Category: Truck Tax

Trucking Industry Supports President Obama’s Push for Highway Funding

On Wednesday, August 31, 2011, President Barack Obama was joined by Transportation Secretary, Ray LaHood, as well as Richard Trumka, president of the AFL-CIO, and also David Chavern, the chief operating officer of the Chamber of Commerce as he made a speech to a gathering of Highway Workers regarding the Transportation Bill currently in Congress. His speech mainly focused on the jobs that would be lost if Congress failed to pass the bill by September 30th (the current transportation legislation is set to expire on Sept. 30). According to his speech, nearly one million highway workers would be out of a job if the current legislation expired without enacting new legislation.  

The current transportation legislation “The Safe, Accountable, Flexible, and Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users” expired in 2009, but Congress has kept adding extensions to the legislation. The most recent one expires at the end of September. If it is not extended, or if new legislation is not enacted to replace it, the transportation industry will experience a shutdown similar to what the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) experienced earlier this year.

If there is no immediate solution, the Transportation department will experience about 4,000 jobs to be furloughed without pay, and up to one million jobs if the delay is any longer. These are jobs for the people who build our roads and keep them safe. It would be detrimental and irresponsible to our highway system if this legislation is not kept in place.  

The American Trucking Associations (ATA) came out in support of President Obama stating that Congress needed to quickly act on another extension, but  more extensions are no replacement for a long-term highway solution.  The ATA also urged the administration to use caution when using private sector funding for public infrastructure.   

Soon after, The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials also released a statement in agreement with the ATA.  Another organization that supported President Obama’s push for new legislation came as a surprise was OOIDA (Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association). This was a bit surprising because OOIDA and the ATA have had a history of having a different opinion than the ATA. But as to this issue they have a similar viewpoint. They also agree that the government should try to avoid private sector funding for public transit.

This delay in the typical tax year for those filing Truck Taxes has affected an entire industry. Once an extension is passed or new legislation is enacted, those Truck Taxes will be able to be filed with Express Truck Tax at www.ExpressTruckTax.com. You can use this service to quickly EFile your Heavy Vehicle Use Taxes with Form 2290, 8849, IFTA and more!  It only takes minutes to complete.  If there are any questions, you can send them to (704)234-6005 or support@ExpressTruckTax.com.

File IRS Form 2290 through an IRS-Authorized Service Provider

If you are a trucker, owner operator, or trucking company, you are subject to filing a tax return for the Heavy Vehicle Use Tax. These taxes have typically been filed with the IRS Form 2290. Until recently, this form could only be filed by paper. However, there have been great advances in technology over the past few years and the IRS now accepts and encourages taxpayers to E-File their 2290 Form.

The IRS has approved several third party service providers to E-File the Form 2290 on behalf of those taxpayers who need to file. This list is posted on the IRS website. The IRS itself does not provide a way to E-File this form through their website. In deciding how to file, there are a few things that should be considered. When you select a provider, it is important to be sure that they are an Authorized IRS E-File Provider, make sure that they can handle all of your truck tax needs, and it is safest to find a provider that is entirely web-based.

  • When selecting an Authorized E-File Provider, you should look on their website for something to verify that they are actually authorized by the IRS to E-File tax forms. Again, you can also refer to the IRS Website for a complete list of Authorized E-File Providers.  Be sure that the provider you choose is on that list!
  • If you need to file several types of Truck Taxes and not only the Form 2290, like IFTA or Form 8849 then it would be helpful to have them all filed from the same place. Some service providers are only for Form 2290, or Form 8849, etc. The most convenient and economical way of filing would be to have them all filed with the same service.
  • If an E-Filing system is not web-based, then there is less reason to use it. If a so-called E-Filing system is not web-based, meaning you need to download a program onto your computer in order to run the program, then it is not a true E-Filing system. The IRS recommends E-Filing because of its speed and security. If you are required to download lots of files and store information on your computer, your system is not completely web based. The benefits of a web-based system are obviously the speed of transfer to the IRS when you are finished, but also the security of storing your information online instead of on your computer. If you rely on your computer to store your information, you run the risk of losing all of your information if your computer crashed or if you spill something on it, etc.

ExpressTruckTax.com fits all of these qualifications for a Truck Tax E-File Provider. It is entirely web-based, they are a one-stop-shop for all truck tax needs, and they are authorized by the IRS as an E-File provider on the official list from their website. If you need any help, you can also contact their wonderful customer support team!  They offer live chat & phone support Monday through Friday (9:00am – 6:00pm EST) at 704.234.6005, as well as email support 24/7 (support@expresstrucktax.com). This way you can get a stamped schedule 1 in about 10 minutes. The file is electronically submitted to the IRS, and within minutes the file will be processed by the IRS and the filer will receive a notification from Express Truck Tax that their return has been processed.

