Category: International Fuel Tax Agreement

You Asked, We Answered: 6 Popular IFTA Questions

Posted on April 19, 2017 by - File Fuel Tax IFTA, IFTA, ifta deadline, IFTA fuel Tax filing, IFTA Information, ifta report, IFTA return, International Fuel Tax Agreement, Truck Tax, truckers, trucking

Any time when taxes are involved things can get confusing. You have to when deadlines are, what materials are required to file, how to file, and more. With the 3rd quarter IFTA deadline quickly approaching on October 31st, we, the truck tax experts at ExpressTruckTax, decided to take it upon ourselves to be your resource guide, by answering common IFTA questions.

Popular IFTA Questions

When is IFTA Due?

IFTA is actually due four times a year, which is why your IFTA report is commonly referred to as your ‘quarterly IFTA report’. The IFTA deadlines are as follows:

1st Quarter – April 30th
2nd Quarter – July 31st
3rd Quarter – October 31st
4th Quarter – January 31st

It just so happens that this year the 1st quarter IFTA deadline falls on a weekend, Sunday, April 30th,  and when IFTA deadlines are on a weekend or federal holiday they’re pushed back to the next business day.

2. What exactly is IFTA?

IFTA is the International Fuel Tax Agreement and it is an agreement with the 48 contiguous states in the US and 10 Canadian provinces that’s designed to simplify the fuel use reporting for qualifying motor carriers that operate in more than one jurisdiction (state).

Now you may be wondering what a qualifying motor vehicle is, so we will clear that up. A qualify motor vehicle is vehicle or combination of vehicles that are designed, used, or maintained for the transportation of property of people that have two axles and a gross vehicle weight over 26,000 pounds, two axles and a registered weight exceeding 26,000 pounds, three or more axles regardless of weight, or a combination weight exceeding 26,000 pounds.

3. I rarely travel outside of my jurisdiction, do I need an IFTA license?

You don’t necessarily need an IFTA permit, but you will need a temporary fuel permit, which allows qualifying vehicles without IFTA credentials to temporarily travel in their intended state. To get your temporary permit contact a DMV in the state you will be traveling in. You will need to provide them with information such as your VIN, vehicle model, and more.

Each state has their own temporary trip permit regulations. Some offer temporary permits with varying prices and lengths of time, so you may purchase the one the best suits your travel needs.

4. How do I prove that I Filed my IFTA Report?

You will receive a copy of your IFTA license on an annual basis as long as you file your quarterly reports. Keep a copy of your license in your office and in your qualifying vehicles at all times.

Also, you will have two IFTA decals to display on your truck. It’s best to keep them clearly displayed under the window on your driver door.

When you travel without your IFTA license or decals, you will be subject to receiving a fine and you may have to purchase a temporary permit, or both.

5. What Happens if my IFTA Return is Late?

If your IFTA Return is late, or you fail to file, your base jurisdiction may give you a penalty of $50 or 10% of the taxes owed, depending on which is greater. Also, your base jurisdiction reserves the right to impose additional penalties based on their laws.

Plus, your base jurisdiction will assess the amount of unpaid taxes you owe to each jurisdiction and interest will accrue on that amount at a rate of 1% per month.

6. What do I Need to Complete my IFTA Report?

You will need the following information to complete your IFTA return:

The total miles taxable and nontaxable, traveled by all the licensee’s qualified motor vehicles per jurisdiction. This includes IFTA and non-IFTA miles, and trip permit miles.

The total gallons of fuel consumed by the licensee’s qualified motor vehicles per jurisdiction, including taxable and nontaxable, IFTA, and non-IFTA.

The taxable gallons used and purchased per jurisdiction.

And the current tax rate per jurisdiction.

Do You Have More Questions?

Well then ask us! We’re IFTA experts, and we’re here to help. Feel free to contact our dedicated support team with any questions that you may have. We’re available Monday – Friday from 9 AM to 6 PM EST at 704.234.6005. We’re also available via live chat and offer 24/7 email support at support@expresstrucktax.com

Tired of the IFTA Headache? Try These Filing Tips

Posted on April 28, 2016 by - 1st Quarter IFTA Deadline, deadlines, International Fuel Tax Agreement, maintain trip sheets, mileage, receipts

Welcome to another great International Fuel Tax Agreement Deadline!

