kerosene fuel that is used for heating purposes (including that it must be clear, follow proper signage rules, etc). That's not only because you're cheating the government of funds, but also because the ultimate end purchaser (and their nontaxable vs. taxable status) define if a credit or refund may be allowable. Just as importantly, retailers will be exposed to hefty fines and associated penalties for not complying with these mandates or are found to be selling nontaxable kerosene fuel for a taxable end use. That's because IRS field agents continue to enforce the dispenser label requirement throughout the nation and specifically search out retailers who do not post the required labeling. Aside from forcing any retailer who violates these rules the owed federal taxes, the IRS may assess a penalty of $10 per gallon for every gallon of nontaxable fuel in the storage tank connected to the dispenser at the time of the violation.
To review the appropriate labeling instructions, additional details on the requirements of nontaxable vs. taxable kerosene, and associated information, please CLICK HERE to review a one-page compliance bulletin. Don't allow federal or state authorities to punish you for a simple matter of pump labeling (or for that matter, for selling nontaxable fuel to a taxable end user). If you have any questions, please visit the IRS website or contact the NJ State Division of Taxation.
CLEANING GUIDELINES
The CDC has revised their guidelines for cleaning and disinfecting facilities based on new knowledge around the spread of Coronavirus. A year ago, we did not know where the virus was spreading from and disinfecting frequently was a necessity for slowing the spread of COVID. Now, over a year later, we know now that the virus is most likely to be spread through the air in contained areas, and the risk of getting COVID-19 via surfaces is very low. Therefore, the CDC has revised their guidelines on surface area cleaning to reflect this new data.
That said, I still think you all should be disinfecting more than once a day. The reason is because our particular industry is a "high-traffic" one, meaning some of us may see hundreds of customers a day coming in and out of our businesses, especially those of you who are in locations that see a lot of commuters. Do a personal assessment of your business. How many customers do you see a day? Which areas are frequented by customers and/or are touched often? These may be the areas you want to disinfect more than once a day, whereas other areas may not need as much of your attention. You can always refer to our Best Practices document, which details how business owners in our industries can protect themselves and customers from the virus.
DIESEL FUEL QUALITY AND STORAGE
A recent report by the Diesel Fuel Quality Council (DFQC) has highlighted a new "best practices" manual for diesel fuel retailers aimed at improving fuel quality and minimizing diesel degradation. You will read more on this in the next installment of our quarterly news publication, On The Road, though this is important enough to mention ahead of time. You can view a copy of this manual on NJGCA's website HERE. We encourage all retailers to fully review the manual and implement the recommended practices.
SOUND PAYMENTS
Times up! We've been waiting to hear all week, but still have not heard from Visa and Mastercard regarding postponing the April 2021 deadline to enable EMV at the pump. We have added Sound Payments to our Member Benefit Partner program to help you with this transition. They recently released this press release on providing Easy Pump kits in order to help become EMV compliant. This is important! You could be on the hook for thousands of dollars if you are caught not being in compliance.
All classes held at NJGCA HQ -- 4900 Route 33 West, Wall Township, NJ 07753
ASE-Prep Training (for NJ ASE-track ERT/ETEP Re-Certification)
NJGCA will offer an ASE-prep class for Emission Repair Technicians (ERTs) seeing to continue their existing accreditation. Students will meet twice a week for the entire five-week period (ten sessions), and review the required material for the A6, A8, and L1 exams. While we anticipate most students would appreciate preparing for all three tests together, we can also accommodate technicians who only need to prepare for a specific section.
All classes will meet in Wall Township, from approximately 9:00am to 3:00pm, on the following dates:
May Dates:
Class 1 - Tuesday, 5/4
Class 2 - Thursday, 5/6
Class 3 - Tuesday, 5/11
Class 4 - Thursday, 5/13
Class 5 - Wednesday, 5/19
Class 6 - Thursday, 5/20
Class 7 - Tuesday, 5/25
Class 8 - Thursday, 5/27
June Dates
Class 9 - Wednesday, 6/2
Class 10 - Thursday, 6/3
Prices:
NJGCA Members: $1,995.00 (plus the price of books)
Two-Day Emissions Inspector Training Class April 27th & 28th, 2021
If you, a colleague, or an employee technician wishes to become a NJ Emissions Inspector, now is your chance!NJGCA will offer a two-day class with all the information and training you need to become a NJ Emissions Inspector. On day one you will receive in-class instruction from NJGCA's instructor. We will break for lunch (provided), and the State will administer the written test in the afternoon. On day two will go over the hands-on test at an emission inspection location to fully prepare you for the hands-on test.
