Category: IFTA online filing

Everything You Need to Know About Reefer Fuel Regarding IFTA?

Posted on October 9, 2018 by - express truck tax, expresstrucktax, Federal fuel tax, Hvut 2290, IFTA calculator, ifta deadline, ifta fuel tax, IFTA mileage Calculator, IFTA online filing, IFTA reporting, IFTA Tax Calculator

Everything You Need to Know About Reefer Fuel Regarding IFTA?

Personally, I’m a big believer in being prepared for anything and coincidence truckers are the same way. You never know what can happen, so it’s always best to be ready. When it comes to the International Fuel Tax Agreement, you can never be too prepared, and the learning never ends. The rules governing IFTA are a bit lengthy, and every single state is different, but don’t let that stress you out. IFTA is a lot easier when it is broken down, so let’s go over everything you need to know about reefer fuel regarding IFTA.

What is Reefer Fuel?

First of all, reefer fuel is NOT included when filing IFTA when it is used to power the refrigeration unit of the trailer. You should always purchase reefer fuel on a separate fuel receipt.

Never pump reefer fuel on the same fuel receipt when fueling your power unit. This will lower your MPG and cost you more IFTA fuel tax. Also, if you are selected for an IFTA audit, and it is discovered that you combined reefer fuel into your power unit file, you will be penalized and incur added interest on your IFTA audit.

IFTA & Reefer Fuel

You are entitled to a federal tax refund on each gallon of reefer fuel. You will need the total number of gallons of reefer fuel purchased during the tax year to complete the refund form. The IRS will send you a check for the federal tax paid on each gallon of fuel. If you failed to file for this refund, you could file back for the past three years to claim your refund.


Everything You Need to Know About Reefer Fuel Regarding IFTA?You will want to check with your base jurisdiction to see how they handle reefer fuel. In Maryland, for example, if you only have one tank that propels your vehicle and runs the refrigeration unit, then all fuel is included in IFTA. If you have two separate containers, you need to fuel separately and make sure reefer is marked on the receipt. Do not add the reefer fuel on IFTA and you will able to get a refund by filing a claim.

So if you are operating an IFTA “Qualified Motor Vehicle” with a reefer unit, make sure to have the reefer fuel on a separate receipt and don’t include reefer duel on your IFTA return.

Generate Your IFTA Tax Report Today!

Our sister product, ExpressIFTA is full of innovative features to help you complete your IFTA quarterly fuel tax report. All you have to do to get started is create your free account, enter your business information, specify your base jurisdiction, enter your vehicle details, list your miles and fuel records, and generate your IFTA quarterly fuel tax report.

Say goodbye to that day of complicated calculations, ExpressIFTA’s software will accurately calculate your IFTA fuel tax rates and IFTA tax based on the information provided. Never worry about over or underpaying again.

Plus, their built-in diagnostic error audit can be run on your reports to catch any fundamental filing errors based on our estimated miles per gallon. It will recognize when miles traveled aren’t between adjacent states, and if you purchase fuel in a state you have not traveled in.

File Your IFTA Taxes Online

Today is the 2nd Quarter IFTA Deadline

Posted on July 31, 2018 by - express truck tax, expresstrucktax, Federal fuel tax, Hvut 2290, IFTA calculator, ifta deadline, ifta fuel tax, IFTA mileage Calculator, IFTA online filing, IFTA reporting, IFTA Tax Calculator

Truck back on the road after filing their IFTA Fuel Tax Report
Yup, that’s right. Today, July 31st, is the 2nd quarter IFTA deadline. You will need to complete your IFTA return by midnight or you will have some major penalties to face. If this deadline snuck up on you and you’re wondering how you’ll ever make the deadline, don’t worry! We have your IFTA fuel tax solution.

ExpressTruckTax can easily handle all of your IFTA reporting needs online. You can quickly generate your IFTA report and use it to complete your return. Plus, we’re here to go over all the IFTA basics so you’ll be up to speed.

Today is the 2nd Quarter IFTA Deadline

Before we drive headlong into today’s IFTA reporting deadline, let’s review the basics of what you need to know.

What is IFTA?

If you are asking yourself “What is IFTA?” then you are in worse shape than I expected. But don’t worry, I got you. The International Fuel Tax Agreement, or IFTA, quarterly fuel tax report allows you to travel in all participating member jurisdictions with a single fuel tax license. To operate in two or more jurisdictions, you are required to have an IFTA sticker and license.

