Author: Marcela De Vivo

How to Add Sold/Destroyed/Stolen Credit Vehicles

Posted on September 24, 2015 by - credit vehicle, expresstrucktax, IFTA return, tax return, taxable vehicles, trucking nation

Hello, truckers! Do you have any taxable vehicles that were sold, destroyed, or stolen before June 1 of the current tax year? If you do, and they were not used for the remainder of the tax period, you’re able to claim a prorated credit or refund for some of the taxes paid. We’re here to tell you how!

To get started, follow the steps below:

1. Once you click Start New Return on your ExpressTruckTax dashboard, a pop-up will appear with three options to create a new tax return. Select Form 2290. (If you wish to receive a check from the IRS instead of credit, you can select Form 8849 Schedule 6.)

2. To reach the Sold/Destroyed section, fill out required information in the steps leading up to it:

  • Select which month your vehicle was first used.
  • Enter any taxable or suspended vehicles that you are filing for.
  • Add a suspended vehicle of the prior year if applicable. 
  • Once you’re there, select Add Credit Vehicle. 

Note: If you sold a truck and are adding a new truck, the credit amount from the truck sold will be applied to the tax amount owed on the new truck. In addition, if you are filing for a credit for a sold vehicle, there is a new regulation that requires you to enter in the name and address of the person who purchased the truck.

3. Provide the required vehicle details in the fields below, including your VIN number, taxable gross weight, and loss event, then click Save. 

We hope these instructions are beneficial to you, but if you need further assistance, don’t hesitate to contact us! You can call our support team at 704.234.6005 or email them at support@expresstrucktax.com.

Remember, Trucking Nation, we’re here for you!

#WellnessWednesday: Yoga for Truck Drivers

Posted on September 23, 2015 by - big toe pose, chair pose, national yoga month, stiff muscles, trucking nation, upward salute pose, Yoga

We know, we know—yoga? While you may feel uncertain about it now, I’m going to list a few ways that yoga can benefit your posture, muscle groups, even your well-being. And since September is National Yoga Month, what better time is there to discuss this very popular exercise regime?

You can spend hours upon hours sitting down, and there are few things less painful than a stiff neck or sore back. What yoga does is help stretch those stiff muscles, loosen joints, increase endurance and strength, and improve physical stamina. We say it’s time to fix those areas that have been under constant pressure for so long!

To be on the safe side, let’s stay away from yoga poses that involve lying down. We don’t quite know how clean those truck stop parking lots are. Instead, poses that involve standing up will work wonders, as they are easy to do at rest areas, truck stops, or someplace off the road with a serene backdrop.

Chair Pose

  • Stand with your feet together, then raise your arms above your head, perpendicular to the floor. 
  • Bend your knees, extending slightly over your feet while your torso forms a right angle over your thighs.
  • Draw your tailbone down to the floor, keeping your lower back long. 
  • As you continue bringing your hips lower, there will be a slight bend in your upper back.
  • Lastly, look directly forward and hold the pose for up to one minute, inhaling and exhaling as you go.

    Upward Salute Pose

    • Stand with your feet together and arms at your sides, then press your weight evenly across the balls and arches of your feet.
    • Turn your arms so your palms face forward and fingers point toward the ground.
    • Sweep your arms out to the sides and up toward the sky. 
    • Press your hands firmly together by touching the bases of your palms, and then your fingers. 
    • Extend your elbows, reach up, and turn your thumbs slightly down toward the crown of your head. 
    • Tip your head back slightly and gaze at your thumbs.

    Big Toe Pose

    • Stand upright with your feet parallel, about six inches apart. 
    • Keep your legs completely straight and bend forward from your hip joints, moving your torso and head at once. 
    • Since you will probably have shoes on during this pose, skip intertwining your fingers with your toes, and instead use a band or strap to hook under your feet, and hold the position. 
    • Lift your torso and straighten your elbows. 
    • Exhale when you release your torso, bend toward your feet again, and repeat for as long as you’re comfortable.

