Author: Marcela De Vivo

HVUT Credits: Selling & Purchasing Vehicles

Posted on January 20, 2016 by - 2290 credit, applying a credit, Credit Form 8849, credit vehicle, E-file HVUT, Form 8849, HVUT, hvut credit, new vehicle, purchasing, selling

We’re a few weeks into 2016, and by this point you might have grown your fleet with a used (or new to you) truck. Or maybe you’re an Owner-Operator who is replacing an old vehicle. I mean, it looks like some sleeper trucks are just getting cheaper and cheaper. While you’re excited to be on the road in the new rig, it’s vital that you have your HVUT accounted for. With ExpressTruckTax, adding a credit for sold vehicles to your 2290 is easy.

How Do HVUT Credits Work?

When a vehicle is purchased from another owner who already paid their HVUT fees, the vehicle is covered until the end of the month of purchase. From the first day of the following month, it’s up to the new owner to pay the vehicle’s HVUT from the first day of that month to the end of the tax year.

With that said, it’s important to understand that the heavy vehicle use taxes DO NOT transfer from one owner to another. You’re required to file a Form 2290 and pay taxes on any qualifying taxable vehicle. The taxes also don’t transfer from your old vehicle to your new one! So if you sold your old truck after buying a new one, it’s the same process (just with the roles reversed). It’s annoying, sure, but you still have to do it.

Basically, the seller gets credited for the taxes they paid before they sold the vehicle, and the buyer owes the difference. And if you’re a seller, there are two ways to approach the credit. You can get the credit for the tax paid on your next Form 2290 filed or the refund can be claimed through Form 8849, if you don’t want to wait until the tax period ends.

Why don’t we just see how it’s done real quick?

What Are the Tax Implications When Buying or Selling a Suspended Vehicle?

Well, suspended vehicles come with a specific set of tax implications regarding their sale. If you sell a vehicle under suspension, you need to provide the following information:

  • Your name, address, and EIN,
  • VIN Number,
  • Date of the sale,
  • Odometer reading at the beginning of the period,
  • Odometer reading at the time of sale, and
  • Buyer’s name, address, and EIN.

If everything is reported like above and the use of the vehicle exceeds the mileage use limit for the period after the purchase (including highway mileage recorded by the former owner), the new owner would be liable for the tax on the vehicle. If the former owner didn’t provide the required statement to the new owner, then the former owner would be held liable for that tax period.

With your new rig ready for the road, you can get back out there to the long haul. Don’t forget, after you pay your HVUT for this tax period, you’ll still be liable to pay for the new period that starts July 1st, 2016!

If you run into any questions about credits on ExpressTruckTax, our US-based bilingual support team is available through phone, email, and even live chat. Reach us by phone at 704.234.6005, or by email at support@expresstrucktax.com.

Celebrity Trucking: Famous People Who Used to Drive Trucks

Posted on January 18, 2016 by - ”trucking company”, #TruckingNation, Celebrity Trucking, Fleet, Fleet Owners, Form 2290

You ever wonder if that driver you’re passing is gonna be the next Elvis Presley? Okay, maybe not — but the King of Rock used to be king of the road. Before going on Christmas Vacation, Griswold patriarch Chevy Chase was also once a truck driver. So maybe you knew those — but what other stars used to live the trucking life?

A Particular Set of Skills

Not only has Taken star Liam Neeson played a Jedi Knight and a Batman villain, he was once a member of the Trucking Nation. Before making a name for himself on the screen, Neeson drove a truck and operated forklifts for the Guinness brewery. Turns out his resume is as varied as his acting abilities!

Soldier, Trucker, Actor

You may know Charles Bronson from film classics like The Magnificent Seven and the Death Wish series, but he too spent time behind the wheel. Drafted into the Army in 1943, Bronson drove trucks for the Air Corps before becoming a tail gunner on a B-29 bomber.

Hasta La Vista, Baby

While on the road, one trucker found his true calling after watching Star Wars. Director James Cameron quit the trucking business and went on to become one of the biggest filmmakers in history — whose film Avatar was only recently de-throned as highest grossing domestic release by the latest Star Wars picture. Do you think his fascination with blowing up trucks in his movies is some kind of therapy?

