Author: Santamarina Joseph

3 Month Tax Extension for Internal Revenue Service Form 2290 (Federal Heavy Vehicle Use Tax)

Earlier this month the Internal Revenue Service informed truckers, owner operators, and trucking companies who file federal highway use tax returns that the typical deadline of August 31st will be extended to November 30, 2011. The official legislation for the currently scheduled to expire on September 30, 2011. The current legislation has yet to be passed through Congress; the extension was put in place because it is still possible for Congress to alter the tax legislation after the expiration date. According to the IRS, returns should not be filed and payments should not be made prior to November 1st.

New regulations require state Departments of Motor Vehicles to accept a prior year stamped Schedule 1 of the Form 2290. Typically, taxpayers are required to present a stamped Schedule 1 to register a vehicle with the DMV. The Schedule 1 is usually stamped by the IRS as a proof that the return was filed correctly.  

If a taxpayer acquired a new vehicle during July 2011-November 2011, recent regulations allow states to register vehicles without proof that the highway use tax was paid as long as they provide a copy of the bill of sale or a similar proof of purchase to verify that it was acquired in the past 150 days.

If you are unsure whether or not you qualify to file the Heavy Vehicle Use Tax, it typically applies to trucks, truck tractors, and buses with a taxable gross weight of 55,000 pounds or greater. As a rule of thumb, vans, pick-ups, and panel trucks do not qualify due to the 55,000 pound minimum.

IRS 2290 Update for Tax Year 2011 – 2012

On Monday, July 18, the IRS announced that the 2290 filing deadline for the 2011-2012 tax period would be extended by 90 days. All 2290 forms, which are usually due on August 31, will instead be due on November 30. The extension is designed to alleviate any confusion that may be caused by changes in the HVUT tax laws, which are currently set to expire on September 30, 2011.

In order to assist heavy vehicle owners with state vehicle registration, the IRS submitted new regulations requiring all states to accept the 2010-2011 proof of HVUT payment (schedule 1) for registration purposes during the months of July through November. The regulations also extend the grace period during which a newly acquired vehicle can be registered by the state without a 2290. Any heavy vehicle acquired on or after July 1 may be registered without proof of HVUT payment within 150 days of purchase. You will need to provide the state with documentation showing the purchase occurred within this grace period.

The IRS has tentatively announced that they will begin accepting 2290 returns and 2290 payments for the 2011-2012 tax period beginning November 1. ExpressTruckTax will send email notifications to all our registered users as soon as the IRS begins accepting 2011 electronic returns.

ExpressTruckTax Advanced Filing

For our users that have taken advantage of our Advanced Filing and have already prepared your 2011-2012 return, your completed 2290 will remain in our secure database – ready to be filed. Once the IRS begins to accept 2290 filings, ExpressTruckTax will automatically transmit your tax return to the IRS. If you need to edit or update your prepared 2290 at any time prior to November 1, you may do so simply by logging into your ExpressTruckTax account and editing your 2011 return. Please note, no tax payment will be processed by the IRS for the 2011-2012 tax period until the IRS begins accepting 2290 returns in November.

For those users that have not yet prepared your 2290 return for the 2011-2012 tax period, you may do so now using our Advanced Filing product. This will allow you to complete your 2290 return in advance, ensuring that you and your company are well prepared once the 2011-2012 filing season begins.

Please do not hesitate to contact our support center if you have any questions or if we may be of additional service. You can reach us by phone at (704)234-6005, Monday through Friday – 9 am to 6 pm (EST) or by email, 24 hours a day, at support@expresstrucktax.com. For more details regarding the 90-day extension, you may view the official announcement on the IRS Newsroom website. Thank you for using ExpressTruckTax, where IRS 2290 and IFTA are made easy!

If have problems registering your vehicles with the state, please provide this IRS communication to them.

