Category: EIN

The Do’s & Don’ts of E-filing Your Form 2290

Posted on June 11, 2015 by - do's & don'ts, EIN, Expresstrucktax.com, Form 2290, Gross Vehicle weight, HVUT, Schedule 1, taxable vehicles

The pre-filing season is in full-force, Trucking Nation! And with great e-filing comes great responsibility. 

We’ve talked about the how-to’s and the benefits of e-filing and pre-filing, but what we haven’t talked about is what “to do” and “not to do” for the rest of the tax year.

A little bit of time spent preparing for your HVUT can save you the headache of filing an amendment or correcting a rejected return later. And here at ExpressTruckTax we want to make sure you have everything you need to e-file successfully!

Here are the Do’s and Don’ts of E-filing your 2290!

Do Pre-file

This year ExpressTruckTax is offering pre-filing for the 2015-16 tax year throughout June! When you pre-file with us, not only are you entered into our Swag Bag Give-Away, you’re also done with your HVUT for the year. Once the tax season begins on July 1 and the IRS begins accepting 2290’s, we’ll securely transmit your return for you so you don’t have to worry about it.

Don’t Wait until the Last Minute

With pre-filing available for all of our customers, why would you want to wait until the last minute to file your Form 2290? It’s just not a good idea! Especially since if your return is rejected and you waited until the last minute, you risk missing the deadline and you may have to pay penalties for not filing on time. So get it done early so you’ll still have time even if you make some mistakes.

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Do Keep Records

You need to keep detailed records of your trip and mileage, because not only is it required, it could also help you if you need to file for a suspended vehicle. When you file for suspended vehicles, you need to be able to prove that you’re under the mileage limit to the IRS. So keep everything in order, because you never know when you’ll need it.

Don’t Put off Filling out Trip Sheets

Like I said, if you plan on filing for a suspended vehicle, you’ll need proof, and your trip sheets, in addition to being required, help to accomplish that. Not to mention that keeping good records is always smart when you’re filing any sort of taxes. So do them right away because if you wait until later, you risk forgetting the exact mileage and that can come back to bite you later.

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Do Call if You Need Help 

If you need any sort of help e-filing your HVUT, we have a dedicated support team to help you! We’re here to answer your questions and walk you through the process from start to finish to make sure it’s a stress-free experience for you.

  • Pro-tip #1: Read Our How-To Guides

If you don’t have access to a phone, you can send us an email, find us on chat on our website, or you can read any number of how-to guide blogs we’ve written to help you! We have one for just about everything: Pre-filing, E-filing, Account Creation, and we even have a quick orientation video!

Don’t Try to Do It on Your Own

If you don’t know what you’re doing at any point in the e-filing process, then call us! Nobody wants to have their return rejected by the IRS. So if you have questions or there’s something you’re not sure about, let us walk you through it! 

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Do Get Your EIN early!

In order to file your Heavy Vehicle Use Taxes, you need to have an Employer Identification Number. If you don’t have an EIN, you need to get one right away because it takes some time before it becomes active and you are able to e-file or pre-file for the tax year.

Don’t File a Tax Return with a New EIN

It takes 10-15 business days for your EIN to become active. Any returns filed before the EIN has been activated will be rejected. So if you need to get an EIN, apply online directly with the IRS, and do it now so you’ll be able to e-file for the tax season!

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Do Know Your VIN and Gross Vehicle Weight

You need to know both your VIN and GVW (Gross Vehicle Weight) to file your Form 2290 correctly. You can calculate your own Gross Vehicle Weight simply by adding together three numbers:

1. The unloaded (tare) weight of the truck
2. The unloaded weight of the trailer
3. The maximum weight of the cargo customarily carried by the truck/trailer.

Don’t Guesstimate Your Gross Vehicle Weight
When you don’t enter your correct GVW, you could wind up paying more than you need to for your HVUT. It will also spell trouble if you head to a weigh station and your Schedule 1 details don’t match the scales. So follow our simple 3-step calculation method listed above to accurately calculate your Gross Vehicle Weight.

