Category: 2290 Schedule 1

Additional Features with Express Truck Tax to e-file IRS form 2290

When filing an IRS Form 2290 online, Express Truck Tax makes it easy by providing the best additional services on top of the easiest E-filing program for filing Heavy Highway Vehicle Use Taxes. When you file a Form 2290 with Express Truck Tax, you also have many more options than the typical e-filing service would provide. These great services include, but are not limited to: Free VIN Corrections, Automatically Notifying a Contracting or Leasing Company, and also sending automated emails to additional contacts.
Express Truck Tax was the first in the industry to provide Free VIN corrections. If you were so unfortunate when filing your IRS Form 2290 to incorrectly record the VIN number of your heavy vehicle, there is still hope for you! Thanks to the Good Folks at Express Truck Tax, you can E-File an IRS Form 2290 VIN Correction absolutely free!
Another great service that Express Truck Tax provides is the option to instantly notify your Contracting, Leasing, or Trucking, etc. Company the Schedule 1 as soon as it is accepted by the IRS. This process helps eliminate steps for the person filing. Many Trucking Companies require some kind of proof that their driver filed their Heavy Vehicle Use Taxes properly.
On the Proof of Payment Notification page, you can select to send your Schedule 1 to any contract or leasing company automatically as soon as your schedule 1 is received from the IRS. Simply check the box labeled “Send proof of payment to contracting leasing company and enter the requested contact information. As soon as your 2290 has been processed, Express Truck Tax will email and/or fax a copy to the company free of charge.
Another Great tool offered by the Express Truck Tax team is the ability to send text message or fax notifications the moment your Schedule 1 has been processed and stamped by the IRS. These can be sent to yourself or any other cell phone or fax number and serve as a great way to keep people informed. A similar service provided through Express Truck Tax allows the filing party to send email notifications to additional email addresses. This would allow the person filing to have the schedule 1 sent to his accountant, business manager, financial advisor, etc.

Choosing an IRS-Authorized e-file Provider for Form 2290 (HVUT)

In order to file HVUT, or Heavy Vehicle Use Taxes, you must file IRS Form 2290. If you have been in the Transportation industry for many years, then you are likely more familiar with the process for filing this form with the IRS. However, there have been some huge technology advances in the past few years and the IRS now accepts and encourages taxpayers to E-File their 2290 Form.
To take advantage of this new simpler process, you will need to use an online service provider for the IRS Form 2290. Our need to select the one that is right for you! In making these decisions, there are a few things that you should consider. When you select a provider, make sure that they are an authorized IRS E-File Provider. You should also make sure that they can handle all of your truck tax needs. Some e-filing services can only handle the Form 2290 and nothing else. A third item to consider is a provider that is entirely web-based.
As for the Authorized E-File Providers, you should look on their website for a statement that they are indeed authorized by the IRS to E-File. You can also refer to the IRS Website to see a complete list of Authorized E-File Providers.
If you are filing Truck Taxes for more than just the Form 2290, such as IFTA, or Form 8849 then it would be beneficial to have them all filed from the same place. Some service providers are exclusively for Form 2290, or Form 8849, etc. It would be most economical and convenient to get them all filed in the same place.
In this day and age, it is silly to not use an e-file provider that is not completely web-based. If the system is not web based, then there is less reason to use them. The IRS actually recommends E-Filing because of its speed and security. If you are required to download lots of files and store information on your computer, the 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.
ExpressTruckTax.com is one such provider. Their system 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. They are also terrific when it comes to customer support! You can contact their wonderful team of Truck Tax experts anytime! They offer live chat & phone support Mon-Fri, 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. The form will then contain a watermark from the IRS as proof that it has been processed.

IRS Form 2290 Amendments

When the information of the vehicle changes, IRS wants you to file amendments to the originally filed form 2290. There are three types of amendments available for form 2290.

    1.Additional Tax From Increase in Taxable Gross Weight
    2.Suspended vehicles exceeding the mileage use limit
    3.VIN Correction

Additional Tax From Increase in Taxable Gross Weight

This type of amendment is filed if the taxable gross weight of a vehicle increases during the period and the vehicle falls in a new higher category. For instance, an increase in maximum load customarily carried may change the taxable gross weight.
When this happens, you Need to calculate and report the additional tax for the remainder of the period on Form 2290, line 3. Also you need to check the Amended Return box and to the right of “Amended Return” write the month the taxable gross weight increased. This should be by the last day of the month following the month in which the taxable gross weight increased.
      