IRS Communication:http://www.expresstrucktax.com
/docs/temp%20reg%20form%202290%20internal%20external%20communique%20final.pdf

Tips and Tricks for Owner-Operators(U.S Federal Heavy Vehicle Highway Use Tax)

One of the most challenging jobs in this country is also one of the most vital to our nation’s economy. The job I am referring to is that of Heavy Vehicle Owner Operators.  The job of an owner operator is not only physically strenuous, it can also be confusing and stressful due to the various taxes that owner operators must file each year for their heavy vehicles.  These taxes include Heavy Vehicle Use Tax (HVUT) which includes the IRS Form 2290 as well as IRS Form 8849. Another tax that affects the trucking industry is the International Fuel Tax Agreement (IFTA).  

The IRS Form 2290 has its own set of detailed instructions. Form 2290 is in 2 sections.The first part, the Schedule 1, must be completed and stamped by the IRS in order for the vehicle to be registered with the Department of Motor vehicles. The traditional way to obtain this stamp from the IRS can be filed one of two ways. The form can be sent to the IRS office via postal mail and then wait for the stamped form to be sent in the mail, which can take several weeks. The other option is to file at the nearest IRS office and get it stamped in person. This is also a very time consuming option that often includes waiting in line for a long period of time..

The process for filing IFTA (International Fuel Tax Agreement) can also be very confusing. Each driver must keep detailed trip notes for the number of miles that were traveled, and also how much fuel was purchased in each state or province. The reason for keeping these records is so that the Fuel Tax (IFTA) is accurately distributed to all of the states and provinces that were involved.  For Example, If a driver drove through a state on it’s public highways, but did not purchase any fuel in that state, then that state did not receive any taxes from that driver.  The Fuel Tax would redistribute the taxes so that certain states would not be neglected if they were used.

Fortunately, these confusing processes have been made easier, simpler, and safer. ExpressTruckTax.com serves as a one-stop-shop for all truck tax needs!  Express Truck Tax allows drivers to E-File a completed Form 2290 online with the IRS and receive a stamped Schedule 1 in minutes.  (The stamp is actually a watermark, not a physical stamp. State DMV’s will accept this as proof) 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 back on the road with as little paperwork as possible.

Temporary regulations for Internal Revenue Service Form 2290

Waiting for the IRS to release the Form 2290 for HVUT for the new tax year will likely take quite a while. According to a Federal Register notice set to be published on Wednesday, July 20th, implementing new regulations states that taxpayers filing Form 2290 should not file before November 1, 2011. In addition to that, the IRS will not be releasing receipted Schedule 1 forms prior to Nov. 1st. The current HVUT system is currently up in the air. Without a law passed from Congress, the tax will expire by Sept. 30, 2011.

Under current regulations, a tax is in place for the period between July 1, 2011, through Sept. 30, 2011. If Congress remains inactive on the matter, taxpayers will merely be liable for that taxable period and would have to file by Nov. 30.

In the Federal Register, the IRS does state that if Congress extends the tax past Sept. 30, anyone who filed for the “short taxable period” would also be required to file a second Form 2290 for the rest of the 2011-2012 tax season.

Amid all of this confusion and what seems to be a chaotic situation for many in the Trucking Industry, you can take comfort that you will be able to Electronically file any HVUT taxes imposed by the IRS with our service. Although we do not know what that will entail right now, we will be able to adjust our product to the changing requirements by the IRS (if needed).

3 Month Extension for Truck Taxes(Federal Highway Use Tax Form 2290)

The Internal Revenue Service recently advised truckers and others filing Heavy Vehicle Use Tax that the next federal highway use tax return would be due on November 30, 2011instead of the typical August 31 deadline. The full letter from the Internal Revenue Service can be found here.

The extension is meant to remove confusion and multiple filings. Since new legislation needs to be voted on by Congress, the tax could be modified or simply reinstated. To ease the hassle of applying for state vehicle registration on or before November 30, state DMV’s must accept a stamped Schedule 1 of the prior year’s Form 2290. Typically, taxpayers  receive a stamped schedule 1 after the Heavy Vehicle Use Tax is filed and paid.  However, this year, the prior year’s schedule 1 must be used because the IRS is not yet accepting the Form 2290 for this tax year.

