Author: Santamarina Joseph

ExpressTruckTax’s Returning Guests Get the V.I.P. Treatment

Posted on July 18, 2014 by - Expresstrucktax.com, Form 2290, Schedule 1

Guess what, Trucking Nation— It’s Friday! Can I get an amen?

And since it’s #FridayFunday, it seems only appropriate that we talk about your Heavy Vehicle Use Taxes, right? (If you still think filing taxes is boring, then you haven’t been E-filing with ExpressTruckTax!)

Those of you who have already been E-filing with us know that our Support Heroes are some of the most fun and interesting people you’ll meet! Plus we have mountains of benefits for our beloved returning guests.

Perhaps the most exciting benefit is our quick transfer feature. If you’ve E-filed Form 2290 with us before, you can find any previously accepted return and copy it to the current year’s. Simply log-in to your account as usual, and start a new Form 2290. After you choose the tax year and first month used, you’ll be prompted to copy a previously accepted return of your choosing. Once you’ve found the one, click “Copy This Return.” Voila! 

Your current 2290 is populated with all of your necessary information, which means you won’t have to re-enter your bank details, truck info, etc. If a few details have changed since last year, you can still edit the return. And as usual, once you’re ready to submit it, our Instant Audit feature will review your information for errors, just one more step to ensure that your return will be accepted!

Just watch how quick and convenient it is. The lovely Demetri will walk you through the program, so you can see it in action!

If the majority of your information has changed since last year, or you just want to E-file for a select number of vehicles, then our returning guests will still save loads of time with Truck Zone. It’s your own digital garage, where all of your trucks’ details and previous tax info can be swiftly retrieved and uploaded to your return. Just click and upload each one you’d like to E-file. In Truck Zone, your fleet’s information is always organized and easily accessible.
Additionally, returning users can view, download or email all previous 2290’s E-filed with us. You can even download your Schedule I and view your receipt.

All of your vital tax information, from entire returns to each individual truck, is at your fingertips. Gone are the days of filing away mountains of paperwork (or shoving it into drawers). No longer will you sit at a computer for hours on end, typing in the same information, year after year.

ExpressTruckTax saves it all, and thereby, saves you precious time! Now you really do have time to enjoy #FridayFunday!

Want to become one of our returning guest V.I.P.’s? Call one of our USA-based Support Heroes at 704.234.6005 or drop us a line via chat to find out more about the benefits of E-filing with us. We make tax wizards out of everybody! 

ExpressTruckTax: Now Proud Partners with Women in Trucking

Posted on July 16, 2014 by - Expresstrucktax.com, Truck Tax, trucking news

Breaking news, Trucking Nation! ExpressTruckTax is thrilled to be joining forces with Women in Trucking! 

A coalition of both men and women, Women in Trucking encourages women to seek careers in all areas of the trucking industry, which has tended to be predominantly male. But since 2007, WIT has been changing that– one dispatcher, driver, and safety director at a time! WIT not only connects women with the career opportunities they deserve, but empowers them by promoting their accomplishments and creating scholarship funds for professional development. Another integral part of WIT’s mission is removing the obstacles that many women face in the industry. One of the obstacles they seek to dismantle is the commonly held misconception that women are not “strong” enough to be part of the trucking industry.

We at ExpressTruckTax know how silly that notion is! Our Support Heroes have the privilege of speaking with skilled female truckers every day.

As part of our commitment to advancing women in the trucking industry, ExpressTruckTax has created an E-filing portal for HVUT Form 2290, available exclusively for members of Women in Trucking. Members will not only enjoy a discounted rate to E-file (only $9.41 for a single truck!), but they will enjoy the convenience and security that comes with our premier service.

Express Truck Zone is just one of these exclusives, wherein filers can store all of their fleet’s vehicle and tax information, year after year. Truck Zone makes it easy to find and E-file for a select group of vehicles. Alternatively, we now have a feature that lets you conveniently transfer last year’s return to the current year’s, while still making small amendments where needed. These two features combined will save hours, even days, of data entry!

And since we know that filing truck taxes can be stressful, we offer 24/7 support from our headquarters in Rock Hill, SC. Women in Trucking members can call, chat or email, day and night, and receive assistance from our Support Heroes in English, Spanish or Russian.