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Do Know the Types of Taxable Vehicles

  • Regular: A regular heavy vehicle is any vehicle, weighing 55,000 lbs or more, that has driven over the 5,000 mile limit on public highways. For these vehicles, e-file your Form 2290 as normal and pay your heavy vehicle use tax.
  • Suspended: Suspended vehicles are any heavy vehicle or agricultural vehicle that have been driven under their mileage limit for the tax year. For heavy vehicles, this limit is 5,000 and for agricultural vehicles this limit is 7,500 miles. Having a suspended vehicle means after you file your heavy vehicle use tax, you won’t owe any tax! Yay!
  • Agriculture: Agricultural vehicles are any vehicles used for farming or agriculture. These vehicles can be driven 7,500 miles on public highways until they are no longer considered suspended, at which time, HVUT is due.
  • Logging: Logging vehicles are any vehicles that are used to transport forest materials within or from a foresting site, or a vehicle that moves forested materials from one site to another. With logging vehicles, companies and drivers alike are eligible to pay less taxes for the tax year. So if you drive a logging truck, make sure you specify when you’re e-filing!

Don’t Miss out on Savings

If you drive a suspended or logging vehicle, you’re eligible for a tax discount! (See above) If you drive an agricultural vehicle you can log more mileage during the tax year before your vehicle is considered a “regular, non-suspended” vehicle.

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Do E-file with Express Truck Tax

Great people, great price, great product! Not only are we IRS-certified and secure, ExpressTruckTax is also easy-to-use, and we have a great support team always standing by to help answer your tax questions.

If you find yourself with any questions or concerns throughout your e-filing or pre-filing process, don’t hesitate to give us a call at 704.234.6005 or send us an email at support@expresstrucktax.com for 24 hour support in English or Spanish.

Happy pre-filing, Trucking Nation!

Form 2290 Deadline is Today for Vehicles First Used in January 2014

Posted on February 28, 2014 by - E-file form 2290, EIN, Federal Heavy Highway Use tax, Form 2290 Deadline, Form 2290 Online, heavy vehicle use tax, HVUT, IRS Penalties, Schedule 1, Taxable gross weight, VIN

If you placed your vehicle on the road in January, the deadline to file Form 2290 for Heavy Vehicles is today! You can do this in minutes when you use ExpressTruckTax.com to pay this tax online. It is easy to use and simple to understand. You can file HVUT for your Taxable Vehicles in just minutes. A vehicle is considered to be a taxable vehicle if it was operating on public roads between the tax periods of July through June and has a taxable gross weight of at least 55,000 pounds and travels at least 5,000 miles during the tax period (7,500 miles if used for agriculture).

When using ExpressTruckTax.com to E-File your HVUT, here is a helpful checklist to guide you through the filing process:

  • Review Federal Tax ID# or EIN# (Employer Identification Number)
  • Review your Tax Year and Month
  • Review your VIN# (Vehicle Identification Number)
  • Sign and date your return electronically
  • Choose IRS payment option
  • Review all the information
  • Double check your Business Name
  • E-File Your 2290 Return

ExpressTruckTax.com allows you to fill out your IRS Form 2290 online and send it to the IRS electronically! This way you can get a stamped Schedule 1 in minutes. Express Truck Tax is authorized by the IRS to E-File Form 2290. The taxpayer will then receive the Schedule 1 via email or fax as soon as the IRS processes the form. The form will then be watermarked by the IRS instead of an actual physical stamp. Be sure to get this filed today to avoid possible IRS penalties.

If you are on the road and unable to get to a computer before tomorrow’s deadline, you can use our mobile site athttp://m.expresstrucktax.com.

For more information or to get started today, visit ExpressTruckTax.com or contact our Express Tax Support Center in Rock Hill, SC at 704-234-6005 or email us at support@ExpressTruckTax.com. We have Spanish Support too!