Truck Tax Regulations for 2011 (HVUT)

You don’t have to be a transportation expert to understand that Washington DC is known for its gridlock. The very worst of it is actually off the roads and on Capital Hill. While both parties in Congress continue to argue, there is a significant piece of legislation that has yet to be voted on. The delay of this legislation being enacted has thrown many people in the trucking & transportation industry for a loop.

The law previously referred to is a transportation law known as SAFETEA-LU – the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, and efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users – which expired in 2009, but it allowed the taxes associated with the Highway Trust Fund to be collected for an additional two years. When SAFETEA-LU became law in 2005, lawmakers added what they believed to be enough time to get the next multi-year transportation authorization bill in place.

Those two years have passed faster than expected and we are left without a new Highway Bill to replace it. The House and Senate committees are now drafting preliminary versions of the legislation and will continue to debate its details. Let’s hope that both sides come to an agreement soon to avoid massive confusion in the trucking industry. Trucking Regulations alone are complicated enough.

Under normal circumstances, tax provisions related to the Highway Trust Fund would be extended as part of the authorization. Unfortunately, no one can accurately predict what will happen in the future, especially with the extreme volatility between political parties of late. One thing that is predictable, however, is that ExpressTruckTax.com will keep updating their website and blog with the latest news affecting the Trucking Industry. Once there is more information available about the HVUT filing process, we will let you know. Express Truck Tax is the premier provider of Tax Services for the Trucking Industry; as soon as the IRS releases the new Form 2290, it will be available for EFiling at www.ExpressTruckTax.com.

Truck Tax season:IRS Form 2290(HVUT) E-filing with ExpressTruckTax.com

If you will be filing an IRS Form 2290 for Heavy Vehicle Use Tax (HVUT) for yourself, your company, or on behalf of others; then you are probably ready to get that process completed as soon as possible.  The official beginning of the tax period for filing HVUT begins on July 1st, and thanks to the good folks at ExpressTruckTax.com, your filing season could also end on July 1st.  


As you know, the IRS requires anyone filing Form 2290 for more than 25 heavy vehicles to e-file the return, and the IRS also encourages e-filing for everyone else.  ExpressTruckTax.com is the simplest way to get your IRS Form 2290 completed and sent to the IRS.  Instead of using the incredibly slow process of postal mail, or actually driving to the nearest IRS office, ExpressTruckTax.com allows you to electronically send the return to the IRS and the entire process can be completed in 10 minutes!

IRS Form 2290: The Filing Process

Heavy Vehicle Use Tax, or HVUT, can be filed with the IRS by using IRS Form 2290 . This fee is required by the IRS for all vehicles with registered gross weights equal to or exceeding 55,000 pounds.  This Form must be filed annually for heavy vehicles operating on public highways.

This IRS Form contains a Schedule 1 that must be stamped by the IRS before the vehicle can be registered with the Department of Motor Vehicles.  The IRS accepts this form by mail, but that can take up to several weeks to process.  This form could also be taken directly to the IRS office, but that option can take several hours of your day.  This must be accompanied by a proof of EFTPS payment.  

It is required that this form be filed annually for each taxable vehicle that is used on public highways during the tax year.  The tax year begins on July 1st and ends on June 30th.  A Form 2290 must also be filed when a vehicle is placed in service.  The due date for that is the last day of the following month.  For example: if a vehicle is placed in service on January 5th, the Form 2290 will be due on February 28th.  

Even though there are thousands, if not millions, of Heavy Vehicles that are required to file the Heavy Vehicle Use Tax, the IRS still requires everyone to either mail the Form 2290 to the IRS or actually come to the IRS office.  Fortunately there is an easier way that has recently become available.  www.ExpressTruckTax.com allows you to fill out your IRS Form 2290 online and send it to the IRS electronically!  

Express Truck Tax is authorized by the IRS to E-File Form 2290.  This way you can get a stamped schedule 1 in about 10 minutes.  The file is electronically submitted to the IRS, and within minutes the file is processed by the IRS and sent back to the person filing.  The form will then contain a watermark from the IRS as proof that it has been processed.

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!  