Women have always been and will continue to be a vital part of the trucking industry, whether they’re hauling on the road or in a leadership role. But until everyone understands this, WIT will continue its diligent efforts to educate members of the trucking industry and general public alike. That’s why we are proud to be part of WIT’s mission to redefine the road!

Just take a look at all of our smiling faces!

 

Smile & Say, “Gender Equality!”

Women of the trucking industry, we salute you! Many thanks for your hard work, from everyone at ExpressTruckTax.

To find out more about our Form 2290 Portal for WIT members, give our Support Heroes a shout at 704.234.6005. You can also chat with us online or get 24/7 email support at support@expresstrucktax.com.

Our Visit to Peterbilt’s 75th Anniversary Tour

Posted on July 15, 2014 by - Expresstrucktax.com, trucking news

Oh, the places we have gone! We’ve got something special for your Trucker Tuesday.

Yesterday, the SPAN Enterprises blogging team (Misty & I) took a mini field trip to Peterbilt’s 75th Anniversary Tour in Charlotte, NC!

If you didn’t get a chance to swing by Rush Peterbilt yesterday, then have no fear! Here’s a recap of all the cool gadgets we got to play with, pics included!

Paccar MX-13 Engine

When you first step into their 53 foot, double-expandable museum on wheels, a glistening monster of an engine stands in its full glory! Weighing in at 2,600 lbs (when empty!), this is the beast that pulls the Model 579, Peterbilt’s Anniversary Edition Truck. The engine block and cylinder head are made from compacted graphite iron, and it features an encapsulated wiring harness. And talk about power, this baby boasts anywhere from 1,450-1,850 lbs of torque! Vroom, vroom, indeed.

Air Disc Breaks

With all that go-power, there’s only one way to slow it down, their state-of-the-art Air Disc Breaks. These efficiency-optimizers reduce stopping distances and lower maintenance costs. And just look at the size of them! Not the break pads you’ll see on my wee-little car!

Interactive Kiosks

After learning about the bits under the hood, we hopped onto one of their interactive kiosks and designed our own Model 579! We got to select the engine type, axels, cab-size, even the chrome detailing and headlights! The best part was the color selection. Ultimately, we had to go with “Hawaiian Orchid.” Tough call, but just look how gorgeous! Who wouldn’t want to ride that bad boy around town?

Cab of Model 579


Then, we got behind the wheel and played with all of the gadgets in the 579 cab and sleeper cut-aways, for the authentic trucking experience! And it wasn’t hard to tell that this design is the latest and greatest in trucking technology. Every nook and cranny has been optimized for comfort and utilized for storage. The Evolution LX seats in the cab were unbelievably comfortable and automatically adjusted for each person’s height. In the sleeper, there were cup-holders, cubbies, and closets galore! Even a mini fridge with a drink-cooling drawer below to store one’s favorite beverages! Oh, and did I mention the wall-mounted flat screen TV? It really was an incredibly high-tech, and ultra-cozy home on wheels!


“Let’s punch it.”

And of course, it wouldn’t be an authentic trucking experience if we didn’t get to honk the horn and talk on the radio! Good thing they didn’t give us the keys, or we would’ve been out on the open road! Look out, Carolinas!

The ExpressTruckTax Team thanks Rush Peterbilt of Charlotte, NC, for hosting this event! It was informative and inspiring, the perfect place for truck enthusiasts of all ages to come and play! If you haven’t yet visited the Peterbilt Anniversary Tour, no worries! They’ve still got plenty of stops left all over the country. But the tour wraps up in November, so don’t wait too long! Everyone needs to experience the power you feel behind the wheel of this fine machinery. Have a joyous Trucker Tuesday, all!

Express Truck Zone: An Exclusive Feature of ExpressTruckTax

Posted on July 14, 2014 by - Form 2290, HVUT, Truck Zone

Happy Monday, Trucking Nation! If you’re off to a slow start this morning, here’s a little #motivationmonday juice to add some pep to your step. Filing your HVUT Form 2290 just got a whole lot easier with our exclusive feature, Truck Zone.

And it’s the gift that keeps on giving, year after year, because it will save you hours of data entry every time you file a HVUT return. Music to your ears!

Truck Zone is a centralized hub for your trucking business, your place to store general information, as well as tax information about every vehicle in your fleet, whether that’s hundreds or even thousands of vehicles!