With ExpressTruckTax.com, we make it easy to file this increase in taxable gross weight and accurately calculate the difference in tax due to IRS.  You will also get your Schedule 1 for the new weight category in minutes.
Suspended vehicles exceeding the mileage use limit

This type of amendment is filed if a suspended vehicle exceeds the mileage use limit. Mileage use limit for a heavy vehicle on public highways is 5,000 miles or less (7,500 miles or less for agricultural vehicles). The mileage use limit applies to the total mileage a vehicle is on the road during a period, regardless of the number of owners.
You to need to calculate the tax on Form 2290, page 2, based on the month the vehicle was first used in the period. File the amended Form 2290 and Schedule 1 by the last day of the month following the month in which the mileage use limit was exceeded.
With ExpressTruckTax.com, we make it easy to file this amendment and accurately calculate the tax due to IRS.  You will also get your Schedule 1 for the weight category in minutes. 
VIN Correction

VIN Correction is filed if you have made a mistake in any of the VIN in the previously filed Form 2290.
VIN Corrections can be only done for Taxable or suspended vehicles and not for credit vehicles or for prior year 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 to the actual tax.
ExpressTruckTax.com offers Efiling of VIN Correction with no strings attached. You can efile VIN Correction and get your corrected Schedule 1 in minutes. 

Organizing IFTA(International Fuel Tax Agreement)

The International Fuel Tax Agreement, or IFTA, requires certain vehicles to pay a Fuel Tax to each state that it was driven in. IFTA is a tax collection agreement among the 48 contiguous United States and the 10 Canadian Provinces bordering the US.

IFTA requires a report for each vehicle of how many miles were travelled as well as the amount of fuel that was purchased in each state or province. This helps accurately allocate how the payments collected through IFTA are distributed.  For example, if a vehicle drove through a state, but did not purchase any fuel in that state, part of the vehicle’s IFTA payment would be distributed to the state without any fuel purchases because it used the roads of the state, but payed no taxes for the fuel consumed within that state.

These reports can be very difficult to keep a record of, but fortunately, ExpressTruckTax.com has built a tool that can help drivers accurately keep a record of their Fuel Use. It is even possible to generate state IFTA returns online with this program. This program also has some built-in auditing features that can check for common mistakes made on these returns. This will therefore, limit your risk of being audited because of IFTA. Some of the features include, but are not limited to: State Adjacency Check, Abnormal MPG Audit, and Free Online Trip Sheets!

What is HVUT- IRS Form 2290?

What is HVUT?
The Heavy Vehicle Use Tax, or HVUT as it is commonly referred to as, is the fee imposed by the IRS annually on heavy vehicles that operate on public highways at registered gross weights equal to or exceeding 55,000 pounds.

The taxable gross weight of a vehicle is determined by adding the following:

  • The actual unloaded weight of the vehicle, when it is fully equipped for service
  • The actual unloaded weight of any trailers or semitrailers fully equipped for service normally used in addition to the vehicle
  • The weight of the maximum load that can be carried on the vehicle and on any trailers or semitrailers typically used with the vehicle
  • For Buses, The taxable gross weight is its actual unloaded weight fully equipped for service in addition to 150 pounds for each seat provided for passengers and driver.

The Tax Calculations:
The tax year for Form 2290 starts in July and ends in June of the next year. If the gross taxable weight is from 55,000 to 75,000 pounds, the HVUT is $100, plus $22 per thousand pounds over 55,000 pounds. For over 75,000 pound vehicles, the maximum HVUT is $550/ year. The taxes are lower for logging vehicles.  Logging Vehicles are vehicles which are primarily used for transporting products harvested from the forest and is registered with a state agency as such.

Taxes are prorated for any vehicles placed into service after the month of July.

HVUT Exemptions:
There are a number of groups that receive exemptions from HVUT.  Such as:

  • Federal Government
  • State & Local governments, including the District of Columbia
  • The American Red Cross
  • Nonprofit volunteer fire departments, ambulance associations or rescue squads
  • Indian tribal governments (for vehicles used in essential tribal functions)
  • Mass transportation authorities

There are also a number of vehicles exempted from the HVUT:

  • Any vehicle not considered to be a highway motor vehicle — e.g., mobile machinery for non-transportation functions, vehicles specifically designed for off-highway use, and non-transportation trailers and semi-trailers
  • Qualified blood collecting vehicles used by qualified blood collector organizations
  • Mobile machinery that is used for non-transportation purposes

Exempt carriers may be required to file tax forms with the IRS or notify the local department of motor vehicles (DMV) of their exempt status

There are other vehicles that are exempt based on the number of miles it is driven:

The above vehicles are called Suspended Vehicles, but must be reported to the IRS.

