Posted on August 19, 2011 by Santamarina Joseph - 2290 e-file, 2290 tax, e-file 2290, Expresstrucktax.com, Fleet Owners, Form 2290, Form 2290 E-file, Form 2290 filing delay, IRS Tax Implications, Tax 2290, truck drivers, Truck Operator tax, truck taxes
For many Owner-Operators of Heavy Highway Vehicles, the benefits of self employment make being on the open road a very exciting experience. However, due to the heavy regulation of the Trucking and Transportation Industry, there are various taxes you must pay for self-employment income earned as an independent truck driver. Since self-employed individuals are not subject to tax withholding, there is more control over periodic tax payments throughout the year, which can be cut down by claiming deductions for business expenses. Self-Employment Tax
The Self-Employment tax applies to truck drivers who operate their own business. These taxes are imposed in order to fund the Social Security and Medicare programs. The disadvantage of paying these taxes as a self-employed individual is that you owe twice as much as taxpayers who earn their income from employment. This is because employers are responsible for paying the other half of these taxes for their employees. There is somewhat of a silver lining to this though, the IRS does allow you to claim a deduction for 50 percent of the self-employment tax payments you make as an adjustment to income.
Truck Driver Deductions
You are not required to pay income tax or self-employment tax on your gross earnings from self employed truck driving. Instead, it calculates your tax due on net earnings, which is equal to your gross earnings minus all deductions you can claim. In order to claim a deduction, the expense must be ordinary and necessary to operate your business. This may cover any number of expenses you incur, but typically, truck drivers may deduct the cost of gasoline, oil, truck repairs, insurance and parking charges. You may also deduct the cost of the truck itself by including the lease payments or depreciation of the purchase price in your deductions. And, if you ever stay in a hotel during those long road trips, you may deduct your lodging expenses also.
Other Truck Taxes
IRS Form 2290 is meant to send information about the usage of a commercial truck and to pay taxes on that use to the IRS. You can use this form for a single truck filing, or up to twenty-five vehicles can be reported on one form. The major reasons for filing the form include:
The typical Tax year for Form 2290 is from July 1st to June 30th of the next year. The form and any payment are typically due by the end of August of the corresponding year. The IRS requires that forms with 25 or more vehicles to be electronically filed.
As mentioned Earlier, the typical tax year is from July 1 to June 30, but this year it has changed. Due to legislation being held up in Congress, there has yet to be a legislation enacted to collect these Heavy Vehicle Use Taxes. The IRS has announced that it will not be accepting these 2290 forms until November 1 of this year.
Posted on August 18, 2011 by Santamarina Joseph - 2290 e-file, 2290 tax, e-file 2290, express truck tax, Form 2290, Form 2290 E-file, Form 2290 filing delay, IRS, IRS phishing scams, IRS scammers, stay alert, Tax 2290
Scammers are like cockroaches; they are unwanted, yet they never seem to go away. Recently, there has been a set of IRS phishing emails that have been infesting the web. There have been at least two versions. One claims to be from “info manager@irs.gov” and another from “support manager@irs.gov.” These emails can look convincing with headers that read: “IRS notification.” Although it may seem authoritative, neither of these are legitimate and should be ignored, deleted, or forwarded along to phishing@irs.gov. Do Not reply and Do Not open the attachments.Here is the plain text version of one of the emails:
Important Information about your tax return
We are unable to process your tax return
We received your tax return. However, we are unable to process the return as field.
Our records indicate that the person identified as the primary taxpayer or spouse on the tax return did not provided all the required documents shown on the tax form. Our records are based on information received from the Social Security Administration.
Based on this information, the tax account for the individual has been locked
What you need to do
Print out the attached notification and list of missing documents, fill it in, add the documents and send the following information to the address shown in the attached notification.
List of required documents:
- A copy of this letter
- Notification letter
- A photocopy of valid U.S. Federal or State Government issued identification.
Keep this notice for your records.
As you can see, this email is littered with typos and grammatical errors. That is always a Huge Red Flag if you are receiving an email that is supposedly from a professional organization. In addition to that, it is commonly known that the IRS does not send unsolicited e-mails to taxpayers. Therefore, most emails claiming to be from the IRS are most likely a scam. Be very careful with these emails. Most of them try to get you to reveal your personal or financial information. Do not reveal any of this information via e-mail. Better yet, Do Not reply to the email at all. Don’t follow any links from these e-mails to any web sites where you might be asked for the same information.
Other e-mails may have attachments or links which download viruses or other malware onto your computer. Some of this malware, has the capabilities to retrieve financial and other personal information from your computer. Even if you don’t manually input personal information into these sites, the malware allows the scammers to track your personally identifiable information.