IRS Form 2290 VIN Correction Process

       Create an account with ExpressTruckTax or if you are one of the thousands of people who are already users of ExpressTruckTax, sign in with your email id and your password.
       If you are new, you need to enter your basic business details before proceeding.
        You will then be taken to the dashboard, from here click “Create Return”. You will be presented with 3 options. Choose the option “2290 Amendment including VIN Correction” and further choose VIN Correction.
       You will have two choices now: Are you filing a VIN Correction for the return created in ExpressTruckTax or Are you filing VIN Correction for a return created elsewhere or by paper. There is no difference between two options, except that using the first option, the system will pull your past return and show the VIN numbers you want to correct.
       The next step is to enter theincorrect VIN and the correct VIN.
       You can make multiple VIN Corrections on the same return.
       When you are done, go through the next screens and note that there is no tax due to IRS as the taxes were paid when you filed the original 2290.
       Although, this service is free with no strings attached, the system will ask that you enter your credit card for verification. This is for the following reasons:
       The IRS wants to make sure the filers are real and who they say they are.
       Since there is no tax, spammers and crooks can simply use this system to overwhelm the IRS
       ExpressTruckTax is a very secure system and wants to make sure that real users are using it and they have a pleasant experience.
       After the credit card is verified, then it is time to transmit the return to the IRS.
       With ExpressTruckTax, it takes less than 5 minutes – day or night to get your corrected Schedule 1.
       You get your Schedule 1 by email and also by fax automatically if you have opted for it.
       During this process, if you have any questions, please call the US based customer support at 704-234-6005.
       Please be reminded that all this is free.
What you can’t do?
       VIN Corrections can be only done for Taxable or suspended vehicles and not for credit vehicles or for prior suspended vehicles.
       When you file a VIN Correction Form 2290, you can’t combine it with claiming credits on the same form.
       The wrong VIN must have been paid for in the original form 2290. Otherwise, the IRS will assign penalties in addition tothe actual tax. 

ExpressTruckTax.com can help you file Form 2290 and Fuel Tax

Any individual buying or using a heavy duty truck must file and pay the Heavy Duty Trucks Road Tax. The filing process involves filling out Form 2290. You can use ExpressTruckTax.com to fill it out and get it done in just a few minutes. Our service fees are the lowest in the industry, starting at $9.90 for a single truck filing. It sure beats driving to the IRS field office and waiting in line for hours.

Make sure to have the Vehicle Identification Numbers of any vehicles you are filing for. If the truck(s) you’re filing for will travel 5,000 miles or less during the tax period (July to June of the next year), a tax refund can be claimed by the filer. That also applies if the heavy highway vehicle was destroyed, stolen or sold during the tax period. Claiming the refund requires a different form. ExpressTruckTax will even help tax payers file for their refund using Form 8849.

There are different tax rules for different types of trucks–depending on the weight and what the truck is being used for. The taxable gross weight is 55,000 pounds or higher in most cases. Refer to Form 2290 or ExpressTruckTax.com for help with your particular truck.

Need to file your IFTA Fuel Tax?  We just introduced Fuel Tax filing service to our product portfolio. You can now file IFTA fuel tax for unlimited Trucks for $24.95. Also, you can maintain the Trip Sheets online for free and generate IFTA returns at the end of the quarter.

ExpressTruckTax.com offers bundles that will let you file forms for hundreds of trucks for one price. This is useful if you have trucks that aren’t going on the road till later in the year.

Riding The Freight Rates Roller Coaster

Featured Blogger
Benjamin Bellville
If you are planning to start a small trucking company you will need to understand the way freight rates work. Without knowing the cycle of things you might just be in for a surprise that will come up behind you and mug you out of the blue. In other businesses the scheme of things work on supply and demand more so then they do in trucking. Here’s what you can look forward to.

Don’t get me wrong I’m not trying to create a sense that going into the trucking business is a mistake, I’m simply not going to sugar coat it like so many people do. By knowing how things really work you will be better prepared for the volatility that goes hand in hand with trucking. While the rewards can at times be fruitful, at other times it’s similar to ramming your head off a brick wall continuously. You have to be stubborn and have a firm backbone to survive these times or you might go mad.

When you read reports that freight tonnage is on the rise in America you might get a little excited thinking that immediately you will start seeing higher freight rates, but that is false hope. Like seasons of the year trucking runs on a cycle. It’s not set in stone when these cycles will kick in, but once you get the feel for it you can adjust your operations accordingly to make it through the rough patches easier.

Usually it takes 2-3 months for freight rates to rise when consumption is on an incline. Your main cost involved with moving freight is of course fuel. Fuel prices have no rhyme or reason and more often than not when freight rates are down the oil companies are looking to maintain profit by raising their prices. I know it makes no sense, but this is normally how it happens. As freight rates start to rise and trucking companies begin buying more fuel then the price of fuel will drop again, but much slower than the time it took to rise.

Because of this effect what happens is there are several sweet spots throughout the year that are short lived pockets of higher profits. The freight rates rise slowly and the fuel prices fall slowly and eventually meet at a point where they float for a moment in perfect harmony.

When you learn to get the feel for this happening then you can be ready to jump on the market like an old school fake wrestler off the top rope. Don’t get discouraged, trucking is a big boy/girl ride full of extreme twists and turns, but when you learn to take advantage of the good times you will be better prepared to crawl through the bad.

Speaking of being prepared to take advantage of a market in your favor you should check out how ExpressTruckTax makes it a trucking company owners market all year when it comes to your trucking taxes.

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