What is the Purpose of HVUT?
The HVUT is a significant source of transportation funding in the U.S. In 2006 alone, the HVUT generated more than $1.4 Billion in Federal Highway Trust Fund (HTF) revenue.

The Federal HTF protects America’s investment in its transportation infrastructure. In 2007 alone, Federal HTF receipts were $39.9 Billion, with $34.9 Billion dedicated to the HTF’s Highway Account. The Federal HTF finances a wide spectrum of transportation investments which include:

  • Highway improvements (e.g., land acquisition, other right-of-way costs, preliminary and construction engineering, construction and reconstruction, resurfacing and restoration costs of roadways and bridges)
  • Highway and bridge maintenance
  • Highway law enforcement
  • Safety programs (e.g., driver education and training, vehicle inspection programs, enforcement of vehicle size and weight limits)
  • Congestion relief projects
  • Administrative costs (e.g., research, engineering)

Investment in our nation’s highway infrastructure helps:

  • Save money, time, & lives
  • Reduce the amount and severity of crashes for all kinds of vehicles
  • Enhance the ability of emergency responders
  • Lower fuel and insurance costs
  • Decrease energy consumption
  • Ease congestion
  • Boost air quality
  • Increase mobility
  • Improve the efficiency of the movement of goods
  • Raise business productivity
  • Strengthen the nation’s economic productivity

Since the vast majority of all funds contributed by states to the Federal HTF are returned through highway improvements, this is a direct incentive for state agencies to take necessary measures to enhance HVUT compliance.

The Hassle of Filing an IRS Form 2290

IRS Form 2290 is used to collect what is referred to as the Heavy Vehicle Use Tax or HVUT. It is a fee that the IRS requires all vehicles with registered gross weights equal to or exceeding 55,000 pounds to pay annually on 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.  This form can be mailed to the IRS, which can take up to several weeks to process.  It could also be taken directly to the IRS office, which can take several hours of your day.  This must be accompanied by a proof of EFTPS payment.  

This form must be filed annually, for each taxable vehicle that is used on public highways during the current period.  The Current Period begins on July 1st and ends on June 30th.  A Form 2290 must also be filed once a vehicle is placed in service.  The due date for each month is the last day of the following month.  For example: if a vehicle is placed in service on October 3rd, the Form 2290 will be due on November 30th.  

Even though there are thousands, if not millions, of Heavy Vehicles that are required to file HVUT 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!  This way you can get a stamped schedule 1 in about 10 minutes.  Express Truck Tax is authorized by the IRS to file Form 2290.  The taxpayer will then receive the schedule 1 via email or fax as soon as the IRS processes the form.  The form will then be watermarked by the IRS instead of an actual physical stamp.

What is VIN Correction?

Mistakes happen. When you have Vehicle identification numbers of up to 17 characters with mixed numbers andletters, mistakes happen. For example, You type 5 instead of S. To err is human.
For Example, Let’s say that you file form 2290 and pay $550 to IRS and get your Schedule 1. You take it to the DMV or the Carrier, then you realize, that the Schedule 1 has the wrong VIN. What do you do?
Thank IRS and ExpressTruckTax
       The IRS introduced VIN correction using  form 2290 in 2009 – a couple of years after introducing E-filing of Form 2290.
       So once you make a mistake in VIN, you can send an amended Form 2290 to IRS and get the Schedule 1 corrected.
       But the bad news is that VIN Correction Form 2290 can’t be E-filed, it must be printed and mailed in. It takes 4-6 weeks to get the corrected Schedule 1 from IRS.
       All of this changed in 2011, when ExpressTruckTax, working with IRS, was able to E-File VIN Corrections and was able to get the corrected Schedule 1 in minutes.
Is it really Free?
       ExpressTruckTax wanted to offer E-filing of VIN Corrections for free to everyone, whether they used them in the original filing or not. They opened the flood gate to original paper filers and others who used other service providers.
       According to James Harris, Director of Tax Services at ExpressTruckTax, “Mistakes happen, and we want the users to enjoy the ease of E-filing and get the corrected Schedule 1 in minutes”
       To date, hundreds have used ExpressTruckTax Free Efiling of VIN Correction and got their Schedule 1 in minutes. 

