Category: trucking news

The Future of Truck Tech is Here, Trucking Nation!

Since the beginning of time, trucks and wind resistance have been mortal enemies. 
Maybe that’s why truckers and trucking companies alike have been developing new technology and new trucks to be able to combat this aerodynamic issue!

Minimizing wind resistance for trucks is becoming a very possible reality with the new technology being offered by AirTab, as well as TrailerTail. 
 Not to mention that Walmart and Mercedes are currently working on concept trucks that are not only built to minimize wind resistance, but also increase highway safety!

These new truck technologies will provide more savings and safety for truckers and everyone else on the road. But what exactly are the benefits of these new technologies?

AirTab


Let’s begin with AirTab. AirTab is a small triangular, wishbone-like device you place on the end of your trailer and the end of your cab.

This tiny device provides better fuel economy without being bulky, and minimizes wind resistance to help stabilize the trailer and make for a smoother ride. According to their website, AirTab can also increase fuel economy by up to 5% simply by combating the effects of wind resistance.

AirTab benefits other drivers as well. Not only does it amp up the safety on heavy vehicles, it also minimizes the rain and snow blow back, providing more visibility for truckers and cars alike. AirTabs come in a variety of colors, and they provide a line for compact cars, small trucks, and SUVs.

TrailerTail

The concept of TrailerTail is similar to that of AirTab. However, the TrailerTail takes a different approach to minimizing wind resistance. Instead of a small triangular device, TrailerTail provides a large square “tail” to place on the back of your trailer.

TrailerTail is incredibly easy to install and is very durable. It even makes opening the back of your truck easy because it folds as you open the back of the trailer, holding the doors open until you’ve unloaded.

In addition to durability, TrailerTail, much like AirTab, also increases fuel economy by up to 5%. TrailerTail is compliant with 2010 CARB regulations for trailer aerodynamics and is exempt from U.S. DOT length restrictions.

New Concept Trucks

Walmart and Mercedes have introduced new concept trucks with better aerodynamics. These trucks are like something out of a science fiction novel, but both companies are trying desperately to make these vehicles less of a concept and more of a reality.

With Walmart, their design aims to minimize wind resistance and provide a light-weight truck. Their new concept design is made exclusively with carbon fiber, which makes the design almost 4,000 pounds lighter. Not to mention, the overall design of the truck is mouth-watering.

Mercedes, on the other hand, has introduced a truck concept that will virtually drive itself (in addition to being more aerodynamic)! Their truck concept is all about keeping truckers and the roads they drive on safe.
The truck cannot completely drive itself, so it would still need a driver to remain in the cab in order to function, but it can work with the driver to allow them time to drink coffee, check messages, or use a business management program like TruckLogics.

No matter where the future of truck tech is heading, ExpressTruckTax will always be here to help you. Whether you’re E-filing in your current big rig or a futuristic giant from Walmart or Mercedes, we’ll be here to answer your questions and provide an excellent product, from the now into the future.

As always, if you have any questions call us at 704.234.6005 or e-mail us at support@expresstrucktax.com for 24/7 support. And don’t forget to tell us what you think about what’s next in truck tech on Facebook or Twitter.

Don’t Miss May’s Trucking Events!

Hello, Trucking Nation! Summer is coming soon and that means, you guessed it, a multitude of goose-bump inducing trucking events!

From antique truck shows, to pride in your ride, and even truck racing, these events have it all. And the best part? Each of these events are affordable and family friendly! It’s the perfect beginning to anyone’s summer!

Pride in Your Ride

The first event, The Midwest Pride in Your Ride, is happening at the very beginning of May, from May 1-2 at the Tri-State Raceway in Earlville, Iowa. This event will have working class show semi-trucks and antique farm tractors from all across the Midwest!

Then, to add to the excitement, on Friday night there will be a good old-fashioned truck pull and a truck and tractor rodeo. Not to mention on Saturday there will be truck drag racing! The event costs $10 per day but both kids under 12 and cancer survivors get in for free! All the proceeds for this event will be given to the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life.

