Category: expresstrucktax

#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!

December HVUT Confusion

Posted on December 17, 2015 by - #December, #HolidaySeason, expresstrucktax, Form 2290, HVUT

December is a busy month here at ExpressTruckTax. Our support team answers a lot of questions from drivers who aren’t sure if they should be filing a Form 2290 for HVUT or not in December. We’d like to clear up this confusion for all of you. Hopefully, this blog will do the trick.

Who Needs to File Form 2290 in December?

Some drivers do need to file their 2290 this month:


Those who have acquired or purchased a new truck in November
  • First-used month is November
  • Need to file a new 2290 by December 31st (even if you already filed for the 2015-16 tax year)
Need to renew your registration by the 31st

  • Need a stamped Schedule 1 (proof of filing a 2290) to renew
  • Required before a renewal can be granted

In addition to the above scenarios, some drivers confuse the HVUT tax year (July 1 of one year to June 30 of the next year) with the income tax year (Jan 1 to Dec. 31 of each year). As a result, these drivers often wait until the end of the calendar year to file their 2290’s. If this is you, now’s the time to get current on your HVUT before the IRS’s e-file site maintenance that starts December 26th.

Does a 2290 Transfer from My Old Truck to a New One?

There are other drivers who purchase a new truck, sell their old one, and think that their 2290 will transfer from the old truck to the new one. This is a common question this time of year since new truck sales spike in December. The confusion here may be because the tax paid on the first truck can be applied as a credit to the new truck, but filing a new 2290 for each new truck purchased is required.

Filing your HVUT doesn’t have to be confusing. With ExpressTruckTax, you’ll know exactly when you need to file, so that you can enjoy your holiday season.

Our support team here at ExpressTruckTax is available Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. to answer your questions and concerns about HVUT and Form 2290 via telephone at 704.234.6005. You can email us anytime at support@expresstrucktax.com.

Have a story about filing your 2290 this time of year? Post it on our Facebook page, or tweet it at us on Twitter. And let us know how we’re doing, so we can serve you even better.

#TruckTechTuesday: Onboard Truck Computers

Posted on December 15, 2015 by - #TruckTechTuesday, electronic driving logs, expresstrucktax, onboard computers

Today’s trucks are sophisticated and state-of-the-art, much different from the simpler, older trucks they’ve grown out of. Not only do they contain the traditional engine and instrument panels, they employ modern computers that monitor and control many aspects of the truck’s performance.

The onboard computers used in most trucks today are multi-function machines much like their desktop cousins. Not only can they be used to monitor truck conditions and driver behavior, as older computers in trucks mainly did, today’s truck computers can be used to communicate between driver and back office, and even used by drivers to run applications and access the internet.

Electronic Driving Logs

Electronic driving logs are perhaps the most obvious application for these computers. These logs will become mandatory in all trucks by December 2017, according to a ruling by the U.S. Department of Transportation released December 10th. And significantly, a provision of this ruling states that these logs can not be used to harass drivers. This means that electronic logs can potentially be of benefit to both trucking companies and drivers, in that the companies will be able to track driver data, but drivers will be protected by the law from companies abusing the use of these logs.

Monitoring Engines

Onboard truck computers are also used to monitor truck engines and communicate data from the engine with either the driver, the back office, or both. The data can range from diagnostic trouble codes, to routine maintenance needed, to extreme conditions in the engine not caught by the codes. This can often mean the difference between a routine service stop and a blown engine.

Communications

Communications between the truck, driver, and the back office regarding other important information take place with the use of these computers as well. Some of these messages are in place of conversations that might normally occur over a cell phone. Since the screens for these onboard computers are often placed on the truck’s dashboard right in the driver’s view, using the computer for these communications can be much safer than cell phone exchanges.

Driver Use

A more recent feature of onboard truck computers is the ability to be used by drivers for 3rd party applications that might monitor other aspects of the truck. These computers are much like the desktop computer most people use, all the way down to internet access. This gives off-duty drivers a convenient way to surf the web, so that they won’t need to use up costly data on their cell phones.

ExpressTruckTax keeps you up to date on the latest in the trucking world, just like we make your life easier by simplifying your HVUT filing process. Contact us by phone at 704.234.6005 or by email any time at support@expresstrucktax.com.

We’re anxious to hear about your experiences with onboard computers. Tweet at us on Twitter or post on our Facebook page anything you think would be helpful for The Trucking Nation to know about onboard computers. Your input helps us to make sure we’re serving you the best we can.