You receive your IFTA stickers and license through you base jurisdiction which is your home state or where your vehicle is registered. Your IFTA license needs to be renewed annually in December. When you hold an IFTA license, you are required to file an IFTA quarterly fuel tax report that shows and calculated how much fuel tax you owe (or are credited) to remain compliant.

In short, IFTA is used to report and determine the net tax refund that’s due and to redistribute taxes from collecting states to due states. This agreement is between the lower 48 United States and 10 Canadian provinces, this regulation was put into place to simplify fuel reporting by those who use qualified motor vehicles.

Your vehicle qualifies for IFTA reporting if:
  • Has two axles and a gross vehicle weight exceeding 26,00 pounds
  • Has two axles and a registered gross weight exceeding 26,000 pounds
  • Has three or more axles regardless of weight
  • Or has a combined weight exceeding 26,000 pounds

To complete your IFTA report you need to provide the following information:

  • The total miles traveled per jurisdiction
  • The total gallons of fuel consumed per jurisdiction
  • The total tax paid gallons of fuel purchased per jurisdiction, and 
  • The current tax rate per jurisdiction 

File Your IFTA Fuel Tax Report

ExpressTruckTax makes it easy to import all of your IFTA information online in one convenient location. Use your IFTA reports to automatically calculate all of your IFTA totals with 100% accuracy.

Your IFTA fuel tax rates will be generated in an easy-to-read quarterly IFTA report that contains everything you need to complete your return. Instantly print, download, or email your information at any time.

Today is the deadline for filing IFTA!! If you fail to file before midnight today you could be looking at major penalties.

Today is the 2nd Quarter IFTA Deadline

This Free IFTA Tax Calculator Will Blow Your Mind

Posted on July 26, 2018 by - express truck tax, expresstrucktax, Federal fuel tax, Hvut 2290, IFTA calculator, ifta deadline, ifta fuel tax, IFTA mileage Calculator, IFTA online filing, IFTA reporting, IFTA Tax Calculator

Owner operator back on the road after filing his IFTA fuel taxI don’t know about you, but it feels like we just filed and paid the IFTA fuel tax. Oh, how the time flies! Because unfortunately, the next IFTA deadline is right around the corner. Your 3rd quarter IFTA report is due Thursday, October 31st! If you need to file your federal fuel tax report you have come to the right place–– here’s how we can help. 
 

This Free IFTA Tax Calculator Will Blow Your Mind

So you’re looking for a free IFTA Tax calculator? You might find some labeled as “free” but are they?

Well, one of our goals at ExpressTruckTax is to take the hassle out of filing your taxes. One of the many ways we achieve this is by providing you with a completely free IFTA mileage calculator app. Download the app to your smartphone or tablet and calculate your IFTA fuel tax in a matter of seconds, no matter where you are.

IFTA Mileage Calculator Instructions:

1. Select your Base Jurisdiction
2. Select your IFTA Quarter & Fuel Type
3. Enter the Miles Traveled & Fuel Purchased per state

    Now you can sit back and relax as the IFTA tax calculator app handles all of the complicated federal fuel tax calculators for you. Your total miles, gallons, and miles per gallon will be displayed along with the amount of IFTA fuel tax you owe.

    You can then email this IFTA tax report to yourself or any recipients by entering any email address and clicking send.

    How to File Your IFTA Fuel Tax?

    professional truck driver can get back on the road and calculate his IFTA fuel tax using ExpressTruckTax free IFTA tax calculator

    ExpressTruckTax not only helps you file your HVUT Form 2290 but also your IFTA return. Our IFTA online filing solution is full of innovative features that help you complete your return. All you have to do to get started is to create your free account, and you only pay when you transmit your IFTA return.

    If you need any assistance along the way, our dedicated ExpressTruckTax US-based support team is available via phone, live chat, and email.

    Are You Prepared For These Tax Deadlines?

    Posted on April 12, 2017 by - 1040 deadline, 2290 deadline, 4868 Deadline, E-file HVUT, e-file IRS Form 4868, Form 2290, Form 4868, IFTA, ifta deadline, IFTA online filing, Tax time, truck driver, truck taxes, Trucker

    How are things going? We know it’s a busy time since business picks up in the spring. Plus, you’re really focusing on driving carefully due to all the crazy storms that are popping because of unpredictable April weather. On top of all that, tax season is here!