IRS Form 2290 and IFTA(International Fuel Tax Agreement)

What are they?
IRS Form 2290 is what is used by the government to collect what is referred to as the Heavy Vehicle Use Tax or HVUT Tax. It is a fee that the IRS requires all vehicles with registered gross weights equal to or exceeding 55,000 pounds to pay annually on heavy vehicles operating on public highways. The tax collected is a significant source of transportation funding in the U.S. In 2006 alone, the HVUT generated more than $1.4 billion in Federal Highway Trust Fund (HTF) revenue.


The International Fuel Tax Agreement (IFTA) is an agreement between jurisdictions to simplify the reporting of motor fuel taxes. Under this agreement, one quarterly fuel use tax report is filed representing miles traveled, fuel purchased and used, and taxes/credits due in each member jurisdiction. The base jurisdiction then distributes the funds to each affected jurisdiction according to information contained in the quarterly fuel use tax reports. An interstate motor carrier operating “qualified motor vehicles” between at least 2 member jurisdictions (The 48 contiguous states of the US and 10 Canadian provinces) must have an International Fuel Tax Agreement (IFTA) license and decals issued by their base jurisdiction. If you have the IFTA license, you must file the Quarterly IFTA Return to your base jurisdiction.


How do they Work?
Besides the fact that they are both fees imposed on heavy vehicles, these are both similar in that they are both very complicated.  The complications with IRS Form 2290 come from the difficulty of actually filing one.  The trouble with IFTA is that it is an incredibly detailed system.  

The IRS Form 2290 includes a Schedule 1 which must be stamped by the IRS.  This can either be mailed to the IRS, which can take up to several weeks to process.  It can also be taken directly to the IRS office, which can take several hours of your day.  This must be accompanied by the proof of EFTPS payment.
 IFTA requires drivers of Heavy Vehicles to keep trip logs of miles traveled as well as how much fuel was purchased in each state or province. IFTA must be filed quarterly and the filing date is the 30th of the following month.  These trip logs are difficult to keep up because they require very detailed information. As mentioned earlier, these forms are then filed with their base jurisdiction.  Most states do not provide E-Filing as of yet. Therefore, most of the time these forms are mailed to the state.  

A simple solution for both of these 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.

What Happens If I Forgot to File My Form 2290 to the IRS?

A 2290 can be filed with the IRS at any time after the deadline has passed but the tax due may be subject to penalties and interest. The penalties for filing late will not be imposed if you can show reasonable cause for not filing on time.

The penalty for failing to file IRS Form 2290 in a timely manner is equal to 4.5 percent of the total tax due, assessed on a monthly basis up to five months. Late filers not making an HVUT payment also face an additional monthly penalty equal to 0.5 percent of total tax due. Additional interest charges of 0.54 percent per month accrue as well.

As you can see, the penalties for failing to file can add up quickly. HVUT for an 80,000 lbs vehicle would typically cost about $550. However, for every month that passes without filing, penalties and interest add more than $30 to the total tax due. If you fail to file for 5 months, the total HVUT tax due to the IRS for that vehicle would be more than $700.

Additionally, many states won’t permit the vehicle to be registered without proof of payment for the HVUT. Needless to say, it’s important to file your Form 2290 on time!

If you would like more information about heavy vehicle use taxes and penalties and interest, please visit the IRS or DOT websites.

How Do We Keep Our 2290 Prices So Low?

We get asked this question all the time and we love it! We can’t say why the other companies charge so much but we can certainly explain why we keep our prices so low. The short answer is value and customer loyalty.

As a single vehicle owner-operator, we understand how important it is to manage your time and money. We’re here to help. We believe very strongly in solid, long-term customer relationships. Our business model is founded on providing more features and better services for less than the other guys – a lot less. For just $9.90, you can e-file your IRS Form 2290 and still get all the great services and features that we provide to every one of our Express2290 customers.

We believe that this approach helps establish long term customer relationships, repeat business, and customer referrals. We’re in this for the long haul and we hope you are too.

Want proof for yourself? Look at the other E-Filing providers and the services they offer (or don’t offer!) Then come check out all of the services you get with Express2290 for just $9.90. You can even try our program for free. Give us a call right here in the Queen City (Charlotte, NC) and experience our USA-based customer support. We dare you to compare. We know you’ll be blown away! E-File your single vehicle tax 2290 forms today for just $9.90!