Friday Is The Deadline to File Form 2290 for Vehicles First Used in January

Posted on February 26, 2014 by - E-file form 2290, EIN, Form 2290 Deadline, Form 2290 Online, heavy vehicle use tax, HVUT, mobiel from 2290 filing, stamped Schedule 1, Taxable gross vehicle weight, VIN

 Friday, February 28th is the deadline to file Form 2290 for Heavy Vehicles first placed on public highways during the month of January. IRS Form 2290, is the form you use to file your Heavy Vehicle Use Tax or HVUT. this tax is imposed by the federal government in order to help pay for the damage done to our public highways by vehicles that weigh 55,000 or more.

You can pay your Highway Use Tax quickly and easily using ExpressTruckTax.com. All you need is some basic business information, EIN, VIN and Gross Vehicle Weight. You will have the option to choose which form of payment you would like to use to pay your IRS fees and then transmit your information directly to the IRS. Within minutes you will receive your Stamped Schedule 1, which is your receipt or proof that you filed your Form 2290.

Your tax due will be prorated based on the number of months the vehicle will have been used during the tax year. So vehicles that were placed in service during the month of January will need to file HVUT using the Form 2290 by February 28th, and the tax will be based on 6 months, instead of the full year.

If you are on the road and unable to get to a computer before tomorrow’s deadline, you can use our mobile site athttp://m.expresstrucktax.com.

For more information or to get started today, visit ExpressTruckTax.com or contact our Express Tax Support Center in Rock Hill, SC at 704-234-6005 or email us at support@ExpressTruckTax.com. We have Spanish Support too!

Reminder – Upcoming Form 2290 Deadline for Vehicles 1st Used in January

Posted on February 24, 2014 by - E-file form 2290, EIN, Federal Heavy Vehicle Use Tax, file form 2290 online, Form 2290 Deadline, HVUT, Taxable gross vehicle weight, Vehicle Identification Number, VIN

The deadline to file your Form 2290 for any heavy vehicles first placed in use during the month of January is this Friday, February 28th. The HVUT, or the Heavy Vehicle Use Tax is mandatory for vehicles to file the IRS Form 2290 after the first use month. The quickest and easiest way to E-File the 2290 is through ExpressTruckTax.com

All you will need is some basic business information:

  • EIN – Employer Identification Number, also known as a Federal Tax Identification Number, is used to identify a business entity.
  • VIN – Vehicle Identification Number of up to 17 characters
  • Gross Weight of the Vehicle – The gross weight of your vehicle is the weight of your truck + a loaded trailer.

Then you will transmit the return to the IRS and you will receive your Stamped Schedule 1 in just minutes! If you need assistance or have any questions, please go to ExpressTruckTax.com or contact our Express Tax Support Center in Rock HIll, SC at 704.234.6005 or email us at support@ExpressTruckTax.com. We have Spanish Support too!

Transferred Truck During 2290 Tax Year

Posted on February 21, 2014 by - 2290 online, 2290 Tax season, E-file form 2290, easy 2290, EIN, Form 2290, HVUT Penalties, HVUT Tax Year, transferred tuck, transferred vehicle

A common question our Support Team at ExpressTruckTax receives is how to handle the situation when a vehicle is transferred to another company during the tax year.  Assuming the Form 2290 was filed and the tax was paid for the current year, you would need to file a new Form 2290 under the new business name and EIN.  On the return, you will be able to claim the refund for the taxes that were paid under the previous business name and EIN.  You will need to call the IRS directly and they will walk you through the process or you can have a service provider, like ExpressTruckTax Plus to do it for you.


NOTE: The Form 2290 must be filed no later than the end of the month following when the transfer took place.  Example, if you formed a new business and the vehicles began operating under the new business name in February, your Form 2290 would have to be filed no later than March 31st.  If you file after March 31st, the return will be considered late and you may incur penalty fees.


For more information or to get started today, visit ExpressTruckTax.com or contact our Express Tax Support Center in Rock Hill, SC at 704-234-6005 or email us at support@ExpressTruckTax.com.  We have Spanish Support too!

What Do I Need to File Form 2290?

Posted on February 19, 2014 by - E-file form 2290, EIN, Form 2290 Deadline, Form 2290 Online, heavy vehicle use tax, Highway Use Tax, HVUT, IRS Payment option, IRS Penalties, Schedule 1, Taxable gross vehicle weight, VIN

ExpressTruckTax.com is the quickest, easiest, and best value for filing your Form 2290 (Heavy Truck Use Tax) online with the IRS.


