Category: Express2290

Express Truck Tax offers a Simple way to File IRS Form 2290; HVUT Taxes

Express Truck Tax continues to be an Industry Leader in Innovation and New Technologies

In preparation for the upcoming 2011 – 2012 tax period, Express Truck Tax has announced the simplest, most secure, and most economical way to file IRS Form 2290 (Heavy Vehicle Use Tax).
Since the introduction of E-Filing Form 2290 in 2007, taxpayers with 25 or more reportable heavy vehicles have been required to electronically file with the IRS. This primarily includes larger trucking companies. Unlike most HVUT E-File providers who have historically targeted only large trucking companies, Express Truck Tax specializes in serving owner operators and small trucking companies.
These owner operators and small trucking companies benefit from the most affordable pricing in the industry. The US-based company, Express Truck Tax, allows users to file an IRS Form 2290 for as little as $9.90; the industry average for this service consistently averages about $30 for a single vehicle filing.
Express Truck Tax also uses the most practical and understandable language throughout the filing process. Instead of using an enormous form with confusing tax jargon, each part has been broken down into easy to understand sections. There are even help videos and text on each page to guide the user through the process. There is also free phone and chat support, as well as 24/7 email support for any questions along the way.
The simplification of this process has caused a surge in small trucking companies across North America to begin E-Filing their Form 2290 with Express Truck Tax. “We knew we had a good idea,” said Charles Hardy, Communications Director with Express Truck Tax, “but we never expected this kind of response. [The response] has been fantastic.”
Last month, Express Truck Tax became the first authorized HVUT E-File provider to offer complete service and support in Spanish. In addition to integrating the Spanish-language option into their current E-filing system (http://www.ExpressTruckTax.com), ExpressTruckTax has also released a new website (http://www.Forma2290.com) exclusively for Spanish speaking taxpayers who need to file HVUT returns. “In previous years, the Hispanic trucking community has generally been under-served,” said Moises Mejia, Director of Spanish Services with ExpressTruckTax. “While HVUT E-filing has been available since 2007, no provider has ever offered those services in Spanish – until now.”
James Harris, Director of Tax Products with Express Truck Tax, also commented on the significance of the Hispanic trucking community: “Reports show that one in seven long haul drivers speak Spanish as their primary language, and that number is expected to rise.” To support the additional Spanish-speaking taxpayers, Express Truck Tax has added more staff to their support center in Rock Hill, South Carolina. All support functions, including phone, email, and live chat support, will be available in both English and Spanish.
These are just a few examples of how Express Truck Tax has been an industry leader when it comes to innovation and new technology within this industry. There have been many other accomplishments that could also be mentioned here, such as the fact that Express Truck Tax was also the first to introduce Free VIN corrections, and also the ability to directly email the Schedule 1 to the leasing company.
Express Truck Tax also offers many other useful features for those in the trucking industry such as the ability to download a copy of the E-Filed 2290, Schedule 1 Form, and payment vouchers. Preparing IFTA returns can also be done online with Express Truck Tax. State IFTA returns can be automatically generated online with some useful features such as free online trip sheets, an abnormal MPG audit, and a state adjacency check to help boost information accuracy and avoid an audit. James Harris, Director of Tax Products with Express Truck Tax, is looking forward to the new tax period with much anticipation: “We at Express Truck Tax would like to wish all those in the trucking industry a safe and prosperous year. We look forward to working with so many great individuals again during this tax period.”

HVUT(IRS Form 2290) Payment to the IRS

When it comes to E-Filing your IRS Form 2290 through an authorized E-File provider such as ExpressTruckTax.com, there are several different payment options.  Taxpayers can pay by Electronic Funds Withdrawal, EFTPS, Check, or Money Order.  The options to pay by check or money order may be easier to understand, but the options for Electronic Funds Withdrawal and EFTPS may need an additional explanation.


If you elect to pay by Electronic Funds Withdrawal, you can use either a checking or savings account.  You will need to enter the US Bank Account Number and Routing Number in order for the IRS to Process the payment.  This information is typically listed on a check.

EFTPS is short for Electronic Federal Tax Tayment System.  It is a government program that allows you to schedule Federal Tax Payments electronically.  If you select to pay by this option, you are acknowledging that it is your responsibility to send the tax payment to the IRS through the EFTPS.gov website.