Antique Truck Show

Then on May 3, swing by Perris, California, and visit the Riverside Antique Truck Show & Swamp Meet. This year marks their 30th annual antique truck show! Here, you can enjoy hundreds of restored vintage trucks from semi’s to fire engines to military trucks—oh my! There will be music, vendors, and lots of eats and treats for the whole family, as well as rides on the vintage trains and California trolleys. 

Monster Stack Shootout

Mid-May marks the beginning of The Original Monster Stack Shootout and ChampTruck Race from May 22-24 in Willows, California. See real big trucks from all over North America come together in the ChampTruck World Series and The Monster Stack Shootout! See six-wheel drifts, racing pro’s, racing newbies, lots of gear-jamming action and intense competition!

Drag Racing

Then, on the very last day of the month, May 31, Super Show Rigs has their second annual Spooling Up Show & Drags Competition in Great Meadows, New Jersey. This all-day event has racing, a burn out contest, a quick truck shootout and so much more. So pack up your family and make your way out to New Jersey to enjoy food, flea markets, and fun (not to mention the best tomatoes ever).

Come See Us at the TOP Expo!

One last thing before you pack up and head out. Don’t miss us this Saturday, May 2, at the TOP EXPO in Atlanta, Georgia. It’s sure to be an informative and fun networking event for all kinds of transportation professionals. Come see us at Booth 29 along with our friends from TruckLogics!

No matter where you find yourself this May, there are plenty of truck events to choose from. Start your soon-to-be-summer vacation off right with some good old-fashioned truck racing. And don’t forget to share your event experiences with all of us at ExpressTruckTax! Show us some love and send us your event pics on Facebook and Twitter.

Set up Your Account Today for Early Bird Benefits

Everyone’s heard the saying, “The early bird gets the worm.”

But have you also heard that the early bird E-files on time?

It’s true! Preparing for HVUT season now can save your sanity later, especially if you’re new to the HVUT game. And the best way to be prepared for whatever the IRS throws your way is to set up your ExpressTruckTax account. Right. Now.

Here are just some of the benefits of getting your account set up early:

Early Bird Benefits

  • You’ll save tons of time later! 
  • You’ll be less likely to file late and face penalties because you will already have everything you need and know exactly what to expect.
  • You can E-file early, possibly even as early as mid-June! (IRS depending)
  • We’ll send you email notifications reminding you to E-file before the deadline. 
  • Plus when you become one of our users, you’ll get these perks too!


How Can I Prepare?

Follow these five steps, and you’ll be set for E-filing success!

1. EIN: If you don’t yet have an Employer Identification Number, now is the perfect time to register! It takes up to 15 business days for your EIN to become activated, and any tax return filed before your EIN is active will be rejected. So get your EIN now, and you won’t have to worry about it later!

  • Pro Tip: You can apply on the IRS website for free here or call a reputable processing service to register your EIN for you. But whatever you do, beware of internet scams that charge hundreds of dollars for an EIN! 
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2. The Name Game: If you already have an EIN, do you remember the business name it’s registered under? The business name on your taxes must exactly match the name on record with your EIN. This is known as name control. If you are unsure of the exact name associated with your EIN, you can find out by calling the IRS hotline at 1.800.829.4933.

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3. Take it to the Bank: Once you have your EIN and Name Control, it’s time to SHOW ME THE MONEY! Not really, but you will have to show the IRS. And to do that, you’ll need to figure out how you want to pay.

If you plan to pay by Direct Debit, make sure you know your bank account number AND routing number (lots of people forget that one). Or you can set up an EFTPS account. The Electronic Federal Tax Payment System is cool because it’s free and it allows you to schedule your tax payment up to 120 days in advance. But it takes 5-7 days to register, which is why you should do it now!

Register for free by visiting http://www.eftps.gov or by calling 1-800-555-4477. When you enroll, you’ll need your EIN, bank account, bank routing number, address and name as it appears on IRS documents.

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4. Password, Please: It’s time to create your ExpressTruckTax account, the easiest part! Simply enter your email address and a password of your choosing. It’s that simple. It’s completely free to create an account and explore the program, so logon and start poking around now.