Key Point to Remember: the IRS will never initiate contact with you via email. They will not ask you to click links to fix your tax information or verify your tax account. Neither will you be advised of a mistake in your refund via email. If you are concerned that you need to contact the IRS, then you should call them (1.800.829.1040). Don’t click on an attachment or reply to an email claiming to be from the IRS.
So to recap: delete, delete, delete. Do Not open links. Do Not open any attachments. Do Not investigate on your own. The IRS can handle any investigation if necessary. If you would like to make the IRS aware of it, you can forward the e-mail to the IRS at phishing@irs.gov then DELETE the email.
This Information has been provided by the Truck Tax Team at www.ExpressTruckTax.com
Posted on July 30, 2011 by Santamarina Joseph - 2290, e-file 2290, express2290.com, Expresstrucktax.com, Form 2290, Form 2290 E-file, Form 8849, Heavy vehicle use tax 2290, Internal Revenue Service Form 2290, Tax 2290
ExpressTruckTax.com has everything you need to to file your truck taxes online so that you can keep on rolling. It is packed with all sorts of features that benefit Owner Operators, Trucking Companies, and other service providers filing HVUT.One of the most commonly filed IRS forms among those in the Trucking Industry is the IRS Form 2290, and its accompanying Schedule 1. With Express Truck tax, you can easily file this IRS form online in minutes, and for as little as $9.90, it is the most attractive price in the industry. After filing Form 2290 with the IRS through Express Truck Tax, the person filing will receive Free Fax and Email Notifications to let them know that the Schedule 1 is ready. Express Truck Tax also offers optional Text Message reminders as well. Once the IRS processes the Return, you will be notified so that you can print your stamped schedule 1. Express Truck Tax can also notify your contracting (leasing) company to let them know that your payment has been made.When creating your Form 2290 online, Express Truck Tax will automatically create a Form 8849 for credits. There is also the option to upload an Excel Template for a multiple vehicle filing. You can file for only 1 truck or up to 40,000 vehicles with our Enterprise Filing! Express Truck Tax also offers flexible pricing plans to fit any fleet. Tax professionals and CPAs also receive custom discounted pricing to file for many of their clients. The customer service does not stop once the form is filed. Express Truck Tax also offers Free VIN corrections so that no one is penalized for a simple typo. There is also the ability to amend a previously filed Form 2290 through the service. For any questions about the service, Express Truck Tax offers unlimited, USA-based customer support via email, chat, and phone. Simply email support@ExpressTruckTax.com, call 704-234-6005, or go to ExpressTruckTax.com to live chat with the excellent customer support professionals. You can file your Form 2290 (HVUT) in just minutes via self-service, file by phone and full service, meaning you can register and file yourself, or have us take care of the filing. Either way, this easy-to-use software will save you time and money. Express2290.com was built by one of the most talented teams in the industry—no one has more experience in HVUT E-Filing!Get started today at ExpressTruckTax.com. Email us at support@expressexcise.com or call 704-234-6005.Express2290.com, Express8849.com, ExpressExcise.com, and ExpressExtension.com, are part of ExpressTaxZone.com line of tax products.
Posted on July 29, 2011 by Santamarina Joseph - 2290, e-file 2290, express2290.com, Expresstrucktax.com, Federal Heavy Vehicle Use Tax, Federal Heavy Vehicle Use Tax Form 2290, Form 2290, Form 2290 E-file, Form 8849, Tax 2290, Truckers Tax 2290
As of July 1, 2011, the process of filing a Form 2290 for Heavy Vehicle Use Tax has changed dramatically as a result of new legislation not being passed by Congress. These new regulations affect tax service providers, trucking companies, and owner operators of highway motor vehicles with a taxable gross weight of 55,000 pounds or more.
Heavy Vehicle Use Tax form 2290 – Overview
The Form 2290 imposes an excise tax on certain highway motor vehicles (26 CFR Part 41) under section 4481 of the Internal Revenue Code. Section 4481 imposes an excise tax on the use in any taxable period of a highway motor vehicle with a taxable gross weight of 55,000 pounds or more. The person to whom the vehicle is registered at the time of the first use for the year must pay the tax. The amount of the tax is based on the gross weight of the vehicle with a maximum of $550 per vehicle per taxable period. The tax period begins on July 1 and ends on June 30th of the following year.