IRS Update Regarding IRS Form 2290(HVUT)- June 15, 2011

The following information regarding HVUT can be found on the IRS website at http://www.irs.gov/efile/article/0,,id=231565,00.html 
The law that governs the annual tax imposed on the use of heavy highway vehicles (Form 2290) expires on October 1, 2011. We have not published Form 2290 for the taxable period beginning July 1, 2011 and the form is not available at this time. As soon as we know when the form will be available, we will provide that information on this page. In the meantime, you can still get your tags and register your new or used vehicle.
Getting Your Tags
You can get tags for the tax period beginning July 1, 2011. Existing regulations allow states to register a heavy highway vehicle when the application for registration is received during the months of July, August or September 2011. States can accept as proof of payment a Form 2290 receipted Schedule 1 for the taxable period July 1, 2010 through June 30, 2011.
Registering Your New or Used Vehicle
States must register new and/or used heavy highway use vehicles without proof of tax payment if you present the original or a photocopy of a bill of sale showing that the vehicle was purchased by the owner during the 60 days before the date the state received the application for registration. 
Getting a Copy of Your Schedule 1
Call our Excise Tax division at 1-866-699-4096 to get a copy of your Schedule 1 for the taxable period July 1, 2010 through June 30, 2011. From Canada or Mexico, call 1-859-669-5733 (not toll-free).
If you need any additional information, feel free to contact us at (704) 234-6005 or email us at support@expresstrucktax.com

Tips For Owner-Operator To E-file IRS Tax 2290 Forms

If you own and operate a heavy vehicle on public highways, then you are aware of the challenges and difficulties associated with that job. Not only is the job of an owner operator incredibly tough, there are also several different taxes that owner operators must file for each heavy vehicle yearly.  These include Heavy Vehicle Use Tax (HVUT) which includes IRS Form 2290 and IRS Form 8849. Another Truck Tax that can be filed is the International Fuel Tax Agreement (IFTA).  

Filing HVUT with IRS Form 2290 has its own set of meticulous instructions. Form 2290 is in 2 parts. The first part is referred to as a Schedule 1. This form must be filled out and stamped by the IRS in order for the vehicle to be registered with the Department of Motor vehicles. The traditional filing process for this form requires an actual stamp from the IRS, which can be obtained in two ways. One can mail the form to the IRS office and wait for the stamped form to be sent in the mail, which can take several weeks. The other option is to actually travel to the nearest IRS office and get it stamped in person. This is also a very time consuming option.

The process for filing IFTA is also very confusing. Each driver must take detailed notes for both how many miles were traveled, and how much fuel was purchased in each state or province.  The purpose of this is so that the Fuel Tax (IFTA) is accurately distributed to all of the states and provinces that were involved.  

Fortunately, this process has been simplified for both of these filings. ExpressTruckTax.com serves as a one-stop-shop for all truck tax needs!  Express Truck Tax allows drivers to E-File a Form 2290 online with the IRS and receive a stamped Schedule 1 in minutes. The IFTA process is also much easier thanks to the online tools that Express Truck Tax has to offer. With features like online trip sheets and abnormal MPG audits, Express Truck Tax has what it takes to get you on the road with as little paperwork as possible!  

Why Former Drivers Make The Best Trucking Dispatchers

Featured Blogger
Benjamin Bellville

If you are running a small trucking company and are large enough that you are needing to hire one or more trucking dispatchers then you really need to consider that a former driver can fill the position better than anyone else. Allow me to point out my reasoning here and by the time you have finished reading this I am sure you will agree with my reasoning.

Depending on the size of your company and how you approach your freight logistics you may have a need for trucking dispatchers who are able to also book freight with brokers and perform sales to obtain direct freight customers as well. While you may be able to find someone with sales experience they often will not have a firm understanding of what it realistically takes to transport the freight.

I’ve had dispatchers with no driving experience before and all they could do was look at things from an on paper best scenario viewpoint. These types will drive your drivers away quicker than anything because they tend to talk down to drivers and make them feel like dirt in general. It’s an attitude that will fester through your company and hurt you in the long run. While it would be difficult to teach these types what being out on the road is really like, it would be much easier to teach a former driver the freight logistics aspect of the trucking company.

A former driver can relate to the trials the current truck drivers face on a daily basis and they know what is possible to do legally, they will make your employees feel more at ease sort of like they have someone on their side in the grand scheme of things. Happier drivers will be more productive drivers as a result. Less stress will also lead to healthier truck drivers.