    Luckily you have ExpressTruckTax here to help out in any way we can by providing you with a simple way to quickly e-file your HVUT, calculate your IFTA totals, and inform you about upcoming tax deadlines. So, let’s take a look at what’s coming up.

    Upcoming Tax Deadlines

    Watch out, at the end of the month your first quarter IFTA report is due! The deadline falls on April 30th, which is a Sunday. Since the deadline falls on a weekend day, the actual IFTA deadline is on the next business day, Monday, May 1st. That gives you the entire weekend to calculate your IFTA totals!

    But who wants to spend their weekend calculating when they could be relaxing and watching the game? That’s why we’ve made it extremely easy to quickly calculate and keep track of everything you need for your IFTA totals.

    You can use the quick entry screen to keep up with your odometer readings, quickly calculate your totals with our fuel tax calculator app, keep up with your miles per jurisdiction with our trip sheets, and more.

    Your HVUT is due annually on August 31st, so you may feel a little more relaxed about that deadline since you have all summer to file your 2290. However, if you have a new truck or new to you truck then your HVUT is due the last day of the month after your first used month. Meaning if you first use your new vehicle in April then your 2290 is due by May 31st.

    ExpressTruckTax is the market leading HVUT solution because we’ve simplified the e-filing process to help you fill out your Form 2290 and receive your stamped Schedule 1 in a matter of minutes.

    Our step-by-step guide will help you instantly complete your 2290, and our 2290 calculator will help you accurately calculate how much you owe. Plus, your vehicle information will be saved for next time, and we offer free VIN corrections. After you’ve transmitted your 2290 to the IRS you’ll quickly receive a copy of your stamped Schedule 1 via email.

    All of that stuff is great for your truck taxes, but what about your personal taxes?! The Income Tax Return Deadline is quickly approaching April 18th! We understand that while you’re busy out on the road it can be difficult to gather all the information necessary to file.

    That’s why we have your personal tax filing solution. Simply head to our sister company, ExpressExtension, to e-file Personal Tax Extension Form 4868. IRS Form 4868 is for individual and joint taxpayers to apply for an additional 6-months to file their personal income tax returns.

    The process is easy, you spend a few minutes filling out Form 4868 and transmit it to the IRS by the April 18th deadline to instantly receive 6 extra months to file your return, pushing your deadline back to October 16th. Visit ExpressExtension.com for more information.

    If you need to file while out on the road, no problem. Simply download the free 4868 app to your smartphone or tablet to file 1040 extension online at any time from any location.

    Contact Us

    Tax time is a busy time and it can also be a confusing time. That’s why the dedicated ExpressTruckTax team is standing by to help. We will be more than happy to assist you with any questions that you may have. Call us anytime Monday – Friday from 9 AM to 6 PM EST at 704.234.6005, live chat with us, or take advantage of our 24/7 email support at support@expresstrucktax.com.

    Don’t Let IFTA Sneak Up On You

    Posted on March 29, 2017 by - 1st Quarter IFTA Deadline, Fuel Tax IFTA, IFTA Information, ifta late penalties, IFTA online filing, IFTA Records, ifta report, IFTA return, IFTA Tax Calculator App

    Doesn’t it seem like you just did your IFTA report yesterday? Well, oh how the time flies because the next IFTA deadline is right around the corner! Your first quarter IFTA report is due by April 30th,  which is a Sunday, so the deadline actually falls on Monday, May 1st. That day will be here before you know it, so don’t let it sneak up on you. It’s never too early to start working on your report. Use ExpressTruckTax to calculate your IFTA totals and learn all about IFTA here.

    All About IFTA

    IFTA or the International Fuel Tax Agreement is an agreement that simplifies the reporting of fuel in the lower 48 states. The purpose of IFTA reports are to simplify the reporting of fuel use by motor carriers that operate in more than one jurisdiction so states can equally distribute per jurisdiction.

    The taxes are then used to repair the public highways that truckers frequent, by repaving roads and reinforcing bridges the routes become safer and smoother. Also, better roads mean less wear and tear on your vehicle.

    Now only qualify vehicles that travel between multiple jurisdictions are subject to IFTA. You must have your IFTA license and two IFTA decals on your vehicle that are provided by their base jurisdiction.