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5. Truck Zone: You’re almost set up for E-filing success! The last step to prepare for HVUT season is to load your vehicle details into Truck Zone. Truck Zone will store your vehicle information year-after-year to make E-filing faster. For this step, you’ll need your VIN and Gross Vehicle Weight.

  • Pro Tip: If you aren’t sure how to calculate your GVW, simply add these three numbers together: 1. The unloaded (tare) weight of the truck, 2. The unloaded weight of the trailer, and 3. The maximum weight of the cargo customarily carried by the truck/trailer. 

You can manually upload your data by entering the information in Truck Zone, or you can bulk upload the data from a .CSV file. Bulk Upload is the fastest way to upload hundreds or even thousands of vehicles at once with no data entry. For step-by-step instructions, check out this blog.

Plus you can always count on the Support Team for help getting started! They live to provide top notch year-round support in English & Spanish. Call them at 704.234.6005 or email them at support@expresstrucktax.com.

1st Q. IFTA Filing Period Now Open: Estimate Your Tax with Our New App!

Brace yourselves. The IFTA Deadline is coming!

April 30th will be here before you know it. Are you prepared, Trucking Nation?!

Previously, we had a quick look at our companion program, ExpressIFTA, and how it can help you file on time by calculating your fuel tax and completing a ready-to-mail, state-specific IFTA return for you. 
With zero calculations and minimal data entry required, ExpressIFTA is the simplest way to make it to the filing finish line in record time.
But we’ve got more tricks than that up our sleeves…like our brand new app!

If you’d like to know how much fuel tax you’ll owe, fast & with zero commitment, then our new IFTA App is for you! It’s free, so there’s no risk, and you don’t need to create an account or enter business or vehicle details.

You get right to the important stuff with a super simple, two-step process.
Head over to the Google Play store to download it for your Android tablet, or zip over to the App Store for iPad.

Then….

Step 1

Select your base jurisdiction, the IFTA quarter, and the fuel type from the drop-down menus.

Then enter the mileage and fuel use per jurisdiction. The states can be selected from another drop-down menu, it’s just up to you to key in the miles and fuel.

To delete a line, simply press the red Trash Can button at the end of that line. Or to add more lines, select the green +Add More Rows button on the bottom left.

Once all of your trip data for the quarter has been entered, select the orange Calculate IFTA Tax button, and you’re done!

Step 2

You now have a nice, neat breakdown of your total miles, gallons, and MPG for the quarter, along with the amount of tax due.

Enter your email address and click send to get a report with this data! You can then use it to complete your return, or use a program ExpressIFTA to create a return for you.

If something seems off, you can hit the orange back arrow at the top left corner, and it will redirect you to the previous screen where you can review and edit your info. If you make any changes, just hit “Calculate” again, and watch the magic happen.


How easy is that? With a click here and a swipe there, it only takes two simple steps to get a summary of your most vital IFTA details.

Download it now and get ready just in time for the deadline! As always if you hit a roadblock, the ExpressTruckTax support team is standing by, eager to offer IFTA-ssistance. (See what I did there?)

You can reach them at 704.234.6005, send them a live chat message, or email them at support@expressifta.com

To continue your transformation from IFTA Slacker to IFTA Master, have a look at our previous blog: Get Ready for April 30th with ExpressIFTA!

1st Q. IFTA Filing Period Now Open: Get Ready with ExpressIFTA!

The 1st Quarter filing period for IFTA is officially open!

You know what that means, Trucking Nation! Time to start organizing any trip sheets that fell through the cracks, and get ready for the filing deadline: Thursday, April 30th!

Good thing ExpressTruckTax is here to help you prepare. We’ve got everything you need! Not only do we have a program that will complete your IFTA return for you (ExpressIFTA), but we also just released a simple free app to help you calculate how much tax you’ll owe, without doing any calculating yourself!
You can use one or both–whatever suits you best. We have solutions for IFTA Slackers and IFTA Masters!

Today, we’ll have a look at ExpressIFTA. Stay tuned for the grand reveal of our new app later this week!

