RALEIGH — North Carolina’s Department of Justice has begun contacting gas stations after receiving more than 470 complaints alleging that retailers may not be passing along savings from the temporary state gas-tax suspension.
The outreach is not a finding that any specific retailer violated the law. The department did not identify the stations it contacted, disclose how many letters it sent or announce penalties. It said it is reviewing every complaint and will investigate reports that warrant further action.
The department said Session Law 2026-62 suspended North Carolina’s 41-cent-per-gallon tax on gasoline and diesel from Oct. 10 through Nov. 30. The law requires the savings to reach consumers, and Attorney General Jeff Jackson launched N.C. Fuel Check so drivers could report stations they believe are not complying.
The department is also reviewing publicly available price data for outliers, including stations charging substantially more than comparable nearby retailers. That review creates a statewide compliance issue for fuel sellers during the short tax-suspension period while giving motorists a formal route to document price concerns.
WLOS independently reported the complaint total, retailer contacts, Oct. 10 effective date and the department’s plan to review complaints and investigate those that may justify action.
Consumers submitting a report are asked to provide the station’s name and address, the visit date and time, the fuel grade and price per gallon, photographs of the price sign and receipt, nearby prices if available and an explanation of why they believe the savings were not passed through.
The department accepts reports through N.C. Fuel Check and by phone at 1-877-5-NO-SCAM. The complaint count describes allegations under review; it does not establish how many stations, if any, ultimately will be found out of compliance.