    Although these poses seem simple, I’m confident that they will not only release your muscle tension and strengthen your body from the inside-out, but also make you look and feel good.

    Do you have some tips on practicing yoga on the road? Or maybe you would like to share some highlights from your own wellness journey. Either way, drop us a line on Facebook or Twitter!

    You can also call us at 704.234.6005 or email us at support@expresstrucktax.com if you have any questions. We love hearing from you, Trucking Nation!

    #TruckTechTuesday: RigMinders App

    Posted on September 22, 2015 by - expresstrucktax, HVUT, IFTA, rigminders, transportation professionals, truckers, whole fleet

    As you may or may not already know, we love technology here at ExpressTruckTax. This week, we want to discuss the RigMinders app, which is designed specifically for truckers and transportation professionals! Similar to the name, RigMinders reminds you of deadlines, both personal and professional, for things such as the Heavy Vehicle Use Tax (HVUT) and the International Fuel Tax Agreement (IFTA).

    Whether you have a single truck or a whole fleet, RigMinders is preloaded with every filing deadline you can think of. The app is also available through both iPhone and Android devices.

    How Does It Work?

    First things first—RigMinders is free and easy to use! Instead of creating a login name, you can use your email address to begin.

    Deadline Alerts

    Whatever deadline you need to remember, RigMinders has you covered. Since all important deadlines are already programmed in the app, all you need to do is enable the deadlines that apply to you or your business, and disable the ones that don’t. If you are unsure of what a certain deadline is for, just tap on the name and a short description will appear.

    Customized Preferences

    RigMinders allows you to customize your reminders, including the type and frequency. When you enter the app, at the bottom of the screen, you’ll notice a black box that prompts you to change your reminder preferences. Once you click it, you can choose whether you’d like to be reminded the week before, day before, or on the due date itself. Another perk: You can choose to be reminded by email, text, or push notification.

    Edit Your Information

    After selecting and saving your preferences, you’ll be presented with an email summary of your deadline selections. If you spot anything that’s missing or that has been filled out incorrectly, simply select the pencil icon, and you’ll be able to change your information.

    …You’re Done!

    Once you have selected your deadlines, customized your preferences, and edited any other information you need, you’ll never file late again!

    If there is anything #TruckTech related that you wish to see featured here, drop us a line on our Facebook or Twitter!

    And as always, don’t hesitate to contact us if you need assistance or have any questions. Our support team is here to help! You can email us at support@expresstrucktax.com or call us at 704.234.6005.

    How to Add a Suspended Vehicle

    Posted on September 17, 2015 by - expresstrucktax, heavy vehicle use taxes, HVUT, mileage, mileage exceeded, Suspended vehicle

    The team at ExpressTruckTax strives to make your life easier, especially when it comes to e-filing your Heavy Vehicle Use Taxes (HVUT) with Form 2290. As you fill out your form, you may have questions and concerns along the way, like, what you should do if you have a suspended vehicle. Well, no worries. We’re offering a step-by-step guide to help you, but first, let’s go over the basics.

    In order to file a regular-usage vehicle as suspended, its mileage use on public highways must be 5,000 miles or less; and for an agricultural suspended vehicle, the mileage use must be 7,500 miles or less.

    While there is no tax due on suspended vehicles, taxes become due once a suspended vehicle (regular or agricultural) goes beyond the mileage use limit. Whenever you exceed the mileage use limit, you must file a Mileage Exceeded amendment, and pay the full tax amount.

    Steps:

    1. First Used Month & Year 

    2. Taxable Vehicles 

    3. Suspended Vehicles 

    4. Add Exempt/Suspended Vehicle 

    5. View Information and Edit if Necessary 

    6. Click Next!

    We hope these instructions gave you a peace of mind, but if you need further help, don’t hesitate to contact us! You can call the support team at 704.234.6005 or email them at support@expresstrucktax.com.

    Remember, Trucking Nation, we’re here for you!