Now we know you aren’t too fond of deadlines, Trucking Nation. But we’re here to tell you, things don’t have to so bad.

First of all, we have your back! You don’t have to go into this report alone.

Secondly, we’ve put together some tips to help you on this fuel tax filing free-for-all.

Tip #1: Don’t File IFTA (Yourself)

Okay, this might sound out of this world, but have you ever thought about not filing IFTA yourself? Yeah, you can get somebody else to do it!

Like the dedicated experts at ExpressTruckTax Plus! Time is of the essence, though. The requests for ExpressTruckTax Plus’s IFTA filing are filling up fast, so give them a call at 803.386.0320.

But don’t wait until Monday, because their hands will be full!

Tip #2: Trucking Professional Software

Here’s another tip—keep track of your fuel receipts and mileage with software designed by truckers for truckers. That’s right, TruckLogics!

With TruckLogics, you get cloud-based record keeping, mileage calculated by ProMiles, and integrated trip sheet generation.

Sure, maybe you won’t have time to use the full features of TruckLogics for this quarter, but it’s not too early for the next deadline. Now is the time to sign up so that your 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Quarters are easy.

Tip #3: Use the Features

Okay, okay, you’re here because you want to use ExpressIFTA. We get it!

If you, your spouse, your child, or your own accountant is generating your IFTA report, ExpressIFTA is your best choice.

Just create an account, add your truck information, and then fill out the interview-style forms with your mileage and fuel information.

And if you have multiple trucks, the TruckZone makes managing a fleet’s tax records easy.

We also have a GPS upload feature!

Tip #4: Start NOW!

Look, the deadline is Monday, May 2nd. If you’re generating your own IFTA report, you need to start now.

If you already have an ExpressTruckTax account, you know you don’t have to pay until you’re done. You might not know you can use the same login and password for ExpressIFTA. It’s that easy!

Then go ahead and generate your IFTA report. You don’t have to pay until you’re done, and by this point… time is of the essence.

If you run into any issues generating your IFTA report, feel free to reach out to our support team by phone at 704.234.6005 or by email at Support@ExpressIFTA.com.

Reach out to us if you have any questions. Happy filing, Trucking Nation!

5 Signs You’re not Ready for the Road

Posted on April 14, 2016 by - 1st Quarter IFTA Deadline, International Fuel Tax Agreement, online tax filing, pre-trip inspection

Everybody has their pre-trip rituals. Sometimes that means stocking up on hygiene essentials, replenishing your nonperishable foods, or maybe catching up on this month’s reruns.

Oh, and don’t forget, ensuring that you and your truck are ready for the road.

Obviously, inspecting and maintaining your vehicle are top priorities, but there are a few other concerns to watch out for.

Skimping out on Truck Inspections

Now, this goes without saying… but don’t skip over your pre-trip inspection. They’re designed not only for your safety, but to save you money as well.

I mean, it’s a lot cheaper to fix a problem when you’re parked than it is to have a flipped over trailer.

Yeah, that was one of the harder parts of getting your CDL—it’s a lot of memorization. But as a transportation professional, it’s what sets you apart from the rest.

You Ride Without Trip Planning

Experience is the best teacher you can have in this field. And the experienced truckers know you need to plan your trip ahead of time.

Download a trucking management program like TruckLogics, and use ProMiles for precise trip routing. ProMiles only chooses routes appropriate for heavy vehicles, eliminating costly mistakes, detours, and out-of-route mileage.

With TruckLogics and ProMiles, you can quote services to clients with more accuracy, instead of just rough estimations.

Plus, your recordkeeping afterward will increase thanks to one-click Trip Sheet generation!

Your House is in Disarray

We’ve mentioned tidying your cab before, but what about your house? Maybe you didn’t get to mow the lawn before heading out, or you know it’s time to do some Spring cleaning. Or on an even more personal note, someone in your family needs you.

Remember, downtime is important. Not just for your mental health, but for your financial livelihood, as well.

You’re Just Going to Eat Fast Food Again

Come on, guys. We’ve talked about this. We know you don’t have a lot of time to plan meals, but with just a little bit of planning, you can eat a nutritious diet that keeps you away from the Big Mac.