ExpressIFTA

ExpressIFTA is the fastest and easiest way to calculate your IFTA fuel tax and prepare your state-specific return. Why? Because ExpressIFTA calculates the tax for you, eliminating the risk of errors and the the risk of losing your sanity!

  • Pro Tip: If you’re an ExpressTruckTax user, login with the same username and password, and your account information will be automatically transferred. If not, simply create an account and enter your business and vehicle information. It won’t take long!

Once you’re set up, enter your trip logs with taxable and non-taxable miles, as well as your fuel use, and our site will calculate the fuel tax and complete the IFTA form for your state. Just print and mail it! 

To save even more time, you can import your mileage directly from your GPS. If your GPS model is not supported by our site, you can email the GPS report to support@expressifta.com, and we’ll key in the info for you! Now that’s service.
For a quick overview of how to use ExpressIFTA, just check out this video!

Don’t wait until the 29th to start thinking about IFTA. Head over to ExpressIFTA now and try it out!
Have a question? Just call our support team at 704.234.6005 or email us at support@expresstrucktax.com.

Ready for More IFTA Solutions? Check out Part 2 featuring our new IFTA Tax Calculator App! Packed with more solutions for IFTA Slackers and IFTA Masters! 

Come See Us at the Mid-America Trucking Show!

Guess who’s getting ready to hit the open road?

It’s your favorite support team, the ExpressTruckTax crew! We’re taking our show on the road, heading to the Mid-America Trucking Show in Louisville, Kentucky.

From March 26-28th, we’ll be at Booth 66121 handing out free stuff and mingling with the good folk of the Trucking Nation!

MATS is always the highlight of our year at ExpressTruckTax! We just love meeting everyone, users and nonusers alike (or as we like to think of them, future-users!). But this year in particular is extra special because we’re bringing along our friends from TruckLogics!

If you haven’t heard about TruckLogics, our ExpressTruckTax crew designed it. Based on years of feedback from owner-operators and small fleet owners, they built TruckLogics to incorporate every tool transportation professionals were looking for, but at a price they could afford. The result? A cloud-based business management solution that’s portable, affordable, and super easy to use.

You can learn more about TruckLogics at our MATS booth, or right now at TruckLogics.com. Check it out and see if it can benefit you or the trucker(s) in your life.

Oh, and I almost forgot to mention: free tickets, ya’ll! It’s only while supplies last– first come, first served. Just give our support heroes a shout at 704.234.6005 or email us at support@expresstrucktax.com to snatch up your MATS tickets before they’re gone.

Show us some love and stop by our booth at MATS. We’ll see you soon, Trucking Nation!

7 Ways to Be Productive During a Snow Storm

Happy #TruckerTuesday, Trucking Nation!

And what an eventful Tuesday it is! For you West Coaster’s who may not know, the East coast has been hit with a huge winter storm, and our hometown of Rock Hill, SC, is currently covered in a thick sheet of ice!

We South Carolinian’s aren’t accustomed to weather like this, so at the first sign of a snow flurry, everything pauses. And since road conditions are less-than-ideal at the moment, we know a lot of you truckers are stalled too!

But just because we’re trapped inside, it doesn’t mean we can’t be productive! In fact, Snow Days are a great time to catch up on the tasks you’ve been putting off.

So resist the urge to go sledding (at least until you’ve done some “grown-up” stuff), and let’s be productive together!

If you need a little inspiration, these 7 tips will help.

1. Organize your Business Records

Amidst the every-day hustle and bustle of trucking life, it’s easy to put off (and completely forget about) keeping your compliance records and finances organized–until of course, a deadline sneaks up on you!

But this Snow Day is a chance to avoid all of the pain and stress of last-minute recordkeeping.
Take some time today to catch up on your trip sheets, and you’ll be in a much better position when the end of the 2nd IFTA quarter rolls around.

Ready to level-up your organization game? If the messy pile of receipts and papers on your desk is winning the war, consider using a business management program to de-clutter your life. There are several programs on the market designed just for truckers and fleet managers. TruckLogics, for example, has Accounting, IFTA, and Trip Sheet features to keep every aspect of your transportation business in tip-top shape.