    #WellnessWednesday: Getting Checked

    Posted on September 16, 2015 by - expresstrucktax, health fairs, medical examiners, medical screenings, National Truck Driver Appreciation Week

    In honor of National Truck Driver Appreciation Week (NTDAW)—Sept. 13-19—ExpressTruckTax wants to focus this #WellnessWednesday on staying healthy and in good shape with medical screenings, glucose tests, and flu shots. Fortunately, leading trucking associations are hosting free health fairs to provide such evaluations for their hard-working and committed drivers.

    Why Is It Important?

    Medical screenings and other tests are meant to ensure that drivers are healthy enough to operate a heavy truck and perform their daily responsibilities. A typical screening will test a driver’s vision, hearing, blood pressure, breathing, and judgment skills while also checking for neurological and cardiovascular problems.

    Who, What, Where?

    Even though we’re halfway through the week, TA and Petro Shopping Centers, for instance, are providing free health fairs until Oct. 2. See below for the locations:

    • TA Eloy: 2949 N. Toltec Rd., Eloy, AZ
    • Petro Ontario East: 4325 E. Guasti Rd., Ontario, CA
    • TA Cartersville: 981 Cassville White Rd., Cartersville, GA
    • TA Boise: 4115 South Broadway Ave., Boise, ID
    • TA Clayton: 10346 South State Rd. 39, Clayton, IN
    • Petro Clearwater: 950 State Hwy 24, Clearwater, MN
    • TA Pembroke: 8420 Alleghany Rd., Corfu, NY
    • TA West Greenwich: 849 Victory Hwy, West Greenwich, RI
    • TA New Braunfels: 4817 I-35 Frontage Rd., New Braunfels, TX

    ExpressTruckTax recommends that you maintain your health and get checked as often as possible. Medical screenings by a certified medical examiner, as opposed annual checkups by a doctor, can inform you if there are serious problems that may make you an unsafe driver. After all, you must protect your life and the life of others while on the road.

    Do you have some tips on staying healthy as a truck driver? Or maybe you would like to share some highlights from your own wellness journey. Either way, drop us a line on Facebook or Twitter!

    You can also call us at 704.234.6005, or email us at support@expresstrucktax.com if you have any questions. We love hearing from you, Trucking Nation!

    It’s National Truck Driver Appreciation Week

    Posted on September 14, 2015 by - expresstrucktax, freight, National Truck Driver Appreciation Week, truck drivers, trucking industry

    That’s right! From Sept. 13 to 19, professional truck drivers across the country will be admired and acknowledged for their hard work and dedication in the industry. Businesses are offering promotions and hosting various events and tributes, such as free daily deals, coffee refills, and a health fair for free blood pressure screenings, glucose tests, and flu shots. In addition, our own affiliates are providing fun and memorable activities for National Truck Driver Appreciation Week. Take a look below or refer to TheTrucker.com to get the complete 411 on the following events:

    Celadon Trucking

    Steve Sommers from America’s Truckin’ Network will be at Celadon headquarters from Monday to Thursday while Kristi Lee and Tom Griswold from the Bob and Tom Show will be in attendance on Friday. Make sure to check out the schedule because something fun and special will be happening each day!

    Con-way Truckload

    Management will be providing delicious grilled lunches for their drivers at terminals, as well as giving away random items and prizes. Get yourself a free hat or T-shirt. You deserve it!

    RWI Transportation

    RWI has scheduled hourly giveaways from Monday to Friday, as well as daily food for its drivers. Don’t miss out—each operator can receive gifts and free truck washes!

    Schneider

    Drivers can come for free food and drinks as Schneider provides tents and grills at more than 100 of their locations. This week is also a chance for drivers to chat with executives and receive personal thanks for a job well done.

    Did You Know?

    To further commemorate approximately 3.5 million hard-working men and women who make up America’s trucking industry, I’d like to provide some interesting facts, courtesy of Planet Freight.

    • The trucking industry collects, on average, $650 billion in revenue each year. That is about 5% of America’s GDP. 
    • In the United States, there are over 200,000 female long haul drivers. 
    • There are about 15.5 million trucks operating in the United States today. 
    • The top transported goods in the United States are clothing, food, furniture, and electrical machinery equipment/goods. 
    • The trucking industry is expected to grow by about 21% over the next 10 years. 
    • Annually, trucking accounts for about 70% of all freight transported in the United States. 