You’re gonna spend most of your day sitting as you drive, so eating healthy enough to keep the pounds away will offset the decrease in calorie burning activity. And besides, you can always just do a trucker workout when you get off the road.

You Don’t Have a Plan for Tax Filing

We hate to remind you of this ourselves, but your IFTA filing deadline is just around the corner.

That’s right, IFTA is coming!

And planning is everything when it comes to generating your IFTA report. Get ready for the upcoming deadline by calculating your IFTA tax amount ahead of time with the Fuel Tax Calculator.

And you remember all those Trip Sheets you generated with TruckLogics? Yeah, adding Trip Sheets to ExpressIFTA is easy.

Proactivity is the key to being a successful trucker. Ask yourself if you’re ready for the road!

As far as your IFTA report goes, if you run into any questions, the dedicated customer support team over at ExpressIFTA is ready to help! Give us a call at 704.234.6005 or shoot us an email at Support@ExpressIFTA.com.

What are your pre-trip rituals before hitting the road? Are you ready for every occasion?

Ready for April? 3 Important Moves to Make RIGHT NOW!

Posted on April 6, 2016 by - 1st Quarter IFTA Deadline, April, diet, exercise, fitness, Form 4868, healthy living, International Fuel Tax Agreement, Personal Tax Extension, taxes

Alright Trucking Nation, April is here! And that means a few things for us in the transportation industry.

What’s going on in April? Well, your personal taxes and fuel taxes are both due. And there’s a chance for you to work on your health!

Extend Your Taxes

First up, your personal taxes are due April 18th. Normally they would be due April 15th, but the weekend buys you some time! And you can get even more time with a Personal Tax Extension Form 4868.

Let’s face it, filing your taxes isn’t fun. But do you know every deduction a trucker can file? There are a lot, so don’t sit on this! And yeah, finding some more deductions doesn’t make it fun. But it makes filing a little bit easier, don’t you think?

Whether you’re filing by yourself or you have someone filing for you, you can get an extension for an additional 6 months to file Form 1040, 1040A, 1040-EZ, 1040NR, 1040NR-EZ, 1040-PR, or 1040-SS.

Let’s Get Ready for IFTA!

Alright, we know you don’t want to hear all this tax stuff. If you’re anything like me, it just gives you anxiety. But that’s why we try to make things easier.

How easy? Well, the same login credentials you use for your ExpressTruckTax account works for ExpressIFTA. So you can generate your fuel tax report with the same ease of use that you expect for your 2290s.

How else can you get ready? Instead of waiting until the last moment, take this next week to gather all of your fuel records and trip sheets.

If you’re not running around like a chicken with your head cut off, IFTA is pretty easy, really.

And if you want to make your next round of IFTA even easier, pick up an app like TruckLogics. With this handy cloud-based trucking management software, you can generate and send invoices, create profit & loss reports, and use ProMiles for one-click trip sheets.

Now Is the Time to Get Healthy

Okay, you were supposed to get healthy at the new year. But you didn’t!

If your diet fell apart three weeks into the new year, let April be the month you get healthy!

How? Well, eat better. Change your diet to focus on whole grains, whole veggies, and lean meats and proteins. Yeah, that doesn’t sound as great as a bucket of hot wings, but you need to make some changes.

After you get your diet in check, find time to exercise! We know you can! No excuses. In fact, we’ve told you how to turn your trucking environment into a portable gym. So don’t let that stop you.

Besides, you want that beach bod, don’t you? Ha!

So use April as your time to shine with your personal taxes, fuel taxes, and physical well being. If you have any questions about e-filing your fuel taxes, give the support experts a call at 704.234.6005 or an email at Support@ExpressTruckTax.com.

Are YOU ready for April?

Here Comes the IFTA 4th Quarter Deadline

Posted on January 28, 2016 by - 4th Quarter IFTA, ExpressTruckTax Plus, IFTA, International Fuel Tax Agreement, rigminders, taxes, trucking nation


Alright Trucking Nation, while we normally talk about your heavy vehicle use tax, we’re gonna shift gears to fuel reporting! That’s right, it’s time we talk about the 4th Quarter IFTA deadline.