Here are a few points to keep in mind while Filing your 2290 returns with Expresstrucktax.com:
• Review Federal Tax ID# or EIN# [Employer Identification Number]
• Review your Tax Year and Month
• Review your VIN# [Vehicle Identification Number]
• Sign and date your return electronically
• Choose IRS payment option
    • Electronic Funds Withdrawal, or Direct Debit: The IRS will collect the taxes due after they are provided with a bank account number and routing number
    • EFTPS: You have to schedule the payment to the IRS by going to EFTPS.gov.
    • Check/Money Order: The IRS also supports Check/Money Order as long as it is scheduled by the 31st of the filing month
• Review all the information
• Double check your Business Name
• Transmit Your 2290 Return

To E-File the Form 2290 online now, go to ExpressTruckTax.com or contact our Express Tax Support Center in Rock Hill, SC at 704-234-6005 or email us at support@ExpressTruckTax.com.  We have Spanish Support too!


What is the Heavy Vehicle Use Tax Used For?

Posted on February 17, 2014 by - 2290 form, 2290 online, 2290 Schedule 1, e-file 2290, EFTPS, EIN, Form 2290, Form 2290-V, Heavy vehicle use tax 2290, IRS, IRS 2290 HVUT 2290, stamped Schedule 1, VIN

The Heavy Vehicle Use Tax or HVUT is an annual fee assessed on heavy vehicles operating on public highways at registered gross weights equal to or exceeding 55,000 pounds. The gross taxable weight of a vehicle is determined by adding the unloaded weight of the motor vehicle and any trailers together with the maximum load customarily carried on-road by the truck-trailer combination. IRS Form 2290 is filed annually to pay the HVUT due on the taxable vehicle and proof of payment is the Stamped Schedule 1.


The damage to the road surface caused by heavy trucks is 160,000 times more than that of a car, according to the findings of the American Association of State Highways Official (AASHO) road test. The tax, which is based on the vehicle weight, is a significant source of transportation funding in the US. The HVUT ensures that operators of heavy trucks pay a little more for the highway network relative to the motorists than the light trucks who meet their responsibility through other forms of taxes (e.g., registration fees, motor fuel taxes) but do less damage to the system.  The monies collected are used to help pay for road repairs and maintenance.

The IRS has simplified the process of filing Form 2290 and paying your HVUT taxes with the ability to E-File.  Anyone who is filing a return with 25 or more vehicles is required to file electronically, but everyone is encouraged to do so.  Through an IRS Authorized E-File Provider, like ExpressTruckTax.com, you can file your Form 2290, pay your HVUT taxes owed to the IRS and receive your Stamped Schedule 1 within minutes.  Having the option to E-File makes the annual filing process quick and easy.

For more information or to get started today, visit ExpressTruckTax.com or contact our friendly US Based Express Tax Support Center in Rock Hill, SC at 704-234-6005 or email us at support@ExpressTruckTax.com.  We have Spanish Support too!


EIN Is REQUIRED to File Form 2290

Posted on February 14, 2014 by - 2290 deadline, 2290 easy, E-file form 2290, EIN, Employer Identification Number, Federal Tax Identification Number, Form 2290 Online, Form 2290 return, heavy vehicle use tax, HVUT

If you are filing Form 2290 for Heavy Vehicle Use Tax (HVUT), you must have an EIN to file the return. The IRS does not accept Social Security Numbers for the Form 2290. An EIN is an Employer Identification Number, also known as a Federal Tax Identification Number, and can be used to verify a business entity.


If you do not have an EIN, you can apply for one online through the IRS website or if you don’t have the time or unable to get to a computer, you can have a service provider, like ExpressTruckTax Plus to do it for you.

NOTE: Remember, for vehicles first used in January, the due date to file your Form 2290 is February 28, 2014. While you can get your EIN immediately, it can take the IRS up to 10 business days to update new EINs into their system; so you will want to get your EIN today to ensure it is in the system by the deadline!