Might I add that this feature is free as part of your ExpressTruckTax account! So how does it work, exactly?

Within your ExpressTruckTax account, you’ll see the tab “Truck Zone” along the top. Once inside, enter information about each heavy vehicle. Alternatively, you can quickly bulk upload all of the information if you already have it in a CSV file. Even if it’s thousands of vehicles, you can still do ‘em all at once!

In your Truck Zone, you can store each vehicle’s V.I.N., Unit #, Fleet name & number, License Plate, gross vehicle weight, if it’s suspended, and whether or not it has agricultural plates or is used for logging. This info in particular will help you keep things sorted when filing your HVUT! You can edit this information any time you like.

Once you have all of your ducks…I mean trucks in a row, filing your taxes and retrieving previous tax information will be a snap!

If you need to file HVUT for a select group of vehicles, use our Advanced Search option to find the trucks you’re looking for by VIN, weight, or unit #. Then click each and add to the return. Done!

Once you’ve filed HVUT with us, go to any truck, click on the “HVUT” tab, and view all of its essential tax details, from how much tax you paid to the date it was filed. Even better, you can download or email that specific return.

And now for the best part, when you need to file next year, all of your vehicles’ information is stored in your digital garage and ready to be uploaded to the return without any unnecessary fidgeting.

Your fleet’s tax information has never been so organized and easily accessible. If that isn’t a stress reliever, then I don’t know what is!

If you’ve got questions about Truck Zone or any one of our amazing, time-saving features within ExpressTruckTax, just call 704.234.6005 or get 24/7 email support at support@expresstrucktax.com. Our Support Heroes in sunny Rock Hill, SC, are ready for you!

And once more–Happy Monday, you tax-filing wizards! Now you’re ready to tackle the week, aren’t you!

The Benefits of E-Filing Form 2290 with ExpressTruckTax

Posted on July 11, 2014 by - Expresstrucktax.com, Form 2290, HVUT

Tax season has only just begun! But if you’re already tired, weary, and dreading the thought of filing your Form 2290, then you’ve come to the right place! We’re an IRS authorized, secure, and affordable way to file all of your Truck Tax forms. But we don’t stop there.

We at ExpressTruckTax are in the business of making your life easier. From start to finish, we guarantee that e-filing with us will be the best tax-filing experience of your life! Bold words, I know, but just look at everything we have to offer!

  • Form 2290 Tax Calculator App: The benefits of using ExpressTruckTax begin before you even file! Our brand-spanking new app tells you how much Heavy Vehicle Use Tax you’ll owe before you file! It’s like a crystal ball for your business, available for iPad and Android devices.
  • Express Truck Zone: Store all of your vehicles’ information in our digital garage! Even upload hundreds or thousands of trucks at once. Makes filing and retrieving prior tax year info a breeze.
  • ExpressTruckTax App: File from anywhere with your iPad or Android device, anywhere but the IRS office that is, because you won’t be needing to go there! Hallelujah!
  • Instant Tax Audit: Checks your information before you submit it. We go the extra mile to ensure that your return is accepted. And with a 98% success rate, we’re doing a pretty good job of it!
  • Automatic Form 8849 Generation for Credits: Because we want you to get your money back faster. Any objections? We thought not…
The benefits don’t stop once you’ve submitted your return either. We’re with you for the long haul.

  • Receive your Stamped Schedule I within minutes of filing. 
  • Get text, email or fax notifications–whatever you fancy–to keep you up-to-date with the status of your return and your payment to the IRS. 
  • Make Corrections for FREE: VIN corrections are free, but only if you file with us! And if your return is rejected for any reason, we’ll help you understand why, and you can re-file that for free too! 
  • We save your information so it can be quickly uploaded to next year’s return. Why re-enter it all each year? Your time is more valuable than that!
And we saved the best for last: our USA-based Support Heroes. Not only can we assist you in English, Spanish, and Russian, but we are here for you–day and night. Ask us your deepest, darkest tax questions via phone (704.234.6005) or chat, or get 24/7 email support at support@expresstrucktax.com. We’re real, happy people eager to help YOU! So what are you waiting for? Get e-filing, Trucking Nation!

