ANN ARBOR, Mich. -

As tax season wraps up, the Center for Automotive Research released a study Wednesday that highlighted the significant impact the auto industry has on both the country’s federal and state tax revenue.

Accounting for more than $135 billion of tax revenue, the study found that the use and sales of more than 250 million vehicles in the U.S. continues to be a huge economic driver.

“The motor vehicle industry is the largest manufacturing industry in the United States. No other single industry is linked as closely to the broader U.S. manufacturing sector or generates as much direct retail business and employment as the motor vehicle industry,” officials noted in the study.

In fact, the auto industry accounted for about 13 percent of all state tax revenue, the study stated. This translates to at least $91.5 billion in state government tax revenue in 2010.

Breaking the numbers down even further, $30 billion of the aforementioned number was generated from taxes on the sales and service of both new and used vehicles.

“This study confirms that the U.S. automotive sector has a large impact throughout the nation and provides support to state and federal governments in the form of taxes and fees collected from sales, employees, drivers and the auto companies themselves,” the study stated.

“As the economy continues in its recovery, auto sales improve, and companies are able to create and retain jobs at greater rates, tax revenues generated by the sector could increase to even greater levels,” it continued, noting that that the auto industry’s contributions to the economy could continue to grow.

And interestingly, in some states, the revenue from the automotive industry accounted for over 20 percent of all tax dollars.

In Oklahoma, total auto taxes accounted for 23 percent of all state tax revenue, or 1.6 billion out of 7.8 billion in 2010.

And in South Dakota and Texas, total auto taxes accounted for 19 percent of all state tax revenue.

As for the Big 3’s home state, total auto taxes accounted for 13 percent of all state tax revenue in Michigan, or $2.8 billion out of $22.2 billion in 2010.

On the other hand, the smallest  percentage was Alaska, where only 2 percent of revenue came from the auto sector.

Federal Effects

And as for federal tax revenue, the auto industry generated an estimated $43 billion, the study reported. This includes $14 billion in income taxes and $29 billion from federal motor fuel taxes.

And on top of the tax revenue the industry pumps into the economy, total revenue from car sales totaled over $564 billion in 2010. This translates into an increase of 17 percent from the previous year.

And along with $173 billion from the manufacture and sales of parts, along with repairs and service, automobiles drive more than $735 billion into the economy each year, the study shared.

To view the whole study, see here.