Once your EIN is in the IRS system or if you already have one, you can file your Form 2290 return and receive your Stamped Schedule 1 within minutes at ExpressTruckTax. To E-File Form 2290 online now, go to ExpressTruckTax.com or contact our Express Tax Support Center in Rock Hill, SC at 704-234-6005 or email us at support@ExpressTruckTax.com.  We have Spanish Support too!


Form 2290 HVUT Requirements

Posted on February 5, 2014 by - 2290 FAQ's, 2290 Schedule 1, e-file 2290, EIN, form 2290 download, form 2290 electronic filing, Form 2290 Online, Form 2290 responsibilities, Hvut 2290, irs 2290, VIN Number

The heavy vehicle use tax or HVUT is an annual fee assessed on heavy vehicles operating on public highways at registered gross weights equal to or exceeding 55,000 pounds. The gross taxable weight of a vehicle is determined by adding the unloaded weight of the motor vehicle and any trailers together with the maximum load customarily carried on-road by the truck-trailer combination. IRS Form 2290 is filed annually to pay the HVUT due on the taxable vehicle and proof of payment is the Stamped Schedule 1. The monies collected are used to offset the cost for road repairs and maintenance.


Suspended vehicles (Category W) are still required to file a Form 2290, even though there is no tax due.  A vehicle is considered suspended if the motor vehicle does not exceed 5,000 miles or 7,500 miles for agricultural vehicles during the tax period, regardless of owners.

An agricultural vehicle is any highway motor vehicle that is:
  • Used (or expected to be used) primarily for farming purposes, and
  • Registered (under state laws) as a highway motor vehicle used for farming purposes for the entire period. A special tag or license plate identifying the vehicle as used for farming is not required for it to be considered an agricultural vehicle.

Also note that logging vehicles are taxed at a reduced rate.

There are some vehicles that are exempt from the tax and are not required to file Form 2290. They are:
  • The Federal Government,
  • The District of Columbia,
  • A state or local government,
  • The American National Red Cross,
  • A nonprofit volunteer fire department, ambulance association, or rescue squad,
  • An Indian tribal government but only if the vehicle’s use involves the exercise of an essential tribal government function,
  • A mass transportation authority if it is created under a statute that gives it certain powers normally exercised by the state,
  • Qualified blood collector vehicles (see below) used by qualified blood collector organizations, or
  • Mobile machinery that meets the specifications for a chassis
For more information on exempt vehicles, go to irs.gov/trucker.

The IRS has simplified the process of filing Form 2290 and paying your HVUT taxes with the ability to E-File.  Anyone who is filing a return with 25 or more vehicles is required to file electronically, but everyone is now encouraged to E-File.  Through an IRS Authorized E-File Provider, like ExpressTruckTax.com, you can file your Form 2290, pay your HVUT taxes owed to the IRS and receive your Stamped Schedule 1 within minutes.  Your Schedule 1 serves as proof of payment for your HVUT and when you file by the deadline you will avoid any IRS penalties.

To get started today, visit ExpressTruckTax.com or contact our Express Tax Support Center in Rock Hill, SC at 704-234-6005 or email us at support@ExpressTruckTax.com.  We have Spanish Support too!


Form 2290 Filing Deadline For First Used Vehicles in January 2014

Posted on February 3, 2014 by - E-file form 2290, EIN, Form 2290 Deadline, Form 2290 Online, heavy vehicle use tax, Highway Use Tax, HVUT, IRS Payment option, IRS Penalties, Schedule 1, Taxable gross vehicle weight, VIN

When a new vehicle is placed in service, the Form 2290 must be filed by the last day of the following month. So vehicles that were placed in service during the month of January will need to file HVUT using the 2290 by February 28th. Your tax due will be prorated based on 6 months instead of the full year.


You can E-File Form 2290 in minutes using ExpresssTruckTax.  All you will need is:

Then you will transmit the return to the IRS and you will receive your Stamped Schedule 1 in just minutes! For more information or to get started today, visit ExpressTruckTax.com or contact our Express Tax Support Center in Rock Hill, SC at 704-234-6005 or email us at support@ExpressTruckTax.com.  We have Spanish Support too!