Using former drivers as trucking dispatchers can also save you money in the long run as they will know better how to handle emergency situations as more than likely they have probably experienced it themselves while out on the road. They will also have a basic knowledge of most other operations within the company and can be turned into the ultimate multitasking machine over time.

As you can see it just makes sense as a strong business decision that will provide a strong inner working to your trucking company for years to come. The same way that doing business a truck tax company like Express2290 will be a smart choice to benefit your bottom line.

E-File 2290 for FREE – Wednesday Nov. 24th. Happy Thanksgiving!

We at Express2290.com would like to sincerely thank our customers, our community, and the industry we serve for all of your support this year. 2010 has been a wonderful year and we could not have done it without you.

In an effort to show our gratitude, we will be offering FREE E-FILING of your HVUT tax forms on Wednesday, November 24th. No catch. No qualifications. No fine print – just genuine, honest-to-goodness e-filing of IRS 2290 forms for free.

We know the holidays can be tough, especially when the economy is bad. We hope this gesture of our appreciation will help get you home, keep food on the table, or put one extra gift under the tree this year. From our family to yours – stay safe this holiday season and God bless!

Happy Holidays,

James Harris
Director, Tax Products
ExpressTruckTax
www.Express2290.com

Involving Drivers In The Freight Logistics Process

Featured Blogger
Benjamin Bellville

Involving drivers in the freight logistics process can be a great way to boost your overall effectiveness when it comes to moving freight and customer relations. Many small trucking company owners don’t understand that this is a process that begins with the hiring of their drivers. First I’m going to show you some things to look for in employees that you will want for your company, then I will outline the ways you can involve them in the freight logistics process and the benefits it will afford your company by doing so.

Driver Hiring Criteria
When you are going to involve your drivers more in the day to day operations decisions you will need to look for a certain type of driver. Just because a driver has a clean driving record and good recommendations does not necessarily mean they are the driver for you and your approach. Here is what you should look for in the interview process.

  • Are they business minded?
  • Do they have strong organizational skills?
  • Do they have great communications skills?
  • Do they look professionally presentable?
  • Are they experienced in trucking company operations?
  • Do they know how to use a load board and book freight?
  • Basic computer skills?
  • Are they safety and compliance minded?
  • Do they believe in driving fuel efficiently?
  • Can they perform basic mechanical tasks?


This is just the tip of the iceberg here, and will be dependant on just how much responsibility you want to give your drivers over time. Important to remember is that many truck drivers choose to drive for small companies because they are made to feel like they are more a part of the process and that what they think matters. This type of approach fosters confidence in your company and has a higher retention rating than just treating them like another number in a truck.

If you feel they may just be inexperienced in the industry but are business minded enough to train then by all means give them a shot. Sell your company as a building ground for drivers to build their own business within your business while providing them all of the tools and help they will need to some day branch out on their own. Include them daily in the freight logistics process as by involving drivers you will be shocked at what they are truly capable of. After all they are the ones with the real road experience who have a better idea of what it takes to get freight from point A to B that someone in an office has to guess at.

Teach them how to be your eyes and ears and as a group your company will virtually run itself. Why more companies don’t understand this I will never know. They treat drivers exactly the way they are stereotyped in the news and by society, how does this make a driver feel good about working for you or make them truly care about your business success?

I hope this week’s freight logistics posts have given you much food for thought and an idea of how to approach this topic when you start your company or how to make things better in your current company. Of course this has just been some highlights meant for a basic understanding, it’s up to you to unlock the approach that makes you most comfortable and that you feel provides you the best chance of success.

Did you know that when you start a trucking company you need to file for your HVUT taxes before you can obtain your IRP? Why not let Express2290 show you how they can save you money with fast electronic filing.

Managing Freight Logistics In A Small Trucking Company

Featured Blogger
Benjamin Bellville
Today I am going to show you some simple ways for managing freight logistics for your small trucking company that will make your day to day operations easier. Meshing all of the different tasks together when you’ve never done so before can get a little tricky for the newcomer yet an ability to do so is important to your success as a small trucking company owner. Let’s look at the ways managing freight logistics can be made easier for the independent trucker or small fleet owner.

Outsourcing Freight Logistics
One of the biggest recurring themes for successful businesses is surrounding yourself with people providing services for you that lessen your work load and allow you to concentrate on the tasks that directly affect your revenue stream. These days there isn’t much that can’t be outsourced in any business, but to do so with all jobs would not be financially feasible with a small trucking operation. So which parts of managing freight logistics should be outsourced for a small trucking company and why?