    Your base jurisdiction is where your qualified vehicles are based for registration. It’s where operational control and operational records of the licensee’s qualified motor vehicles are maintained and in the case of an audit can be made available. It’s also where some mileage is gained by qualified motor vehicles traveling through that jurisdiction within the fleet.

    If you don’t live in a base jurisdiction you can apply for an IFTA license from any of the jurisdictions you regularly travel in.

    Qualifying vehicles are ones that are motor vehicles that are used, designed, or maintained for the transportation of persons or property having two axles and a gross vehicle weight exceeding 26,000 pounds, two axles and a registered weight exceeding 26,000 pounds, three or more axles regardless of weight, and a combination weight exceeding 26,000 pounds.

    You need to provide the following information to correctly complete your IFTA return:

    – Total miles, both taxable and nontaxable, traveled by each of the licensee’s qualified motor vehicles for all jurisdictions, including trip permit miles. This includes both IFTA and non-IFTA jurisdictions.
    – Total gallons of fuel consumed by the qualified motor vehicles, both taxable and nontaxable per jurisdiction, IFTA and non-IFTA.
    – The total amount of tax-paid gallons of fuel purchased in each jurisdiction.
    – The current tax rate per jurisdiction.

    If you don’t travel outside of your base jurisdiction a lot you don’t have to necessarily apply for an IFTA license. You can apply for a local trip permit with the local DMV of the jurisdiction you’ll be traveling in.

    It’s important to have your IFTA license with you and permits properly display under your truck door windows at all time are you could be subject to getting a citation and having to buy a temporary permit.

    Failure to file your IFTA reports by the deadline or to file at all will result in hefty penalties. You’ll be fined $50 or 10% of the delinquent taxes, whichever is greater. On top of that, base jurisdictions reserve the right to impose additional penalties based on the laws of the jurisdiction.

    Also, base jurisdictions will assess interest on all of the unpaid taxes due for each jurisdiction except for the taxes collected directly by other jurisdictions. For US jurisdictions interest will build up at a rate of 1% per month. Interest will build at a rate equal to the Canadian Federal Treasury Bill rate, plus 2% for Canadian jurisdictions, plus the rate is adjusted every quarter.

    Remember you have to complete your IFTA report 4 times a year. The quarterly IFTA deadlines are:

    1st Quarter: January 1st – March 31st. Due date: April 30th.

    2nd Quarter: April 1st – June 30th. Due date: July 31st.

    3rd Quarter: July 1st – September 30th. Due Date: October 31st.

    4th Quarter: October 1st – December 31st. Due Date: January 31st.

    Note: If the deadline falls on a weekend or federal holiday then the deadline is moved to the next business day.

    ExpressTruckTax is Here To Help

    Don’t let IFTA stress you out. Head to ExpressTruckTax.com to quickly and easily calculate your IFTA totals with their quick entry odometer entry screen, fuel tax calculator, and more. Our dedicated support team is full of IFTA experts who are ready to help. Please don’t hesitate to contact us with any truck tax questions that you may have via live chat, phone, or email.

    Your 4th Quarter IFTA Report Is Due Today

    Posted on January 31, 2017 by - 4th Quarter IFTA, IFTA, ifta deadline, ifta fuel tax, IFTA online filing, ifta report, IFTA return, IFTA Tax Calculator App

    Don’t hit the breaks, but tax season is here! Most likely IFTA is on your mind since you have to file an IFTA report four times a year. However, these deadlines can definitely sneak up on you, so here is your official reminder that your 4th quarter IFTA tax return is due by January 31st! Also, we don’t want IFTA to be in the back of your mind, so we’re gonna tell you all about it to make you an IFTA pro!

    All About IFTA

    IFTA stands for the International Fuel Tax Agreement and it is the agreement between the 48 connected states of the USA, states of Mexico, and the Canadian provinces to report on the fuel used by motor carriers or large vehicles operating in more than one jurisdiction (state).

    Under IFTA carriers file quarterly fuel tax reports to figure out precisely the net tax or refund due to redistribute taxes from collecting jurisdictions that are due.

    If you were to find yourself operating in Hawaii, Alaska, or the Canadian territories then you wouldn’t have to worry about IFTA.

    Qualifying vehicles for IFTA include vehicles that are designed to transport people or property that has three or more axles, has a gross weight of 26,000 pounds or is used in a combination registered gross vehicles of 26,00 pounds or more. Basically, it refers to big heavy vehicles that frequent the interstate systems.