2. E-File your Heavy Vehicle Use Taxes

While you’re taming your wild paperwork, it’s also prime time to get your heavy vehicle use taxes out of the way! All you need is 1. An WiFi or 4G connection 2. A computer, tablet, or smartphone 3. Our free iOS or Android app, and 4. Your business & vehicle information.

In 10 minutes or less, you can complete a Form 2290, a 2290 Amendment, or Form 8849, and securely submit it to the IRS and receive your new stamped Schedule 1 via email immediately. Rain, snow, sleet, or hail, you can E-file your truck taxes all the same. That’s one more thing you can check off your list!

3. Clean Your Cab

Okay, so we can’t exactly call it Spring cleaning when everything is covered in a sheet of ice, but you get the idea.

Get a few steps ahead of Mother Nature, and start cleaning out your cab, closet, junk drawer or whatever other unholy area of your living space has been neglected. Start by going through your closet and sorting clothes into three piles: Keep, Trash & Donate. If you haven’t done this in a while, be prepared to find some wild stuff!

And if you’re feeling extra ambitious, you can even do a little “nesting” once you’ve finished cleaning. Just because the cab of your truck is tiny doesn’t mean it can’t feel like home sweet home. Invest in a throw rug (it’s easier to clean & replace than your floor), hang some curtains, and make your sleeping area extra lush with a new mattress topper and fluffy pillows. For more inspiration, check out my other blog Tips for a Cozier Cab.

4. Brace Yourselves: April 15th is Coming

With less than 2 months remaining, the tax deadline will be here before you know it! And this snow storm couldn’t have come at a better time. By now, everyone should have received their 1099’s and W-2’s from their employers, so there’s no reason why you can’t file now!

Unless of course, there is a reason you don’t want to file yet…in which case, you should use this time to go ahead and file an extension with the IRS. With a program like ExpressExtension, you can quickly E-file to automatically extend your W-2 filing and 1099 filing deadline for 6 months. 

5. Break a Sweat

When it’s cold outside, it’s time to get hot inside…by working out, I mean! Ward off frostbite and keep your circulation going by trying some of these easy indoor exercises. I know what you’re thinking: “I don’t have any space in my truck,” or “I don’t have any exercise equipment on hand.”

Oh, ye of little faith! No matter where you are, you definitely have enough room to do some isometrics. Here’s an easy & effective one: Get in the driver’s seat, grip the wheel with both hands, and then try to push them toward each other for 10 seconds. Then release. After 10-20 reps, you’ll start feeling the burn!

6. Learn Something New

Don’t just exercise your body; exercise your mind! Do a crossword puzzle, play sudoku, or (dare I say it?) read a book! Even if the storm has knocked out your power, a book will still magically work in these primitive conditions! Alternatively, you can also listen to an audiobook or start learning a new language. YouTube is filled with free tutorials on every language under the sun! Become that bilingual babe you always wanted to be!

7. Recharge

This one may seem like cheating, but it’s actually quite important. While the whole world is frozen, take this opportunity to just stop and recharge yourself. You work hard every other day of the year, maybe it’s time to take a cue from Mother Nature and get some R&R.

Sleep in late, meditate, catch up with a loved one, or just have a Netflix marathon. Whatever you do, turn your brain off for just a little while and enjoy yourself. You deserve it!

(If your conscience won’t let you not work, then just do one or two things on this list first to absolve yourself of any guilt.)

Hopefully this list has inspired you to count this day as a blessing in disguise! The weather may be yucky, but there’s no need to write off today completely. You can still be a productive, upstanding citizen of the Trucking Nation! Now get to work, and most importantly, stay safe out there!

IFTA Filing Do’s & Don’ts: Part 2 Avoiding an Audit

With just 4 days left to file 4th Quarter IFTA returns, it’s crunch time. Right about now, all of the IFTA procrastinators out there are starting to panic and hastily fill in their returns. (No judgement, truckers have way too much on their plates!)

If you happen to fall into this category, then slooooow doooown. The last thing you want is to quickly fill in your return and submit it with the mistakes below, all of which are red flags for IFTA auditors.