Safety and compliance for your small trucking company can be outsourced to a service that will keep all of your safety records electronically which can be accessed on their website by you or an officer doing an audit of your files. The best advantage to this is it just looks more professional and you can guarantee that the files are being kept in a legal manner. It may seem a little expensive for just one to a few trucks, but when you consider that almost every little error could cost you a possible $10,000 fine then it doesn’t seem so steep. Think of it as D.O.T insurance and money well spent. One of the top companies that offer this service is Foley Services.

For mechanical upkeep it is something that in most small trucking companies will absolutely be outsourced. The best approach to doing this though is to build a relationship with a shop that is local to your company and get every bit of work needed done there. While many repair shops are out to gouge for every dime they can, you are more likely to get better deals by giving them steady business. Not to mention when one shop does the majority of your repairs they will have all of the records on hand to better evaluate current problems rather than just shooting in the dark and costing you more money. I had a great relationship with a shop local to me where they would often throw me small repairs for free since I always used them for my big repairs.

The last thing that should be outsourced is accounting. You need to make sure that in some way you and your drivers are keeping the best records possible so that when it is time to file your taxes it will cost less by taking less man hours for the accountant to calculate the data. In the future you can be sure to look for a new free program called “TruckLogix” that will help with not only financial record keeping but also mileage and fuel data. By using a program such as this all you need to do is input all of the data and hand over a copy to your accountant for filing.

By outsourcing these tasks you are going to be left with more time to concentrate on the bread and butter of trucking, freight! Finding loads, dispatching them and transporting them as well as working on customer relations. In my next post join me as I will be talking about the importance of including the driver in the freight logistics process to give your company a better chance of succeeding.

It’s never too soon to get set up for quick filing of your heavy tax needs here at Express2290, don’t procrastinate in order to have your filing needs ready for the click of a mouse with the best pricing in the trucking industry.

New PTIN Requirements for Tax Return Preparers

Beginning January 1, 2011 the IRS will require paid tax return preparers who prepare all or substantially all of a tax return to register and obtain a Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN). The requirements are intended to ensure tax preparers are competent and qualified.

Tax return preparers may apply for a PTIN using the IRS PTIN online application system at irs.gov. Individuals who currently possess a PTIN will need to reapply under the new system but generally will be reassigned the same number.

The IRS has also set up a special toll-free telephone number, 1-877-613-PTIN (7846), that tax professionals can call for technical support related to the new online registration system. Applicants will pay a $64.25 fee to obtain a PTIN, which will be valid for one year.

Receipt of a PTIN will be immediate after successful online registration. Tax preparers may also submit a paper application (Form W-12: IRS Paid Preparer Tax Identification Number Application). Paper applications will be processed in four to six weeks. Before registration, applicants should consider that the date the PTIN is assigned is established as the annual renewal date.

PTIN applications will require a Social Security number. Individuals without a Social Security number may apply but will be required to provide one of the following: Form 8945 (PTIN Supplemental Application for U.S. Citizens Without a Social Security Number Due to Conscientious Religious Objection) or Form 8946 (PTIN Supplemental Application for Foreign Persons Without a Social Security Number.)

Check the Express2290 blog soon for more information regarding the IRS PTIN requirements.

File 2290 – Month end is here

Express2290.com is the best solution for filing your Form 2290 (Heavy Truck Use Tax) Always double check the tax information you enter in your 2290 returns.

Few points to keep in mind while e-filing.
* E-file your 2290 returns with Express2290.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
* Review all the information
* Double check your Business Name
* E-File Your 2290 Return

Choose IRS payment option:
There are several options to pay the HVUT taxes with the IRS.
Direct Debit or EFW: IRS will debit directly from your bank account.
EFTPS: You have to schedule the payment to the IRS by going to EFTPS.gov.
Check/Money Order: IRS also supports Check/Money Order if you have can schedule it in time. We strongly advice our Canadian customers to use this option as EFW option may not work for canadian banks.

Just a reminder, if you choose Direct Debit (EFW) as a payment method, the IRS will not process your return during the weekends, or on federal holidays, but on the next business day.

Review Tax ID Numbers
Carefully check Tax Identification numbers on your return.

Review Your Return
Express 2290.com is a very smart program, it automatically checks for any errors before you transmit your 2290 return to IRS, but its always good to double check everything before you hit the ‘Transmit to IRS’ button.

We are always available to help if needed. We are one of the few companies which is locally based to offer customer support. Call 704.234.6005