Category: Truck services of north america

Here Comes the IFTA 4th Quarter Deadline


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 Truck Services of North America 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!

Don’t Get Scammed Getting Your EIN

So you just found out you need an EIN (Employer Identification Number). Maybe you’ve just started a new business, or maybe you need one to file your HVUT. Whatever the reason, you need one, and need it fast. What do you do? There are a few ways to get an EIN, some of them legit, some pretty shady. Let’s take a look at those that are on the up-and-up, and how to spot the scams.

What to Look Out For

First of all, be aware that there are sites out there that give the impression of being part of the IRS, but in reality aren’t. The best way to tell if a site is an IRS affiliated site or not is the tellatale URL irs.gov. An IRS site will have this URL as its base, for example, irs.gov/forms. You can be sure if you see this URL, you are on an official IRS site.

Some websites will play on this and use the word “gov” or “irs” in their website name to give themselves an air of legitimacy. Some of these might be “suchandsuchgov.com,” or “irsexample.com.” If the domain suffix (such as “.com”) is not “.gov” you can be sure that site is not as U.S. Government site. Further, if the site doesn’t have the URL irs.gov as part of its domain name, it’s not an IRS site.

Another telltale sign that a website is not legit is if they charge an outrageous fee in order for you to get an EIN. Some of these websites will charge $200 or $300 or more for this service. In reality, the IRS does not charge a fee at all to those getting an EIN. You can always get your EIN for free from the IRS by filling out their online application.

Do I Have to Do This Myself?

If you don’t have the time or the inclination to apply for an EIN yourself, our sister website Truck Services of North America can secure an EIN for you at a reasonable fee. They’ll do the work for you, and you’ll be secure in the knowledge that you’re getting your EIN through a reputable, secure, IRS-approved website. You can contact them at support@tsnamerica.com, or call them at 803.386.0320.

And if you have any questions or concerns about ExpressTruckTax, feel free to call us at 704.234.6005 or email us at support@expresstrucktax.com.

If you’d like to let us or The Trucking Nation know about your experiences with getting an EIN, tweet at us on Twitter, or post on our Facebook page. As always, your input and feedback are crucial to us providing you with the best service possible.

We don’t want you to pay any more than you need to getting your EIN. Now that you’re informed, you won’t have to.

Happy New Year, Trucking Nation!

Happy New Year from the ExpressTruckTax Team!

We hope you have the chance to ring in the New Year with a *BANG*! We definitely plan to! That’s why our offices will be closed Thursday and Friday, so we can spend time with friends and family. But don’t worryif you need us, we’ll still be available for 24/7 emergency assistance via email at support@expresstrucktax.com.

Made a Resolution Yet?

New Years is one of my favorite times of year. It’s a time to look to the horizon and think positive, hopeful thoughts. For better or worse, 2014 is behind us, and 2015 is a New Beginning with new chances each day to improve yourself, your relationships, your careeror just about anything else that needs a little polishing in your life.

What’s your resolution? If you’re looking to streamline your trucking business and have more time for what’s truly important, then we have a couple solutions worth checking out.

  • TruckLogics: Hooray! An affordable, all-in-one business management program! No matter the size of your trucking business, drivers and fleet managers alike will fall in love with TruckLogics line-up of exclusive features. And because it’s cloud-based and comes with a free app, you can access your information from any device, any where, any time. Sign up for a free trial with promo code NEW. For friends of ExpressTruckTax only. (Yes, we’ve got connections.)
  • ExpressIFTA: Hands down, the fastest and easiest way to prepare your own quarterly IFTA returns! ExpressIFTA calculates the taxes due for you and completes the form appropriate for your state. You can even bulk upload data from a GPS system for even more instant gratification! It’ll have you dancing with joy at least 4 times a year…
  • Truck Services of North America: For those times when you’re just too busy to conquer that mountain of paperwork on your desk! A premier processing agency (and good friend of the ExpressTruckTax team), TSNAmerica is the fastest, easiest way to maintain your authority without lifting a finger. From filing renewals to preparing quarterly IFTA returns, Truck Services of North America has a time-saving solution for your business. Check them out, I’m sure they’ll be your new best friend too!
And don’t forget, we provide the easiest way to E-file your Form 2290, 2290 Amendments, & Form 8849, all for the best value in the industry!
Let us, and our awesome friends, help you grab 2015 by the reigns and make it THE BEST year you could possibly dream of. After all, trucking is already a full-time job; your paperwork shouldn’t be your second one. 
Happy New Year! Cheers!