5 Tips for Healthy Trucking

Posted on July 9, 2014 by - #wellnesswednesday, Healthy Tips, Trucker

healthy tipsLet’s talk about health, Trucking Nation! The ExpressTruckTax Team understands that staying fit on the road can be a challenge, but with a little tweaking and a fresh perspective, your unique circumstances can be used to your advantage! So here are five easy tips to help you get started.

Our journey into healthier living doesn’t begin with pumping iron or munching on a head of cabbage. It begins within…

1. Dedication: As the Buddha once said, “The mind is everything. What you think you become.” Before you can make big changes, you must be consciously aware of what you want to change! Identify your vices- be honest with yourself. Then start by listing your top 5 goals. This helps you prioritize and keeps you from getting overwhelmed. If five is too much, then start with just one-and commit to it for at least a month. This makes the transition more manageable, which is vital, because you want to be committed for the long haul. Don’t burn yourself out trying to change your entire life overnight. Baby steps.


2. Drink Water Like a Fish: Kick that can of sugary stuff and drink water instead! It’s free of calories and, of course, necessary for survival (minor detail). This change alone can deliver major results. But it can be a hard habit to break, so lean into it. For that fiziness you’re used to, start by switching from soda to sparkling water. For the sweetness you crave, infuse your water with fruit, or use a stevia-based flavor enhancer (avoid ones loaded with sugar and artificial colors). All this extra water will help your body flush toxins, increase circulation, and even improve your skin.

3. MOVE: You don’t need to have a gym nearby-or even a fancy workout regimen-to get your heart rate up. Simply stretch and go for a brisk walk on your breaks, at least half an hour is ideal. This can be particularly fun if you take a friend, whether it’s a fellow-trucker or a loyal pup! Consider picking up a pedometer to keep track of your steps. Just seeing that number can motivate you to keep moving. You can even compete with your friends for most-steps-taken in a month!

4. Snack Smarter, and Easier: It’s oh-so-easy (and tempting) to grab that bag of chips. But it can be just as easy to make better choices. Buy pre-washed bags of salad, some even come with toppings and dressing right in the bag! Score! Many grocery stores also sell pre-cut fruits and veggies, which means no preparation! Unsalted nuts are also an excellent, protein-packed snack. Yum!

5. Boost that Immune System: Nothing kills productivity like a cold! Your best defense against illness starts with what you eat. When you can’t get fresh fruit, drink plenty of real fruit juice for that Vitamin C boost. Equally important, eat lots of yogurt with live, active cultures. This will nourish the healthy bacteria in your gut, and those buggers are responsible for most of your immune health! Combine this with regularly washing hands with soap and warm water, and your immune system will be in tip-top shape!

Any one of these five easy steps is a great place to start. And if you slip up one day, it’s okay. Don’t let minor setbacks weigh you down. Staying positive is the key. So get going! And tell us your healthy tips and tricks, and they may be featured in our next WednesdayWellness blog! Here’s to healthy trucking!

Ready for more? Check out 

5 More Tips for Healthy Trucking!

Even More Tips for Healthy Trucking: Ripped Edition! 

#WellnessWednesday Part 4: The Return of the Tips

#WellnessWednesday Part 5: Eat, Drink, & Be Healthy!

For more healthy tips and tricks, check out:

YouTube: Big Rig Cooking with Misty

Eat Your Veggies Day

Form 2290 Tax Calculator App

Posted on July 8, 2014 by - Expresstrucktax.com, Form 2290 Calculator app, HVUT

I have some great news from ExpressTruckTax on this beautiful TruckerTuesday. You may (or may not)

know that HVUT Form 2290 filing season is going on right now and we have heaps of new features just for you. ExpressTruckTax now has iPad and Android Apps to assist you with calculating your tax due and e-filing on the go.