About that deadline… since January 31st falls on a Sunday, that shifts the 4th Quarter IFTA reporting to the next business day – Monday, February 1st.

Can I Report IFTA from ExpressTruckTax?

Yes and no. While we’re geared towards filing 2290s, ExpressIFTA was specifically designed to simplify fuel tax reporting. Programmed by the same team that brought you ExpressTruckTax, you can expect the same ease of use when you use ExpressIFTA. You can even use the same login credentials as you do for ExpressTruckTax!

What will you need for IFTA reporting? You’ll need your IFTA license, basic business details, base jurisdiction, and truck information. From there, you add your total miles traveled and fuel purchased during the 4th Quarter. Instead of dealing with difficult manual calculations and pen and paper, our software streamlines the process. And best of all, you won’t have to pay until you generate your return!

What Kind of Features Can I Expect from ExpressIFTA?

Well, you can calculate your fuel tax reports by trip sheets, or even by uploading GPS data. You can also report by distance traveled or by odometer totals. If you have trip sheets available, you can upload those for even easier calculations!

With ExpressIFTA, you can manage multiple drivers, vehicles, and businesses under one account. And we’ll even check your entries for minor errors on our end before your return is generated. Basically, we’ve made the software so easy, you’ll be done in no time.

After this deadline, your next major IFTA deadline will be May 2nd. Want to keep up with upcoming due dates? Check out RigMinders, the trucking deadline reminder app, or look into a full tax management service like ExpressTruckTax Plus so you can hand off your reporting to a dedicated agent.

And as always, we’ll be here to answer your questions at 704.234.6005, or by email at support@expresstrucktax.com. We even support live chat from our website!

Are you ready for the 4th Quarter IFTA deadline? Let us know in the comments!

All About IFTA (Fuel Tax)

Posted on September 27, 2011 by - express truck tax, Expresstrucktax.com, Form 2290, form 2290 efile, form2290.net, Fuel Tax online, IFTA, International Fuel Tax Agreement, irs 2290, IRS form 2290

IFTA Overview
IFTA, or the International Fuel Tax Agreement, represents an agreement between the 48 contiguous United States and the 10 Canadian Provinces bordering the United States that focuses on an accurate and fair way of collecting taxes on fuel purchased in each state or province. IFTA is a quarterly tax on qualified highway motor vehicles that operate in at least 2 out of all 58 jurisdictions.  

IFTA Payments
A vehicle is considered to be a qualified motor vehicle if it is used, designed, or maintained for the transportation of persons or property and has a gross vehicle weight or registered gross vehicle weight of more than 26,000 pounds. A Vehicle is also considered to be a qualified motor vehicle if it has three axles, regardless of its weight.  Finally, a vehicle is considered to be a qualified motor vehicle if the combined weight of all of its parts is greater than 26,000 pounds.

How Does IFTA Work?
Each Vehicle has a Base Jurisdiction, which is the state or province in which the vehicle is registered. The Fuel Tax must be filed with each jurisdiction every quarter. Each state or province has a different Rate and those rates change quarterly. Each driver must keep a trip log of how many miles are traveled in each state or province, as well as how much fuel was purchased in each state or province.  

What is IFTA’s Purpose?
The official purpose of IFTA is “to promote and encourage the fullest and most efficient possible use of the highway system by making uniform the administration of motor fuels use taxation laws with respect to qualified member vehicles operated in multiple member jurisdictions.”  When IFTA is filed with the appropriate jurisdiction, The Fuel Tax Report is then used to determine the tax amount due as well as the refund due. It is also used to redistribute taxes from collecting jurisdictions to jurisdictions that it is due. One of the reasons for the Fuel Tax is to ensure that a vehicle pays taxes to all deserving jurisdictions. For Example: if a vehicle travels through a state, but buys no gas while in that state, then there was no fuel tax paid to that state through the purchase of gasoline.  Part of their tax would then be redistributed to the state that received no fuel tax.

A simple solution for this tax is to use an online E-File Provider. The most advanced of the available services is www.expresstrucktax.com. Express Truck Tax acts as a one stop shop for all truck tax needs. Through them, you can E-File your Form 2290 with the IRS. It also provides a way to keep online records of your mileage and fuel purchases for IFTA reporting. This can make the IFTA process much easier.