Trucked by an Angel

After driving a cab, future gospel singer and Touched by an Angel actress Della Reese sought more money as a truck driver. Reese’s route had her hauling produce from Toledo to Detroit a few times a week. While she went on to become a household name, Reese enjoyed trucking, and especially liked that she never had to load or unload her truck!

From Stardom to Trucking

On the other hand, how many celebs decided the trucking life is for them? Once a wide receiver for the Dallas Cowboys, retired player Roy Williams now runs his own fleet, RDUB Trucking out of Odessa, TX. While it’s not the retirement he envisioned — his company now operates with 14 vehicles. Not a bad retirement plan if you ask me!

But whether you’re going to be the next Elvis, writing the next summer blockbuster, or starting your own fleet — you have to keep up with your 2290’s. So you’re not as famous as Liam Neeson, but we’ll still help you file your 2290 at ExpressTruckTax. And if you’re a fleet owner like Roy Williams, check out ExpressIRSForms for W-2s and Obamacare Forms 1094 & 1095.

If you have questions, our US-based support team is available through phone, email, and even live chat. We’ll assist you any way that we can by phone at 704.234.6005, or by email at support@expresstrucktax.com.

Here Comes the IFTA 4th Quarter Deadline

Posted on January 14, 2016 by - 4th Quarter 2015, 4th quarter deadline, 4th Quarter IFTA, ExpressIFTA, expresstrucktax

Yes, it’s that time again, Trucking Nation. The 4th quarter of 2015 has been wrapped up for a couple of weeks now and the January 31st deadline for filing 4th quarter IFTA returns is fast approaching. Luckily, we’ve got you covered! Filing your IFTA return is quick and easy using ExpressIFTA.

Just log in to ExpressIFTA, and all you’ll need to prepare your IFTA return is your mileage and fuel purchases. There are a few different ways to enter this information.

Enter Mileage and Fuel Totals Easily

You can enter these items manually with the Quick Entries feature. Just type in each entry and you’re done. Or if you’ve been saving all your totals in an Excel spreadsheet, ExpressIFTA has a cool feature that allows you to upload your spreadsheet and that information will automatically be entered into the appropriate fields.

There’s also the Trip Sheets feature. If you’ve been entering your information into Trip Sheets all along, you’ll be able to just upload the mileage and fuel totals from the sheets, and that’s it! You’re ready to generate your return!

Your ExpressTruckTax Account is Your Ticket to ExpressIFTA

You can log in to ExpressIFTA right from your ExpressTruckTax account with your email and password. All your personal and truck information from your ExpressTruckTax account will automatically populate the necessary fields.

There’s no need to look up and figure out complicated IFTA tax rates with ExpressIFTA, since that’s all automatically done for you too. With all the time and energy you save using ExpressIFTA, who knows what you’ll be able to do, probably something you’ve been really wanting to do!

So don’t forget the January 31st filing deadline. Now’s a great time to file with ExpressIFTA and get it out of the way.

If you have any questions or concerns, regarding IFTA or any other aspect of ExpressTruckTax, don’t hesitate to call us at 704.234.6005 or email us at support@expresstrucktax.com.

And you can always join the conversation over on our Facebook page or Twitter. Let us know about your experiences with IFTA, or anything else trucking related you think the rest of the Trucking Nation would like to know.

#TruckTechTuesday: What’s Available in Trucker Apps

Posted on January 12, 2016 by - #TruckTechTuesday, expresstrucktax, smartphone apps, trucker apps

Smartphone apps are everywhere, and on truckers’ phones the story is no different. The wide array of
apps available for truck drivers certainly makes your lives easier, and like so many other tools, free you up to do things you really want to do. Let’s have a look at some of the more popular trucker apps out there and what they can do for you.

Allstays Truck Stops and Travel Plazas

This very popular app has been around since 2003, and shows not only what truck stops and travel plazas are near you (or in a certain location), but gives all kinds of details about those truck stops and allows you to filter a search by a specific detail. And it gives you information about road conditions, weigh stations, rest areas, and more.

AroundMe

This app shows you all kinds of businesses and amenities that are near your present location. You can search by category and also pull up information about each item shown. It shows your position on a map and the location of each business relative to you.

Waze

You can see accidents, police traps, and other hazards that have been shared by other drivers with this community-based navigation and traffic app. You can also share information with the app’s community about what you see or encounter on the road.