    A Note from Us

    Everybody at ExpressTruckTax recognizes you and thanks you for not only for being a loyal customer but for impacting the trucking industry in such a powerful way. Without you, essential freight wouldn’t be moved across the U.S. every single day and our precious goods wouldn’t be delivered in a safe, timely manner. We appreciate you, Trucking Nation!

    We’d love to speak with you if you have any questions or concerns. Just give us a call at 704.234.6005, email us at support@expresstrucktax.com, or drop us a line on Facebook or Twitter!

    How to File a VIN Correction with ExpressTruckTax

    Posted on September 10, 2015 by - expresstrucktax, Form 2290, Form 2290 Amendment, trucking nation, VIN Correction

    Hello, Trucking Nation! Having a correct VIN on your Form 2290 is very important, especially if you’d like to register a vehicle or renew its tags. So, if you’re looking to file a correction, you’ve come to the right place.

    Not only is the process quick and easy, it’s also free for those who have e-filed their Form 2290 with us! If you haven’t done so yet, it’s simple to do! ExpressTruckTax is here to help.

    Let’s get started! Follow the three steps below:

    Step 1: Create an Account or Log In

    Once you’re in, click Start under Form 2290 Amendments, then select which amendment you’d like to file. In this instance, you will select VIN Correction.

    Step 2: Make the Correction

    Select to correct a return that you have either e-filed with us or somewhere else. Enter the vehicle’s first-used month, select Add VIN Correction, and enter the vehicle’s originally-reported VIN (the incorrect one).

    If you have not filed through us before, enter the gross weight, check whether the vehicle is taxable or suspended, and then enter the new, correct VIN. If you wish to correct the VIN of more than one vehicle, click Save and Add Another. Now, if you have filed through us before, you only need to enter the incorrect and correct VIN to proceed.

    Step 3: Review and Submit

    If you haven’t done so already, this is the time to check for errors before submitting your information to the IRS. We wouldn’t want to file another amendment, now would we? The good news is that our Instant Audit also scans your return for any gaps or mistakes.

    This is the big one! All that’s left to do is click the green Transmit button to securely submit your VIN correction, and after the IRS accepts, a new and improved stamped Schedule 1 will be sent to you in minutes.

    As always, if you need any help or have any questions, you can call the support team at 704.234.6005 or email them at support@expresstrucktax.com.

    Remember, Trucking Nation, we’re here for you!

    #WellnessWednesday: Getting Enough Sleep

    Posted on September 9, 2015 by - #wellnesswednesday, expresstrucktax, sleep, trucking nation, wellness advice

    Hello, Trucking Nation! ExpressTruckTax is back to give you more wellness advice. We’ve been covering some basics when it comes to staying healthy on the road, such as how to maintain a balanced diet, achieve mindfulness, and exercise to eliminate back pain. There is one topic, however, that I’d love to discuss with you, and that is getting enough sleep.

    In 2013, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announced new federal regulations to improve the safety of truck drivers, including a maximum average workweek of 70 hours. The FMCSA had also retained the 11-hour daily driving limit and 14-hour work day.

    That’s a lot of hours to be driving if you ask me. Therefore, getting enough sleep is one of the most important steps you can take in order to stay healthy and alert. While you know it’s true, you may be thinking about those common interruptions that tend to keep you awake, like too much light, sound, or vibration, and wonder if there is a way around it. Well, truckers, there is a way! Let’s take a look at some tips that can help you catch more zzz’s:

    Reduce Sound

    To get a good amount of sleep without the interruption of noise from other cars, trucks, or people, truck stops and rest stops are familiar places that allow peace and quiet. Another option is to wear a pair of earplugs—that should do the trick!