Friendly Reminder:

Don’t forget the IRS’s e-filing system will be down for yearly maintenance from Dec 26th until some time during the 1st week in January (The IRS hasn’t specified the exact date the system will be back up yet). So if you’re using ExpressTruckTax to e-file and your Form 2290 needs to be in by December 31st, to be safe, you should e-file by December 23rd.

#TruckTechTuesday: Self-driving Trucks

Posted on December 8, 2015 by - #TruckTechTuesday, autonomous trucks, expresstrucktax, self-driving trucks, semi-autonomous trucks

Imagine a truck that drives itself. Sounds like the stuff of science fiction, right? It may be closer than you think. Several truck manufacturers are currently working to develop exactly this, a self-driving truck. A few already have working prototypes. Let’s take a look at these trucks.

How Semi-Autonomous Trucks Work

It’s helpful to be clear about what these things are and how they work. The industry name for self-driving trucks is autonomous trucks. In turn, those that require a driver for safe operation are called semi-autonomous trucks. These semi-autonomous trucks are the type that are furthest along in development.

Semi-autonomous trucks are controlled by a computer. The truck’s computer constantly monitors the truck’s behavior, communicating the data it finds with the driver and the back office. In some cases, the computer will adjust settings within the truck to compensate; other times the driver will need to make adjustments.

Note that these trucks need an experienced, qualified driver in order to safely operate. The greatest need for manual driving is in densely-populated cities, to maneuver around the quickly changing landscape of city streets. At other times, such as highway driving, these trucks are able to control themselves.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Semi-Autonomous Trucks

The most obvious advantage of semi-autonomous trucks is the operation cost savings. They predict accident rates will fall dramatically with these trucks, since there’s more precise control over the truck. Catastrophic breakdowns can be avoided since the computer will closely monitor the truck’s performance and maintenance needs. Self-driving trucks will also free up their drivers to do other things such as examining computer data, doing business-related tasks (like filing your HVUT!), and simply relaxing.

The main disadvantage to these trucks is cost. At present, and for the foreseeable future, semi-autonomous trucks will require a huge startup investment. Companies will need to closely examine cost savings and see how they compare with these startup costs.

Some drivers may fear that their jobs are being threatened by the new trucks. It is important to note only the autonomous trucks have no need for a driver, and the development and implementation of such trucks is a long, long way down the road. It’s also unclear at this time whether autonomous trucks are viable at all, as there is still a huge concern about the safety of a truck without a driver. So don’t worry, Trucking Nation, your jobs aren’t going anywhere!

Let us know your feelings about autonomous and semi-autonomous trucks by tweeting at us on Twitter, and posting on our Facebook page. Your comments really help us post topics that are most helpful and interesting to you. And your input also helps us to provide you with the absolute best service available.

You can reach us at 704.234.6005 or at support@expresstrucktax.com if you have any concerns or questions about ExpressTruckTax.

Why Use ExpressTruckTax?

Posted on November 19, 2015 by - #TruckingNation, expresstrucktax, ExpressTruckTax benefits, Expresstrucktax.com

Happy Thursday, Trucking Nation! We tell you a lot about ExpressTruckTax, but why should you use it? Glad you asked! There are so many advantages to using ExpressTruckTax, we couldn’t possibly fit them all in one blog. But let us hit the high points for you.

First of all, we offer you convenience. Who wants to spend all that time manually figuring out what you owe the IRS? ExpressTruckTax is fast, much faster than your manual calculations. And our instant audit check will catch any major errors that could keep your return from being accepted.

Here are just some of the features you get with ExpressTruckTax.

Get Your Stamped Schedule 1 Quickly
When you e-file Form 2290 with us, you’ll receive your stamped Schedule 1 within minutes. So you won’t have to wait for the IRS to mail you a Schedule 1 by postal mail, and who knows how long that will take?

ExpressTruckTax Exclusive: Truck Zone
ExpressTruckTax features TruckZone, which gives you the ability to upload 1000’s of vehicles to your account, and to store them in one spot. So you don’t have to manually enter a whole fleet of trucks. You can just upload a spreadsheet containing all of your trucks and ExpressTruckTax will convert that into the data you need to file..

Free VIN Corrections!
We’re also the only Form 2290 e-filing service that allows you make free VIN corrections on 2290 returns filed with us. This feature allows you to easily correct any VIN error online. You won’t have to start a new return or pay any more money.