Beat the Traffic

Gives you real-time information about traffic, incidents, and the best route for you based on where you are and where you’d like to go.

MyDAT Trucker

Originally started as Dial-A-Truck (hence the name DAT), this app also details truck stops, hotels, diesel prices, etc. In addition, it shows information on loads that are near you using the DAT Load Monitor Network.

Trucker Path

This app is very popular and similar to MyDat Trucker, but really has two apps, one for on the road information, such as truck stops, parking, rest areas, and weigh stations, and another app that’s still in testing for accessing carriers and loads available.

RigMinders

RigMinders is a free customizable app that allows you to set up reminders for the trucking industry’s many tax filing, permit, and registration deadlines, as well as any other reminders you’d like to set up for yourself or your trucking business.

This is just a small representation of the many apps available for truckers today. As you can see, there’s a wealth of information, as well as tools, available to you whenever you need it. With the world at your fingertips, you can keep a step ahead of the competition.

Contact us here at ExpressTruckTax by phone at 704.234.6005, and by email at support@expresstrucktax.com. We’re available over the phone Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET, and any time via email.

Join the conversation on our Facebook page, and tweet with us on Twitter. A healthy give and take with you allows us to continue to provide you with the best service available anywhere.

The End is in Sight! IRS Blackout End Date Announced

Posted on January 7, 2016 by - expresstrucktax, IRS Blackout, IRS Blackout Ends, stamped Schedule 1

As we told you last month, the IRS’s e-file system went down for maintenance December 26th. At that time, we didn’t know when the blackout would end. Well, cue the celebrations! We now know that the e-file system is scheduled to be back up January 9th. So the end is now in sight, and it’s even sooner than we anticipated.

Getting Your Stamped Schedule 1

If you’ve prepared your return with us during this time, your Form 2290 will be automatically transmitted to the IRS January 9th. And if you haven’t prepared your 2290 with us yet, once the e-file system is back up, you will be able to e-file as normal. In any case, you will receive your stamped Schedule 1 from us within minutes of our e-filing your return.

ExpressTruckTax is always right there for you with all the details on truck taxes and the IRS. Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered, Trucking Nation!

If you have any questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to contact us at 704.234.6005 or at support@expresstrucktax.com. We’re available to answer your calls from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET, and anytime by email.

And don’t forget to join the conversation on our Facebook page and on Twitter. You can tell us about your experiences with the blackout, with ExpressTruckTax, or anything trucking related. By giving us your feedback, we’re better able to provide you with the absolute best in service that you’ve come to expect from ExpressTruckTax.

#WellnessWednesday: 10 Tips to Keep Colds and Flu Away

Posted on January 6, 2016 by - cold & flu season, colds & flu, expresstrucktax, staying healthy

It’s that time of year, Trucking Nation. Yes, we know the holidays are over, but cold and flu season is well under way! We also know that you don’t need any extra down time, so we’ve gathered several tips on how to keep those cold and flu viruses from taking up residence in you.

Consider these ideas as preventative maintenance for your body. Some are common sense—others might not seem so obvious at first. All will keep you healthy and feeling good.

  1. Frequent hand washing. Your hands are magnets for germs, and germs carry viruses. Consider all the things you touch every day that others also touch. You can easily see how germs can end up on your hands. And since you touch your eyes, nose, and mouth, where most viruses enter the body many times every day, keeping your hands clean is essential for keeping those viruses from infecting you.
  2. Keeping surfaces clean. As we just said, there are many places that others touch every day that you also touch. By keeping doorknobs, sink handles and knobs, keyboards, etc. as clean as possible, you can minimize the number of germs that you come into contact with each day.
  3. Avoiding touching public surfaces. Avoid those areas in public that either you can’t or aren’t practical to clean. Places like card pads in stores, pens, and again, doorknobs, just to name a few, can be loaded with germs. For those times you can’t avoid touching such surfaces, carrying hand sanitizer can keep the germs you come into contact with during the day to a minimum.
  4. Stop biting your nails. Believe it or not, germs love to hide under your nails. Biting them allows them to enter you body more quickly.
  5. Exercise. Regular exercise boosts your immune system, and your immune system is what fights those germs that you weren’t able to avoid.
  6. Hydrate. Your body thrives on water, and a strong body means a strong immune system. 
  7. Get enough sleep. Making sure you’re getting 8 to 10 hours of sleep a night is yet another way to keep your immune system strong.
  8. Eat Healthy. A diet rich in fruits and vegetables and lean meat will also keep your immune system at its best.
  9. Use a humidifier. Germs thrive in dry air. Keeping the air around you humid will minimize the germs in your environment, and also keep your body’s airways from drying out, thereby keeping germs from invading your body.
  10. Get a flu shot. When all else fails, a flu shot may be your last line of defense. Many insurance plans pay for them, and you can get immunized against the flu at most pharmacies.