However, for the taxable period beginning on July 1, 2011, section 4482(c)(4) of the present law states that the taxable period ends as of September 30, 2011 instead of the typical June 30th deadline. For this three month period, the tax has been reduced to 25 percent of the tax rate for a 12-month period. Section 41.6011(a)–1(a)(1) requires each person liable for the tax imposed by section 4481 to file a return for each taxable period. Section 41.6011(a)–1(b) provides that the return is in Form 2290, (Heavy Highway Vehicle Use Tax Return).
A Form 2290 must generally be filed by the last day of the month following the month in which someone first becomes liable for tax. For most taxpayers, their first use of a vehicle in a taxable period occurs in July and thus their return is due by August 31st. This is because July is the first month of the tax period, and if a vehicle was registered in the previous year, July is the first month of the current year. Section 41.6001–2(b) explains that when a state that receives an application to register a highway motor vehicle, they must receive a ‘‘proof of payment” of the tax imposed by section 4481(a). This proof of payment typically consists of a receipted Schedule 1 (Form 2290) that is returned by the IRS to a taxpayer that files the form 2290 and pays the amount of tax due with the return.
The taxpayer registering the vehicle must present proof of payment for the taxable period that includes the date on which the application for registration is filed. In the case of an application filed in July, August, or September of this year, the proof of payment for the preceding taxable period may be used. The tax imposed under section 4481 will expire on September 30, 2011, unless Congress changes the law. Under existing regulations, the person liable for the tax must file a Form 2290 by the last day of the month after the month that the person first becomes liable for the tax. Current statutory and regulatory provisions require the person liable for the tax to file a Form 2290 for taxable use during the period of July 1, 2011, through September 30, 2011. Also, if Congress extends the tax past September 30, 2011, anyone who filed a Form 2290 for the short taxable period of 2011 would have to file a second Form 2290 covering the period after September 30, 2011, until either the expiration date of the extension or June 30, 2012 (whichever comes first).
Extension of Form 2290 HVUT Due Date
In order to provide a more efficient tax administration and alleviate taxpayers’ potential administrative burden, temporary regulations have postponed the due date of Form 2290 for the 2011 short taxable period until November 30, 2011. If Congress does not extend the tax past September 30, 2011, taxpayers will file one Form 2290 and will pay the reduced amount for the 2011 short taxable period by November 30. If Congress does extend the tax past September 30, 2011, and substitutes a longer taxable period for the 2011 short taxable period, taxpayers who become liable for the highway use tax after June 30, 2011, and before November 1, 2011, a will file Form 2290 for the period July 1, 2011—June 30, 2012 (or the end of the new taxable period, if earlier), by November 30, 2011. In either case, most taxpayers will have to file only one return for the taxable period beginning July 1, 2011.
Temporary regulations suggest that taxpayers should file a Form 2290 no earlier than November 1, 2011 for taxable use during the 2011 short taxable period. The IRS will not provide a receipted Schedule 1 for a return and accept associated payment for the taxable period beginning July 1, 2011, before November 1, 2011.
Temporary Regulations for Proof of Payment for DMV registration
Special rule for registration after June 30, 2011, and before December 1, 2011.
For the period between July 1, 2011, and November 30, 2011, a State must register a highway motor vehicle without proof of payment if the person registering the vehicle presents the original or a photocopy of a bill of sale or another document proving ownership indicating that the vehicle was acquired by the owner either as a new or used vehicle during the preceding 150 days before the date that the state receives the application for registration of the vehicle, and the vehicle has not been registered in any state subsequent to such date of purchase.
Substitute proof of payment for the taxable period beginning July 1, 2011.
A state shall accept a 2290 Schedule 1 for the previous taxable period as a substitute for proof of payment.
Temporary Regulations- filing dates
In the case of a highway motor vehicle that incurs a taxable use during the period July 1, 2011 through September 30, 2011, the person liable for the tax must file a return no later than November 30, 2011. The return should be filed no earlier than November 1, 2011. If the return is filed and payment is submitted before November 1, 2011, the IRS will not provide a receipted Schedule 1 (Form 2290, ”Heavy Highway Vehicle Use Tax Return”) as proof of payment until after November 1, 2011, and will provide the receipted Schedule 1 only if the full amount of the tax for the 2011 taxable period has been paid.