Ditch the Fax Machine: E-sign
And our e-sign feature allows tax professionals to have their clients sign their returns without having to use fax machines or postal mail. Clients are able to e-sign their returns sent to them from their preparer electronically.

Support You Can Trust: 24/7, 365
Most importantly, you get the support of our stellar team of tax experts who are ready to help you with your questions about filing your return. You can contact us anytime by email at support@expresstrucktax.com and over the phone from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday at 704.234.6005.

Let us know how why you love e-filing with ExpressTruckTax on Twitter or Facebook. And don’t forget to let your family and friends know too. We grew our business through word of mouth. Help us to continue that tradition..

#WellnessWednesday: Cooking Appliances for Trucks

Posted on November 18, 2015 by - #wellnesswednesday, cookingontheroad, expresstrucktax, Expresstrucktax.com

Howdy, Trucking Nation! One of the toughest parts of being an OTR driver is mealtime. Staying healthy and spending wisely are perhaps the main challenges of eating on the road.

Luckily, there’s a perfect solution to these problems: cooking appliances for trucks. Twelve volt adapters and devices that run on them have made it possible to easily prepare food in your cab, and the benefits of doing so are innumerable!

So Many Choices!

Today there are a multitude of appliances used for cooking that run right off your truck’s cigarette lighter, including:

  • Refrigerators/Coolers
  • Microwaves
  • Slow Cookers
  • Ovens
  • Stoves
  • Grills
  • Blenders

With appliances such as these, you can turn your cab into a gourmet kitchen. In your mobile canteen, you can prepare stews, soups, pasta, canned vegetables, beans, rice, heat up all kinds of ready made meals, fry your favorite fried foods, keep your foods and beverages nice and cold, and even whip up a shake or a smoothie.

Save Your Wallet & Your Waistline!

As we already said, eating healthy on the road can be extremely challenging, and those roadside meals can add up dollar-wise very quickly. These appliances save the day.

Being able to prepare your food the way you want allows you to cook healthy meals, and brings a little bit of home to the road. You can cook lighter meals, so that the heavy feeling from eating greasy food at truck stop diners doesn’t slow you down.

And of course the financial advantages of skipping the diners and fast food joints are obvious.

And Save So Much Time!

ExpressTruckTax makes your life easier, too. Whether you need to prepare your Form 2290 for HVUT or your IFTA return, we’ve got you covered. We free you up to do the things you want to do, so that your quality of living is where you want it to be.

If you need help with any questions or concerns regarding ExpressTruckTax, you can contact our world-class support team based in Rock Hill, SC, by calling us at 704.234.6005 or emailing us any time at support@expresstrucktax.com.

We want you to keep improving your lives, Trucking Nation. Join us on Twitter and Facebook with your stories about how you’re doing this. And if you’re not an ExpressTruckTax customer yet, we’d love to have you join our family. We do the tax-related things you don’t want to do so that you can do the things you really want to do!

Efiling for Farmers: Get Your Schedule 1 Today

Posted on October 15, 2015 by - Agricultural Vehicles, expresstrucktax, Farmers and Form 2290, Form 2290, HVUT

For those of you members of the Trucking Nation who are involved in agriculture, you know that in many regions of the U.S. right now, harvesting is well under way. We all count on you to get our food and goods to the market, so let’s see what you need to do to ensure your farm trucks stay on the road.

HVUT for Farmers

Even though trucks used for agriculture usually don’t have to pay HVUT, you are still required by the IRS to file a Form 2290 for all trucks with a gross weight of 55,000 pounds or greater that operate on public roads. Most farm trucks are known as suspended vehicles and are classified as such if driven less than 7,500 miles each year. The only agricultural trucks that have to pay HVUT are those that put in 7,500 or more miles each year.

What Do I Need to Do?

ExpressTruckTax is the easiest way to file your yearly Form 2290. When filling out the 2290, you’ll just need to list your truck details, such as the VIN and Gross Vehicle Weight, and it will be classed as Category W (if it’s under the 7,500 miles limit). Once you file your 2290 through ExpressTruckTax, you’ll receive a stamped Schedule 1 with a watermark verifying you’ve filed a 2290 for the year. You’ll need this when registering or renewing your license plates or tags for your vehicle. That way the DMV knows you’re current with the IRS, and they won’t issue your plates without it.