Form 2290 Tax Calculator App

If you are familiar with the annual Heavy Vehicle Use Tax then you might have an idea of how much is owed. But you can be absolutely sure of the taxes owed with our new Form 2290 Tax Calculator App. This handy little app can calculate your Heavy Vehicle Use Taxes quick, fast, and in a hurry so you know what to expect when filing your Form 2290. Calculations are available for the current tax year and you can have a Calculated Tax Report sent to your email with the following information:
  • First Used Month
  • Due Date
  • Total Taxable Vehicles
  • Total Tax Due
This app is available for iPad and Android devices. Once you have your tax calculated, you can e-file Form 2290 through our ExpressTruckTax App.
ExpressTruckTax App
When you’re on the road and a computer is nowhere in sight – have no fear, the ExpressTruckTax App is Here! You can transmit your Form 2290 to the IRS from any location. E-File while at the truck stop, waiting at the loading dock, counting the minutes until the mechanic shows up (sometimes they take forever), sitting in line at the weigh station, the scenarios are endless. All you need is internet access and you are set. 
Download it for your iPad or Android device Today.
If you run into any problems when e-filing your Form 2290 or have a question, don’t hesitate to give us a call. Contact our ExpressTruckTax Support team via phone: 704.234.6005 or email: support@expresstrucktax.com. They can assist you in English, Spanish, and even Russian.

How It Works: Making Corrections To Your E-Filed Form 2290

Posted on July 7, 2014 by - Expresstrucktax.com, Form 2290 corrections, VIN Corrections

Have you ever had your Form 2290 accepted by the IRS and suddenly realize there is incorrect information on your return, or the VIN is incorrect on the your Stamped Schedule 1? The process to correct the information depends on what information needs to be corrected.

Starting off  with some good news, you e-filed your Form 2290 way before the deadline with ExpressTruckTax.com. So you are not stressing about missing the deadline and incurring penalties. Okay, the not-so-great-news is that you might be required to contact the IRS to fix certain problems. These problems include:

  • typos
  • misspellings
  • name corrections
The contact number for the IRS to fix these issues is 866.699.4096

Wrong EIN
If you have the wrong EIN on your Stamped Schedule 1, you will want to correct the EIN and fax it along with a letter explaining that the EIN was wrong. If the return was accepting with an EIN that was not yours, it means the EIN belongs to someone else and the IRS will have to figure out whose payment you made. 
Business Name Change
If your business name changes (doesn’t matter the reason) but your EIN remains the same, you will need to follow the actions required by the IRS for Business Name Change.
VIN Correction
Correcting a VIN on your Form 2290 is very easy. It can be done online with ExpressTruckTax and it is completely free if you e-filed your Form 2290 through ExpressTruckTax. Even if you did not file with us, you can still correct your VIN. To correct a VIN, you will file a Form 2290 Amendment and choose the VIN Correction option. Follow the prompts and transmit the return to the IRS. 
If you are unsure on how to correct information, please do not hesitate to give us a call. Our USA based support team is standing by to assist you and can be reached via phone: 704.234.6005 email: support@expresstrucktax.com 

Trucking Events: July Expos, Jamborees, and Contests

Posted on July 4, 2014 by - expresstrucktax, July events, trucking news

July EventsHappy 4th, everybody! It’s a beautiful day to celebrate America with friends and family, and of
course, with some ice cold lemonade, sunshine, and fireworks! But after the fireworks fade away, the fun doesn’t have to. No matter where you’re trucking this month, there are some spectacular events, from sea to shining sea!

Best part-they’re mostly FREE!

Peterbilt 75th Anniversary Tour
Starting our tour on the East coast, The Peterbilt 75th Anniversary Tour rolls into Rush Truck Center of Charlotte, NC, July 14th. Step into the 53 foot, double-expandable trailer, and you’ll get an eye-full of the latest and greatest in trucking innovation. Experience the state-of-the-art Cab and Sleeper Cutaways–maybe sneak in a nap, I won’t tell–or jump on an interactive kiosk to design your own Model 579! Feeling nostalgic? Travel back in time to 1939 with their History Wall, sure to please you antique truck buffs. Peterbilt novices and avid followers alike are bound to experience something new in this hands-on museum on wheels!

Ohio’s Expedite Expo
If you’re craving a mixture of entertainment and information, Ohio’s Expedite Expo’s got it! July 25th-26th, mingle with thousands of people from the general public, to owner operators, to fleet owners. When you aren’t networking, pop into one of their 10 helpful Workshops where you’ll learn how to grow your business or even pick up tips for being a healthy trucker. As if that wasn’t enough excitement, you can go “all in” at Casino Night (are you feeling lucky, punk?), enter the Antique Truck Show, and maybe even win THOUSANDS in giveaways! Yes, please!

