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IRS 2290 Form filing Delays for tax year 2011-2012

August 24th, 2011
An annual tax on the use of heavy highway vehicles is imposed in Section 4481 of the Internal Revenue Code. The IRS uses Form 2290 to report this tax. The Internal Revenue Service has stated that the law governing taxes imposed on the use of heavy highway vehicles (Form 2290)
will expire on September 30, 2011. The IRS Form 2290 for the new tax year beginning July 1, 2011 is not available at this time and has not yet been published by the IRS for the new tax period. Due to the current situation, you can most likely expect a delay in the filing period for heavy vehicle use tax form 2290. It is also very likely that we may also expect to see changes in the new Form 2290 when it is published.  This is based on the fact that the Heavy Vehicle Use Tax Schedule 1 for previous tax periods has typically changed slightly from year to year.

Although the 2290 form is not yet ready, you can still get your vehicle tags for the tax period beginning July 1, 2011. Existing regulations allow states to register heavy highway vehicles when the registration application is received during the months of July, August, or September. A Schedule 1 for the previous year (July 2010 – June 2011) then state offices can accept it as a proof of payment.

You can also get your newly acquired heavy highway vehicles registered by the state without having a proof of tax payment. If you present an original or a photocopy of the bill of sale showing that the vehicle was acquired during the 60 days preceding the date that the state receives the application for registration.

Taxpayers should be aware that the IRS strictly discourages sending any old/previous form or payment to the IRS in order to file HVUT for new tax period (2011-2012). If the older form is sent to the IRS, the payment will be applied towards the tax account and a Schedule 1 will not be issued. However, they will send a notice to send a new form when it becomes available.

We will keep you updated on the latest changes as we get them from the IRS.  In the meantime, if you have already filed a 2290 return for the tax year 2010-2011, then you should contact the IRS at 866-699-4096 to get a copy of your Schedule 1. If you have filed through one of the IRS authorized E-File providers such as ExpressTruckTax.com then you need to get in touch with them to get a copy of your Schedule 1.

IRS Tax Implications for those in the Trucking Industry

August 19th, 2011
For many Owner-Operators of Heavy Highway Vehicles, the benefits of self employment make being on the open road a very exciting experience. However, due to the heavy regulation of the Trucking and Transportation Industry, there are various taxes you must pay for self-employment income earned as an independent truck driver. Since self-employed individuals are not subject to tax withholding, there is more control over periodic tax payments throughout the year, which can be cut down by claiming deductions for business expenses.

Self-Employment Tax

The Self-Employment tax applies to truck drivers who operate their own business. These taxes are imposed in order to fund the Social Security and Medicare programs. The disadvantage of paying these taxes as a self-employed individual is that you owe twice as much as taxpayers who earn their income from employment. This is because employers are responsible for paying the other half of these taxes for their employees. There is somewhat of a silver lining to this though, the IRS does allow you to claim a deduction for 50 percent of the self-employment tax payments you make as an adjustment to income.

Truck Driver Deductions

You are not required to pay income tax or self-employment tax on your gross earnings from self employed truck driving. Instead, it calculates your tax due on net earnings, which is equal to your gross earnings minus all deductions you can claim. In order to claim a deduction, the expense must be ordinary and necessary to operate your business. This may cover any number of expenses you incur, but typically, truck drivers may deduct the cost of gasoline, oil, truck repairs, insurance and parking charges. You may also deduct the cost of the truck itself by including the lease payments or depreciation of the purchase price in your deductions. And, if you ever stay in a hotel during those long road trips, you may deduct your lodging expenses also.

Other Truck Taxes

IRS Form 2290 is meant to send information about the usage of a commercial truck and to pay taxes on that use to the IRS. You can use this form for a single truck filing, or up to twenty-five vehicles can be reported on one form. The major reasons for filing the form include:

The typical Tax year for Form 2290 is from July 1st to June 30th of the next year. The form and any payment are typically due by the end of August of the corresponding year. The IRS requires that forms with 25 or more vehicles to be electronically filed.

As mentioned Earlier, the typical tax year is from July 1 to June 30, but this year it has changed. Due to legislation being held up in Congress, there has yet to be a legislation enacted to collect these Heavy Vehicle Use Taxes. The IRS has announced that it will not be accepting these 2290 forms until November 1 of this year.

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

July 25th, 2011
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.

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

July 14th, 2011
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.

Expected delay for filing IRS Form 2290(2011-12)

June 29th, 2011
The annual filing season of IRS Form 2290 for 2011-12 may be delayed.  IRS will not accept any paper format or e-filing at this time. An announcement on when it will be in place is expected to be made by IRS.
A meeting was conducted by IRS regarding the extension of time for tax filings for Form 2290.  Right now, the tax legislation is tied up in Congress. A new legislation need to be passed before IRS can collect the 2011-12 Form 2290 tax for the entire year.
Normal tax filing is not going to happen because of issues within the congress. 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 3 month tax (July, August and September) can be collected by August 31st filing deadline. When the new legislation is passed, it will determine what happens for the reminder of the 2011/12 tax year.
Please register at www.ExpressTruckTax.com to get the latest updates on Form 2290.
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