    Eliminate Exposure to Sunlight

    If your hectic schedule only allows you to sleep in your truck during the day, you should block out as much sunlight as possible. For maximum darkness, close all of your curtains, wear a sleep mask to cover your eyes, or lay a sunshade across your windshield, which can also block the outside heat from coming in.

    Decrease Smells and Odors

    You may like sleeping with your windows down, but it’s important to stop any bad odors from entering your truck, such as diesel exhaust, so roll them up to your comfort level! Some other suggestions are to remove trash regularly and park far away from dumpsters, sewage treatment plants, and other relatable locations.

    Minimize Movement and Vibration

    As mentioned earlier, a truck or rest stop are ideal places to fall asleep, as they can also minimize any movement or vibration that you would feel if you parked on the side of the road.

    Even though your sleeping hours are affected by a busy work schedule, it is possible to fall asleep with only peace and quiet in the background. After all, getting restorative sleep is not only necessary for your health, but also for your job.

    Do you have some tips on how to get enough sleep on the road? Or maybe you would like to share some highlights from your own wellness journey. Either way, drop us a line on Facebook or Twitter! We love hearing from you, Trucking Nation!

    You can also call us at 704.234.6005 or email us at support@expresstrucktax.com if you have any questions.

    #TruckTechTuesday: A Look Inside Our Tax Calculators

    Posted on September 8, 2015 by - expresstrucktax, Form 2290, form 2290 tax calculator, fuel tax calculator

    Form 2290 Tax Calculator App

    We love technology here at ExpressTruckTax, which is why we’re dedicating this time to discuss our brand-new 2290 Tax Calculator app for your iPad or Android device! It’s considered the fastest and easiest way to determine exactly how much you need to pay in Heavy Vehicle Use Tax before filing your 2290.

    So, How Does It Work?

    If you wish to view the amount of HVUT you owe for the upcoming tax season, all you need to do is enter your vehicle weights and use type, and the app will do the rest! The process takes less than five minutes and you’ll even receive an email with all of your important tax information to use at another time. Yes, it’s that simple.

    What Are Some of the Perks?

    • There is no need to create an account
    • It’s quick, easy to use, and guaranteed to calculate your HVUT correctly
    • You’ll be given a 10% off coupon code for your e-filing

    You can download the app whenever you’d like—and remember, it’s free!

    IFTA Fuel Tax Calculator App

    If the Form 2290 Tax Calculator app wasn’t enough, ExpressTruckTax also offers an IFTA Fuel Tax Calculator app! That’s right—getting an estimate on your IFTA taxes will be a breeze.

    Once you have downloaded the app, you can select your base jurisdiction, IFTA quarter, and fuel type, then enter your traveled miles and purchased fuel for the selected state. Enter all that applies, then click Calculate IFTA Tax, and the total miles, gallons, and tax amount will appear on the summary report page.

    What Are Some of the Perks?

    • It’s 100% guaranteed to calculate your fuel taxes correctly
    • All you have to do is enter minimal information and the app will do the rest
    • After you provide an email address, we’ll send you the fuel tax summary information and a link to complete your IFTA filing

    If there is anything #TruckTech related you want to see featured here, drop us a line on our Facebook or Twitter, as we love hearing trucking stories and learning about new technology!

    And as always, don’t hesitate to contact us if you need assistance or have any questions. Our support team is here to help! You can email us at support@expresstrucktax.com or call us at 704.234.6005.

    Happy Labor Day, Trucking Nation!

    Posted on September 7, 2015 by - expresstrucktax, Labor day, trucking nation

    Everybody at ExpressTruckTax would like to wish you a very happy Labor Day! Your commitment and determination within the trucking industry does not go unnoticed. Therefore, hard-working men and women of America, we hope you’re able to get the rest you deserve while enjoying the company of good friends, food, and family on this special day!

    If you need assistance or have any questions, our support team is offering 24/7 emergency assistance via email at support@expresstrucktax.com. If you simply can’t resist the sound of our voices, you can give us a call tomorrow at 704.234.6005 as we’ll be resuming normal support hours.

    Remember, Trucking Nation, we’re always here for you!