For Taxpayers who have acquired and need to register new or used vehicles during the July-November period, new regulations now require states to register those vehicles without a proof of HVUT payment. The taxpayer will be required to prove that they acquired the vehicle within the past 150 days.

For taxable vehicles used during July, the Form 2290 and payment are normally due on August 31st. The tax is calculated based on the weight of the vehicle. There are also many special rules that apply to vehicles with low mileage, as well as logging, and agricultural vehicles.  

Federal Heavy Vehicle Use Tax Form 2290 Service Provider

If you are required to pay Heavy Vehicle Use Taxes (HVUT), you must file the IRS Form 2290. If you have been paying these taxes for many years, then you know that this form has historically been filed by paper. However, there have been some huge technology advances in the past few years and the IRS does now accept and encourage taxpayers to E-File their 2290 Form.  

The IRS has certified several 3rd Party Service Providers to E-File the Form 2290 on behalf of those taxpayers who need to file. 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 you should consider. 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. You can also refer to the IRS Website to see a complete list of Authorized E-File Providers.  

If you are filing several types of Truck Taxes and not just the Form 2290, such as IFTA, or Form 8849 then it would be helpful to have them all filed from the same place. Some service providers are exclusively for Form 2290, or Form 8849, etc. The most convenient and economical way of filing would be to have them all filed from the same service.

The benefits of a web-based system are indeed numerous. If an E-Filing system is not web-based, then there is less reason to use it. The IRS recommends E-Filing because of it’s 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 truck tax needs, and they are authorized by the IRS as an official E-File provider. 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), as well as email support 24/7. 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.

EIN(Employer Identification Number) Update for Federal Tax Forms 2290 & 8849

If you are filing for either IRS Form 2290 or Form 8849, you will benefit from this new information regarding Heavy Vehicle Use Tax. The IRS will now be checking EIN (Employer Identification Number) verifications in a much more thorough way than they have in previous years. In the past, the IRS was more lenient on the EIN verifications.  As of now, the IRS requires that all EIN’s be at least two weeks old in order to file with them. Thus, if you have recently applied for an EIN over the past few days, it would be best to wait at least two weeks before filing your Form 2290 or 8849.

This information will be most useful for individual Owner-Operators, as well as Service Providers that file truck taxes for various Owner-Operators. If you need to apply for an EIN, you can contact the IRS via phone or online through the IRS website.

HVUT(U.S Federal Heavy Vehicle Use Tax Form 2290) Season Delayed by IRS

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.

Internal Revenue Service Form 2290 Section Overview

First Use Month
The First Use Month refers to the month that the vehicle was first used during the tax period.  If the vehicle will be used for the entire Tax Period, then July would be the appropriate month to select.  

Taxable Vehicles
On The Taxable Vehicles section, you can enter all of your taxable motor vehicles weighing 55,000 lbs or more.  Do Not Add vehicles that you expect to use less than 5,000 miles during the tax period (or 7,500 miles, If Agricultural Use).  These Vehicles are known as low mileage, tax suspended, or category W vehicles; and they can be added in another section.

Suspended Vehicles
Tax Suspended Vehicles, also known as low mileage or category W vehicles are not subject to taxation because these vehicles will remain below the mileage threshold of 5,000 miles during the tax period (or 7,500 miles, if Agricultural use).  

Prior Year Suspended Vehicles
If You Reported any vehicles as Tax Suspended or category W during the previous tax period, you must report these vehicles to the IRS if either of the following occurred:
A:  The Vehicle exceeded the mileage threshold
or
B: The vehicle was Sold
Do Not add a suspended vehicle if neither of these occurred

Sold, Destroyed, or Stolen Vehicles
If you Sold a taxable vehicle, or that vehicle was destroyed or stolen before June 1st, you are eligible for a pro-rated credit or refund.

Low Mileage Credits
If you paid Heavy Vehicle Use Taxes, but did not exceed the mileage threshold during a prior tax period, you are eligible for a credit or refund of the Heavy Vehicle Use Taxes paid during that period. Enter all applicable vehicles in this section.

Heavy Vehicle Use Tax(Internal Revenue Service Form 2290)

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.