Iowa80 Truckers Jamboree
Ever competed in a high-stakes game of Steering Wheel Ring Toss? Swing by the 35th annual Iowa 80 Truckers Jamboree and you just might become a Trucker Olympics Gold Medalist! Kicking off July 10th, this three-day event is packed with fun for the whole family. Relax with live music, carnival games, and fireworks. Stroll through the Antique Truck Show while devouring some famous Iowa Pork Chops. Or if you’re feeling feisty, compete in the Trucker Olympics (open to both ladies and gents) and see how far you can pull a semi! Best of all, you can enter your pride and joy in the Truck Beauty Contest. Shine that baby up and prove to your friends once and for all that she really is the best looking gal on the road!

2nd Annual Truck Function in Junction
For the laid-back trucker whose idea of a good time is “no trophies-just cruisin’,” the 2nd Annual Truck Function in Junction is just your speed! They’re looking for trucks of all kinds to gather for a day of trucker talk, a hot meal, and a cruise down “The Strip” of Junction City, OR. You’ll even snag a beauty shot of your big rig, courtesy of Fueled Photography! So stop by July 19th and enjoy a good ole’ coffee break and conversation.

Whether you’re on the East Coast or West Coast, ridin’ solo or having quality family time, the perfect event is waiting for you! Spend your well-deserved down time soaking up the sun and fun, or amp it up with some friendly competition. Either way, you’re bound to have a blast! The ExpressTruckTax Team wishes you a safe, fun-filled 4th! And be sure to tell us about your event experiences! Which ones will you be attending?

ThrowBack Thursday: America’s Interstate System

Posted on July 3, 2014 by - American History, throwback Thursday, US Interstate System

Tomorrow is the 4th of July – Happy Independence Day, Trucking Nation! As long as the weather cooperates here on the east coast, I see a lazy day at the lake with the best BBQ ever in most people’s future (today I’m psychic). To kick off what is going to be an awesome weekend (rain or shine, I’m optimistic) ExpressTruckTax is back with a ThrowBack Thursday to America’s Interstate System. You drive these roads everyday, from sun up to sun down, under starry skies, and in every weather condition imaginable. Driving from coast to coast and everywhere in between, you have seen it all.

Today we are going to take a look at what went into building these amazing paved passageways, so buckle up & hang on, were going back in time…

If you look out your viewing window, you will see President Dwight Eisenhower signing the Federal-Aid Highway act of 1956. The date is June 29, and this is the birth of our highway system. The bill President Eisenhower is signing will create a 41,000 mile “National System of Interstate and Defense Highways” that is designed to eliminate unsafe roads, inefficient routes, traffic jams and all other things that got in the way of safe transcontinental travel.

President Eisenhower signing the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956.  photo credit: fhwa.dot.gov

$26 Billion was allocated to pay for the interstate system. Under the terms of the law, our federal government would pay 90% of the cost of expressway construction. Where did they get the money you ask? Well…the money came from an increased gas tax. In 1956 the gasoline tax is only 2 cents, and they will increase that to 3 cents to provide funding for construction.

Interstate Construction 1960. photo credit: imgarcade.com

Two states claim the title of 1st Interstate Highway: Missouri and Kansas. Missouri claims the title because they say the first three contracts under the new program were signed in Missouri during the month of August.

Kansas claims the title saying it was the first state where the actual paving started after the act was signed. Some construction had already started before the act was signed, but legit paving started September 26, 1956. Kansas is so sure they are #1, they went ahead and marked its portion of I-70 as the first project in the US completed under the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956.

I-70 Ground Breaking – 1956. photo credit: modot.org

It will take 35 years to complete the original portion. The Interstate Highway system has since been extended, and as of 2012, it had a total length of 47,714 miles. It is the world’s second largest interstate system after China’s. The estimated cost of construction is at $425 Billion (in 2006 dollars).

Grand Opening Ribbon Cutting Ceremony of I-94 in Waukesha, Wisconsin 1958. photo credit: thepoliticalenvironment.blogspot.com

A lot of hard, back-breaking work went into building the stretch of interstate you travel everyday. It might not be as appreciated as it was when construction began, but the United States Interstate System is an engineering marvel that represents the determination and strength of out great country. ExpressTruckTax salutes our great interstate system and all the men and women of our even greater Trucking Nation. Have a memorable 4th of July, and stay safe out there.