These tips are not meant to be exhaustive. There are many other ways to keep yourself healthy and cold and flu-free this winter. Keep yourself informed, and most of all, stay healthy!

Our support team is available if you have any questions or concerns about ExpressTruckTax. Call us at 704.234.6005 or email us at support@expresstrucktax.com.

Join the conversation on our Facebook page and on Twitter! Let us know how you’re doing the cold and flu season, and if you have any tips we’ve missed for staying healthy this time of year.

#TruckTechTuesday: Cell Phone Tips for Truckers

Posted on January 5, 2016 by - #TruckTechTuesday, cell phones, tips & tricks

Cell phones are everywhere. We’ve come to rely upon them, and expect ours to be available whenever we need it. For truckers, however, the cell phone picture can be quite contradictory. While you need your phones to communicate with dispatchers and get directions, among other things, your cell phone use is often tightly restricted.

Most importantly, there are specific regulations regarding cell phone use while operating a commercial motor vehicle. Essentially, truckers must only use a hands-free phone that is in close proximity while driving, and texting at any time behind the wheel is not allowed.

This being said, you still need to be able to use your phone, whether at a truck or rest stop, or just while parked. And cell phone costs can make up a significant part of any trucker’s budget. The savvy trucker can keep these costs to a minimum with a little research.

Avoid High Roaming Fees

Roaming fees can add up quickly. If your runs take you across the country, it’s worth it to pay a little extra for a plan with a company that has a wide reach so that you avoid roaming fees. Also, be sure that your cell phone company doesn’t charge connection fees when using other companies’ towers; some companies will do this under the name of “free roaming.”

Coverage Can Make or Break You

Coverage is another important consideration when choosing a wireless plan if you drive in a wide area. The important thing about coverage is keeping spots without coverage on your plan to a minimum. The last thing you need is to be stranded in an area without cell phone signal when you have important business to take care of. Many truckers agree that Verizon and AT&T have the best coverage available in the U.S.

Keep the Data Flowing

Also, how much data your plan provides may come into play for you, especially if you stream any type of video in your down time. GPS use on your phone can also eat up data. It may be worth the added expense to have a large amount or unlimited data on your plan, since data overages can add up quickly.

These are just some ways that you can get the most out of your cell phone dollar. By knowing the ins and outs of OTR cell phone use, your cell phone can be more about what you’re getting rather than what you’re giving.

Our ExpressTruckTax support team is available to answer any questions or concerns you may have over the phone at 704.234.6005, and any time by email at support@expresstrucktax.com.

And don’t forget to join the conversation on our Facebook page, and on Twitter. You can post about your experience with cell phones on the road, or Tweet about any tips or tricks you might have that would help The Trucking Nation with their cell phone needs.

Here Comes 2016!

Posted on December 30, 2015 by - #HappyNewYear's, #NewYear'sDay, #NewYear'sEve, expresstrucktax, TruckLogics

It’s almost time for New Year’s celebrations, Trucking Nation! Time to celebrate the end of a great year and the start of an even better one. Our year here at ExpressTruckTax has been our best yet, but we’re sure there’s even better things in store for 2016. We hope the same is true for you and all your loved ones.

New Year’s Support Availability

We’ll be taking time to observe the changing of the year this New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, so we’ll be out of the office on Thursday and Friday. We’ll still be available through emergency email support at support@expresstrucktax.com should anything pressing come up for you during this time.

IRS E-file Blackout Continues

And don’t forget the IRS e-file blackout will still be going on this long weekend as well. We now have an estimated end time for the blackout from the IRS of January 11th. The bottom line on the blackout is that you can still prepare your Form 2290 with us, and as soon as the IRS notifies us the e-file system is back up we’ll e-file your return. We’ll get your stamped Schedule 1 to you within minutes of the blackout’s end.