As it is, each IFTA jurisdiction is required to audit 3% of its registrants each year, and if you commit one or more of these IFTA sins, you’re greatly increasing your chances of becoming part of that dreaded 3%.

Before you make a mistake that could cost you your business, take a few seconds to make sure you’re avoiding these IFTA errors.

Avoiding IFTA Audits

  • DO: Make sure your trip sheets have continuity from the trip’s starting location to the destination. Every jurisdiction between the start and end points should be included.
  • DON’T: Submit a trip sheet with non-continuous jurisdictions. Unfortunately, your truck cannot teleport from New Jersey to Ohio, and IFTA auditors know it.
  • DO: Record all personal and non-taxable mileage. 
  • DON’T: Forget that your end-of-day miles to a restaurant or lodging still need to be recorded. If you don’t, then your end of day location won’t match your beginning of day location, which is known as a gap in mileage.
  • DO: Record your exact fuel use and milage. Then use these numbers to calculate your MPG each quarter.
  • DON’T: Do the reverse, which is to calculate your fuel use by dividing your mileage by a set MPG. This is cheating! For one, your MPG will fluctuate naturally based on road conditions and an infinite number of other variables, so you cannot assume it will always be the same. These kinds of over-simplified fuel calculations are huge red flags to IFTA auditors.
  • DO: Keep an eye on your MPG. If your MPG changes drastically from quarter to quarter, there needs to be a reason, like a change in your vehicle, your operations, or your load type & weight. 
  • DON’T: Submit a return with a MPG below 5 or above 10. If your MPG is outside this range, there is likely an error in your recordkeeping or calculations. IFTA auditors know this, which is why many states won’t accept your return until your MPG falls in this range.
  • DO: Follow the tips for recordkeeping that we covered in Part 1. Keeping precise trip sheets will help you avoid all of the above errors.
  • DON’T: Get lazy with your documentation. Your business depends on complying with IFTA filing requirements, so use a program like TruckLogics to keep your trip sheets organized and up-to-date everyday.
  • DO: Be proactive and file on-time. The best way to do this is by using a program like ExpressIFTA which calculates the taxes and fills in the return for you. 
  • DON’T: Wait until the last minute and then rush to fill in your return the night before. Obviously, this leads to mistakes, which lead to audits. If you’re that pressed for time, have a processing service like Truck Services of North America file your quarterly IFTA return. They prepare your return based on your trip sheets, and then submit it directly to your base jurisdiction. And since they’re IFTA Pro’s, they know to avoid all of the red flags above.
  • DO: Remain calm & cooperate if you are selected for audit. Original documentation for the past 12 quarters should be kept in your base jurisdiction for the auditor to access.
  • DON’T: Avoid the auditor’s phone calls, shred your documents, or flee to Costa Rica. The 4-year retention requirement for documentation will be extended indefinitely until you cooperate. This means that legally they can keep coming after you with no statute of limitations. And the less you cooperate, the more likely you’ll face steep penalties, or worse, revocation of your IFTA license. 

Ready to get started? Whether you need help creating an ExpressIFTA account, or you have questions about having a processing service prepare your return for you, call us and we can give you advice or connect you to someone you can trust.

We’re available 8-6 pm EST at 704.234.6005 or on live chat. Or for 24/7 assistance, just email us at support@expresstrucktax.com. With the deadline looming so close, it’s nice to know that you can reach out for help at all hours of the night. When crisis strikes, the Support Team will be ready for you!

Ready for More? Check out Part 1, chock-full of Tips for IFTA Recordkeeping!

IFTA Filing Do’s & Dont’s: Part 1

There’s just 10 days until 4th Quarter IFTA reports are due.

Are you ready? If you’re trying to get your act together at the last minute, then ExpressTruckTax can help you prepare your return, quickly & correctly– all while keeping your sanity in tact!

We’ve got do’s & don’ts for IFTA record-keeping & return preparation. So please do avoid these don’ts (and don’t ignore these do’s) to ensure IFTA-filing success!