Filing Form 2290 from the Farm

Here are the quick, easy steps to filing your 2290 and getting your all-important stamped Schedule 1:

  • First, you’ll need to create an account. If you’re already registered with us, just log in to your existing account. If not, just fill out a few simple fields and you’re ready to go!
  • Second, enter the details about your vehicle(s). This is the important part for agricultural vehicles. If your mileage during the tax period on a truck is less than 7,500 miles, leave the field for Taxable Vehicles blank. You’ll only need to fill in this field for any trucks that have put in 7,500 or more miles during the tax year on public highways. When you get to the Suspended Vehicle screen, then you can enter all the information for your vehicle or vehicles that are suspended.
  • Third, enter your payment information. Then review all your information, transmit your return to the IRS, and you can receive your stamped Schedule 1 within a few minutes.
That’s all there is to it! You’re ready to register your trucks, and to make the trek from farm to market.

Questions or Concerns from the Farm?

Our world-class, locally-based support team is always available Mondays through Fridays from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on the phone at 704.234.6005 to help you with any questions you may have. You can also email us anytime at support@expresstrucktax.com. And as always, please remember to recommend us to your family and friends. We need your support as well and always appreciate your referrals!


The ExpressTruckTax Support Team

Posted on October 8, 2015 by - e-file, E-File Provider, e-filing process, expresstrucktax, IRS authorized e-file provider, value-based pricing

When you collaborate and e-file with ExpressTruckTax, you will not only receive great customer service, but you will also feel like you truly matter. Based out of Rock Hill, SC, each of our team members gladly and willingly stick to the product’s mission, which is answering all questions thoroughly, quickly, and effectively while guiding clients through the e-filing process.

“We’re really good at what we do, and what we do is make taxes easier for you.”

Assistance

When you need assistance with e-filing, ExpressTruckTax has got you covered. We’re an IRS authorized e-file provider, which means we work closely with the IRS to provide an accurate, safe, and secure process that will save you time and money. And because our team strives to provide the most comprehensive program out there, you’ll find support text that guides you through each step of e-filing within the ExpressTruckTax program. Additionally, we have help videos if you’d like to see exactly how something is done.

Experience

Between a hard-working product manager, product coordinator, digital content manager, digital copy editor, and several client relationship specialists, our ExpressTruckTax support team is the most experienced in the industry. Since we’ve been helping clients e-file for years, we’re sure to know the ins and outs of the filing process better than anyone else.

Quality

It’s true that ExpressTruckTax isn’t the only product providing the specific service of e-filing, but we are the only ones doing it at a high level of quality. Who doesn’t love a challenge, though? Unlike the competitors out there, ExpressTruckTax believes that it’s possible to create and maintain a world-class product at a local level with the combination of professionalism, tax savviness, and value-based pricing.

If you’d like to learn more about the ExpressTruckTax team, click here!

As always, don’t hesitate to contact the team members! You can call us at 704.234.6005 or email us at support@expresstrucktax.com.

#TruckTechTuesday: Keep It Updated

Posted on October 6, 2015 by - #TruckTech, #TruckTechTuesday, browser updated, expresstrucktax, latest technology, updated browser

Happy #TruckTechTuesday! Here at ExpressTruckTax, we’re all about keeping up with the latest technology, which means making sure our browsers and apps are always up-to-date. Why, you ask? Well, regular updates provide significant benefits, such as better speed, security, and support than older versions. If you don’t take the chance to update your browser, you can be left in the dark and miss new features that can improve your overall experience on the web—no, thank you!

Let’s take a look at some benefits of an updated browser:

Speed

You probably don’t need me to tell you that updating your browser can help websites and apps load and run faster. It’s true that every new update makes your browser faster than the last.

Security

When it comes to your personal information, such as identity and credit card numbers, you’re the safest when you have your browser updated to the latest version. That’s because it includes new and improved security protection.

Safety

Keeping your browser updated can also reduce the risk of getting a virus on your computer. To minimize the risk of infection and attack, it’s important to check for updates every month or so.

Sight

If you maintain an older browser that does not support the latest versions of HTML or CSS, you won’t be able to see the full view of the sites you visit.

As you can notice, keeping your browser updated is important for several reasons, especially to ensure that your web pages load properly. ExpressTruckTax also recommends that you update any extensions, plug-ins, or add-ons.

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. ExpressTruckTax offers year-round support so you can get the help you deserve. You can email us at support@expresstrucktax.com or call us at 704.234.6005.