We are offering the class: Tuesday, April 27th, 7:00am to 4:00pm & Wednesday, April 28th, 12:30
This week, the White House confirmed that raising the federal gasoline tax is not being considered as part of President Biden's infrastructure package, according to TheHill.com. Rumors of an increase surfaced when the president met with a bipartisan group of policymakers on Monday regarding the package. Representative Donald Payne Jr. (D-NJ) was cited saying that Biden was open to raising the gas tax, while Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said last month that neither a mileage tax nor a gas tax would be part of the conversation. When asked about reports that a hike was being considered to fund Biden's $2.25 trillion package, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said that a gas tax increase is not being discussed. The president has proposed raising the corporate tax rate to pay for the package.
Half of the U.S. population uses public restrooms, and 84% are in favor of bathroom fixtures they don't have to touch, according to Bradley's 2021 Healthy Handwashing Survey. According to the survey, 13% of Americans said they completely avoid public restrooms, while 50% said they visit public restrooms as they always have. An additional 37% said they were uncomfortable with public facilities but utilized them when necessary.
Leaders at 13 prominent organizations representing cars, trucks, shipping and logistics sent an open letter to Shawn LaTourette, the acting commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, warning against the state adopting California's heavy-duty on-highway emission regulations. Those regulations, which the DEP has indicated it wants to implement, include both California's Advanced Clean Trucks Rule (which mandates the sales of zero-emission vehicles) and its Omnibus Low-NOx Rule (which only allows the sale of engines meeting ultra-low NOx emission standards and a wide range of extremely stringent additional requirements). The group noted it supports many of the state's climate change and clean energy goals - but said these regulations go too far. Sal Risalvato, NJGCA Executive Director has signed on to this letter.
Two New Jersey men used more than 500 stolen debit cards to purchase $220,000 in diesel fuel for commercial truck drivers in exchange for cash payments, authorities said. . . each face up to five years in federal prison after being charged with conspiracy to commit access device fraud, the U.S. Attorney's Office for New Jersey said Friday.
This week, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued updated guidelines on cleaning and disinfecting facilities, relaxing recommendations for some types of cleaning when COVID-19 risks aren't elevated. Because the virus that causes COVID-19 can land on surfaces, it's possible for people to become infected if they touch those surfaces and then touch their nose, mouth or eyes, the CDC said. In most situations, however, the risk of infection from touching a surface is low, and when no people with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 infections are known to be in a particular space, "cleaning once a day is usually enough to sufficiently remove virus that may be on surfaces and help maintain a healthy facility," the CDC said.
The Diesel Fuel Quality Council (DFQC), a non-advocacy group of diverse stakeholders in the heavy-duty transportation energy industry launched by the Fuels Institute, has published a new resource containing a series of suggested practices to assist tank owners with managing their diesel storage tank systems and protecting fuel quality. "Diesel Storage Tanks: Industry Practices to Minimize Degradation and Improve Fuel Quality" is an easy-to-read, step-by-step manual that walks storage tank operators through practical solutions to address fuel quality and avoid costly problems with their systems. . . By adopting the best practices found in the DFQC's guidance document, tank owners can mitigate costly problems within their tank system and preserve fuel quality to protect the vehicles they fuel. This set of best practices includes information on proper fuel delivery, equipment and tank maintenance and monitoring, dispenser filters, fuel testing and fuel remediation.
Each week, the Energy Information Administration publishes a list of average gasoline prices for the previous three weeks. NJGCA will begin including this list with the Weekly Road Warrior. Remember, these prices are reflective of self-serve everywhere except NJ.
Property For Sale: Gasoline Retail and Auto Repair Facility. Family Owned and Operated Since 1976. FOR SALE - Inquire via EMAIL for details: MontvilleValero@gmail.com
Parts For Sale: Incon TS-1000 tank monitor works well just taken out of service. Printer is aprox 2 months old. Also, Incon 8, tank probes. System replaced because on an Exxon upgrade. Call John Twin Towers Exxon (201) 224-8444
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