IFTA Recordkeeping Do’s & Don’ts

  • DO: Record fuel use and fuel purchases every day. Your records should include the amount and type of fuel purchased, the name & address of the gas station, the cost per gallon, total of the sale, and the original receipt.
  • DON’T: Assume you can recreate a record of your fuel transactions later using your pile of receipts. If a receipt goes missing, you’ll have no way of knowing without a fuel record to check against.
  • DO: Keep all original fuel receipts in good condition for at least three years after the close of the quarter.
  • DON’T: Wrinkle or write on your receipts. If they’re stashed in the crevices of your cab or mashed into a shoebox, it’s time to buy an accordion file folder.

  • DO: Maintain accurate distance records including your mileage per jurisdiction, the routes you took, and any detours or out-of-route mileage accrued.
  • DON’T: Record your estimated mileage for a trip as your actual mileage. Not only will this leave out personal miles you drive (to the grocery store, etc), but it’s also likely that in the course of your trip, you will deviate from the route your estimate was based upon. Detours happen. Record them all. 

  • DO: Use a program like TruckLogics to keep precise trip sheets. Be sure to update them daily.
  • DON’T: Wait until the end of the quarter to fill in your trip sheets. This leads to imprecise records and to red flags that could trigger an IFTA audit. 

Preparing your Return: Do’s & Don’ts

  • DO: Use ExpressIFTA to prepare your return faster than ever before, and with way less work than you’re used to.

    With ExpressIFTA, you simply input your fuel use and mileage, and then kick back while the program calculates your tax and MPG for you. And the perks don’t stop there. Not only will it perform all calculations, but it will also plug all of the numbers into a completed IFTA return appropriate for your state.

    Pro Tip: If you use an IFTA-approved GPS that records your trip sheets, you can import that information and use it to create your return. 
    After importing or entering your mileage and fuel use, all you’ll need to do is print the return– and mail it, of course (and they even include instructions on how to do it).

      • DON’T: Waste your time calculating your tax and tediously filling in a long and scary IFTA return. Hair pulling, insomnia, and loss of sanity are all common side effects.

      And here’s one last DO for you! DO call the ExpressTruckTax team for help filing your 4th Quarter IFTA returns. They’re available in our sunny hometown of Rock Hill, 24/7, and they’d be happy to walk you through the ExpressIFTA set up.

      Call them at 704.234.6005, message them on live chat, or email them at support@expresstrucktax.com. No matter how you get in contact, you’re guaranteed the support experience of a lifetime!

      Check out Part 2 for Tips to Avoid an IFTA Audit. You don’t want to miss this! 


      For Tips on HVUT Recordkeeping, mosey over to:

      • HVUT Recordkeeping Requirements

      Last Call for E-Filers: IRS Scheduled Maintenance Starts Friday 12/26

      We’ve got breaking news, Trucking Nation, straight from the IRS!
      At the end of each year, the IRS typically shuts down the MEF (Modernized E-file System) for maintenance. This is the online system through which we submit all IRS Forms filed through ExpressTruckTax.

      Well they’ve just confirmed that as of this Friday, December 26th at 1:30 pm the IRS MEF will in fact be blacked out for maintenance and is scheduled to reopen around January 9, 2015.

      So, most importantly, how does this affect you and any return you attempt to E-file?

      • If you use ExpressTruckTax, you will still be able to E-file and submit a return. Our system will hold the return and submit it the second the MEF reopens on the 9th.
      • During this maintenance, you will not able to receive confirmation of your submission from the IRS, nor will you receive a stamped Schedule 1 for the return until after the system reopens.
      • If your first-used month is November 2014, then you must submit your return by 1:30 this Friday to be considered on time.

        Although the due date is technically December 31st for those whose first-used month is November, the IRS will not be time-stamping returns submitted during the blackout, and therefore, your submission will only be considered on-time if it’s submitted prior to the maintenance. 

      If for any reason you need your return time-stamped before January 9th, or if you need your stamped Schedule 1 before then, then it’s time to start E-filing!

      Just be sure to submit your return before Friday afternoon, and you’ll be in good shape!

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