Trucking Companies, contractors, service providers, or individual owner operators who need to get a Form 2290 schedule 1 for previous tax years can contact the IRS, or file form 2290 online through an IRS authorized E-File provider such as ExpressTruckTax.com. For more information on heavy vehicle use tax, you can call the good folks at Express Truck Tax at 704-234-6005 or email at support@ExpressTruckTax.com
Posted on July 27, 2011 by Santamarina Joseph - 2290, e-file 2290, express2290.com, Expresstrucktax.com, Form 2290, Form 2290 E-file, Form 8849, heavy vehicle use tax, Online Tax E-filing, Tax 2290
In certain situations, one can actually claim a credit for a vehicle using the IRS Form 2290 (Heavy Vehicle Use Tax). The simplest, quickest, and safest way to file this form is through ExpressTruckTax.com, an authorized IRS E-file Provider of this form.
If a heavy vehicle was stolen, destroyed, or sold before June 1st and not used during the rest of the year, it qualifies as a credit vehicle. Another qualification for Credit Vehicles is if a heavy vehicle was used for 5,000 miles or less, or an agricultural vehicle that was used for 7,500 miles or less. Another significant qualification is that a credit, lower tax rate, exemption, or refund is not allowed for an occasional light or decreased load; neither is it allowed for a discontinued or changed use of the vehicle.
Even though the qualifications for credit vehicles can be complicated and confusing, ExpressTruckTax.com helps make this process simple. The filing process only takes a few minutes. If you need any help, the dedicated customer support team can help walk you through the process in minutes.
As you most likely know, the IRS has not yet disclosed the official Form 2290 for filing Truck Taxes. This delay in the process has certainly caused some headaches for the service providers such as Express Truck Tax, who E-File this form on behalf of their clients. Land Line, the business magazine for professional truckers, recently released an article about the delay. In short, the Form 2290 will not be available until new legislation is passed, but drivers will be able to get their vehicle tags and register vehicles by using your previous year’s Schedule 1.
The following Article can be read in its entirety at LandLineMag.com:
Before you make a mad dash to the IRS office to file your Form 2290 Heavy Vehicle Use Tax, hold on. A week before filing season for the IRS Form 2290 was due to begin on July 1, the Internal Revenue Service announced a delay.
New legislation needs to be passed before IRS can collect the HVUT for the entire year. And right now that tax legislation is tied up in Congress. This means that your normal filing, which was for the tax period beginning July 1, 2011, won’t happen.
IRS will not accept any paper format or e-filing at this time. In fact, the form has not been published by the IRS and is not even available yet. An announcement on when it will be in place is expected to be made by IRS.
While the IRS e-file is not available for the tax period beginning July 1, 2011, you can still e-file your 2290 tax return for the tax period July 1, 2010 through June 30, 2011.
The IRS may wait as long as possible so that a single tax return is all that will be necessary for the 2011-12 tax Year. However, a backup plan is in place so that a three-month tax (July, August and September) can be collected by the Aug. 31 filing deadline. When the new legislation is passed, it will determine what happens for the reminder of the 2011/12 tax year.
Can you get your tags and register your vehicle? The IRS says yes, you can get your tags for the tax period beginning July 1, 2011. Existing regs allow states to register a heavy highway vehicle when the application for registration is received during the months of July, August or September 2011. If you have your receipted Schedule 1 for the previous year’s taxable period – in this case July 1, 2010 through June 30, 2011 – states can accept it as proof of payment.
States must register newly acquired heavy highway use vehicles without proof of tax payment if you present the original or photocopy of a bill of sale showing that the truck was purchased by the owner during the 60 days before the date the state receives the application for registration.
Posted on July 11, 2011 by Santamarina Joseph - 2011 2290 Tax Form, Dot Form 2290, e-file 2290, Express2290, expresstrucktax, Federal 2290 Tax Forms, Form 2290 E-file, Internal Revenue Service Form 2290, Need 2290 Form IRS, Tax professionals
HVUT refers to the Heavy Vehicle Use Tax, which is a fee imposed on heavy highway vehicles operating on public roads. A vehicle is required to file HVUT, if it has a registered gross weight of 55,000 pounds or more. This amount is the gross taxable weight, which is calculated by adding the following amounts:
The official definition, according to the IRS,of a taxable Highway Motor Vehicle is any self-propelled vehicle that is designed to carry a load over public highways. Examples of such vehicles include trucks, truck tractors, and buses. The IRS does not usually consider vehicles such as vans, pickup trucks, panel trucks, or other similar vehicles because they do not typically weigh 55,000 pounds or more.
HVUT rates are broken down into three categories for these vehicles. Vehicles under 55,000 pounds have no HVUT because they do not fit the qualifications of a heavy vehicle. Vehicles between 55,000 and 75,000 pounds owe $100, plus $22 per 1,000 pounds over 55,000 pounds. Thirdly, if a vehicle is over 75,000 pounds, the maximum HVUT is $550 per year.