    Fun fact, recreational vehicles are actually not subject to IFTA.

    Every year you’ll need to renew your IFTA decals and licenses by December 31st. You’ll receive two decals that should be clearly displayed under your window on your driver’s side door. If you file your IFTA reports quarterly then the permits will stay up to date. They also help prove that you have complied with IFTA.

    Well heck, what if you don’t usually travel outside of your state? Do you still have to deal with all this IFTA stuff? A little bit. You can get temporary IFTA permits from that state’s DMV office. Each state has their own temporary IFTA regulations. 

    Before IFTA was put into place each state had their own fuel tax system and their own tax permits. This made carriers that frequently traveled through different jurisdictions suffer a lot of headaches. Trust us, IFTA is a much easier way to handle fuel taxes!

    Now when it comes to filing your IFTA report you need a record of a few different things:

    – Your total miles include the taxable and nontaxable ones for all of your jurisdictions traveled.
    – Your total gallons of fuel consumed per jurisdiction.
    – Your total amount of fuel taxes paid per jurisdiction.
    – And the current tax rate per jurisdiction.

    Now don’t let all this information and record keeping intimidate you. ExpressTruckTax is here to help. 

    Calculating IFTA With ExpressTruckTax

    ExpressTruckTax as an accurate fuel tax calculator to help you quickly calculate your fuel tax per jurisdiction, as well as a quick entry screen for all of your odometer readings. You can quickly update this sheet as you go, or all at once depending on your preferred method.

    Also, ExpressTruckTax makes it easy to maintain your trip sheets and fuel records, and will automatically calculate your IFTA return from your trips sheets. This way you won’t have the hassle of calculating these numbers yourself.

    With ExpressTruckTax’s error diagnostic report your return will be scanned for errors, so you can be aware of any corrections that need to be made before your file your IFTA return. This will help you and your company avoid being audited.

    Plus, we are here to help every step of the way. Please don’t hesitate to contact the ExpressTruckTax support team via phone, email, or live chat with any questions that you may have!

    IFTA (International Fuel Tax Agreement) Information

    Posted on October 10, 2011 by - 2290 efile, 2290 form, Authorized Efile provider for form 2290, express truck tax, Expresstrucktax.com, File Fuel Tax IFTA, Fuel Tax, IFTA, IFTA online filing, Internal Revenue Service Form 2290

    Owners of qualified heavy highway motor vehicles that operate in at least 2 out of the 58 total jurisdictions must file IFTA on a quarterly basis. The abbreviation: “IFTA” is short for International Fuel Tax Agreement, which represents a tax collection agreement among the 48 contiguous United States and its 10 bordering Canadian Provinces.
    Qualifying Highway Motor Vehicles
    Any vehicle is considered to be a qualified motor vehicle if it is used, designed, or maintained for the purpose of transportation of persons or property and has a registered gross vehicle weight of more than 26,000 pounds. Also, any vehicle with 3 axles or more is considered to be a qualified motor vehicle regardless of weight. Finally, if the combined weight of all of its parts is greater than 26,000 pounds, it is also considered to be a qualified motor vehicle.
    IFTA Process
    Each state or province has a different rate and those rates can change each quarter. The state or province in which the vehicle is registered is considered to be its Base Jurisdiction. IFTA must be filed with the vehicle’s respective jurisdiction each quarter. Every 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. This information can be kept on what are commonly referred to as trip sheets, or trip logs.
    Reasons for IFTA
    IFTA’s official purpose according to the International Fuel Tax Agreement, 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 an IFTA form 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 for redistributing collections from the jurisdictions that received IFTA payments, and the jurisdictions that deserved some. 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 through the purchase of gasoline.
    Get IFTA Organized
    Since the data required to file IFTA is so incredibly detailed, many people receive Audits of their IFTA information. The sadness of this is that this can be prevented by better record keeping. Express Truck Tax, along with providing a terrific service for other Truck Tax needs, will perform an internal audit of your IFTA information for you. In this internal audit performed by Express Truck Tax, it will check for basic mistakes and discrepancies, as well as perform a state adjacency check and an abnormal MPG audit. They also provide online trip sheets for drivers to keep accurate records that can be accessed from any computer, anywhere! If you can prevent an audit due to simple mistakes on an IFTA return, it makes no sense not to let Express Truck Tax help you get it right the first time.