Start the Year Off Right With TruckLogics

With the start of a new year, now would be a good time to start using our one-stop transportation business application, TruckLogics. With TruckLogics, you can manage invoices, keep track of all your business documents, and stay on top of your compliance records, such as IFTA and HVUT. Whether you’re a one-truck owner-operator, or manage a whole fleet, TruckLogics has the solution for you. You can contact our TruckLogics support team at 704.234.6946 or by email at support@trucklogics.com.

Contact Us on Social Media

We’re looking forward to reading your comments on our Facebook page and your tweets on our Twitter. Your input is crucial to our providing you the absolute best in customer service and exactly what you want from us. You can post or tweet stories about your New Year’s celebrations and resolutions, or even just reflections on this time of year.

Father Time keeps marching on, but we always freeze time during this period to seize the moment and celebrate our successes, ruminate on what we could have done better, and especially to resolve to improve ourselves and our lives as best we know how. May all your festivities be joyous, happy, and above all, safe. Happy New Year, Trucking Nation!

#TruckTechTuesday: RigMinders

Posted on December 29, 2015 by - #TruckTechTuesday, expresstrucktax, rigminders

Happy Holidays, Trucking Nation! We here at ExpressTruckTax love to share with you new innovative ideas on #TruckTechTuesday, and today is no exception. RigMinders, a sister app of ExpressTruckTax, is a free app that you can easily download to your Apple or Android electronic device. RigMinders gives you the ability to remind yourself about all things trucking in one convenient location.

RigMinders Keeps Your Life in Sync

RigMinders is THE deadline reminder app for transportation professionals. With this app, you won’t need to write down, set an alarm, or tie a string around your finger to remember important trucking deadlines. RigMinders does it all for you!

You can either set up pre-programmed deadline reminders, or customize your own reminders.

Free Trucking Reminders, Anytime
Pre-programmed reminders include HVUT, IFTA, as well as UCR and IRP permit renewals, and others, including state use taxes. You can customize reminders according to time (same day, day before, week before) or by type (push notifications, email, or both).

The app can notify you of truck deadlines coming up in the next 90 days, and it can also notify you about those deadlines coming up after 90 days as well.

Not only that, you can set up personal reminders such as bills, maintenance appointments, expiration dates, and other reminders you might want to create. It’s like having your own secretary right on your electronic device!

RigMinders is a great time saver, and lifesaver! It’s as easy as a swipe of your finger!

Rigminders Support
The support team at RigMinders are available at 704.234.6946 over the phone, and by email at support@rigminders.com.

Contact Us
And our expert support team at ExpressTruckTax is ready to answer any questions or concerns you might have about ExpressTruckTax at 704.234.6005 and support@expresstrucktax.com.

Join the conversation on our Facebook page, or tweet at us on Twitter. We always want to read your stories and ideas, whether it be about RigMinders, ExpressTruckTax, or any other trucking related topic that might be on your mind. This give and take between you and us allows us to have the necessary feedback and insight into what you want and need from us to provide you with absolutely the best service available anywhere. Thanks, Trucking Nation!

An ExpressTruckTax Christmas

Posted on December 23, 2015 by - #HappyHolidays, #MerryChristmas, expresstrucktax

It’s hard to believe, Trucking Nation, but Christmas is just a few days away. Where did all the time go? Hopefully, you’ve got most, if not all,of your shopping done and are ready for perhaps a day or two off the road to spend with family and friends. However you spend the holiday, we hope your Christmas will be the best yet.

The ExpressTruckTax family will be out of the office celebrating Christmas Eve and Christmas Day and returning back Monday 12/28. During this time, we will be available via email at support@expresstrucktax.com if you have any HVUT-related emergencies.

And if you’re among the many who purchase (or even receive from Santa) new trucks this time of year, you can file your new 2290 with us. ExpressTruckTax makes taking care of your HVUT responsibilities a breeze!

One of the best parts of serving you is getting to read your posts on social media. Join the conversation! Tweet at us on Twitter and post on our Facebook page any Christmas-related stories or thoughts you may have. Your feedback is crucial to our being able to continue providing you with the absolutely best service available anywhere.

We sincerely hope you’ll be able to get together with those you love and that Santa brings you everything you want! From the whole ExpressTruckTax family to yours, we wish you the merriest of Christmases!