Express Truck Tax Blog | E-file IRS HVUT Form 2290 & 8849 and File IFTA

The Internal Revenue Service Will Not Mail Form 2290

October 5th, 2011

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Earlier in the year, The Internal Revenue Service announced that they will not be mailing Form 2290 to taxpayers this year. This step was taken due to the increase in electronic filing. Although the IRS Requires Trucking Companies with 25 or more Heavy Vehicles to e-file, the IRS actively encourages everyone needing to file the Form 2290 to e-file. The IRS has legitimate reason to do this because filing electronically is the quickest, easiest, and safest way to file tax returns.

Fortunately, it has become incredibly simple to file Form 2290 or other Tax forms associated with the Heavy Vehicle Use Tax (HVUT) such as Form 8849. All you have to do is go to www.ExpressTruckTax.com and start filing. You can file your Schedule 1 for Form 2290, Form 8849, A VIN Correction, and Fuel Tax (IFTA).

The easy-to-use system created by the Express Truck Tax team allows the user to walk through the process at their own speed and asks questions in plain English, not confusing tax jargon. There are even special deals for Owner-Operators who need to file for multiple vehicles. Tax Professionals may also benefit from special pricing for multiple filings.

What is IRS Form 2290?
The IRS Form 2290 exists as a way to pay Heavy Vehicle Use Taxes, or HVUT, which must be filed with the IRS for any highway motor vehicle that exceeds a gross weight of 55,000 pounds. IRS Form 2290 also includes what is known as a Schedule 1, which is used to report all vehicles for which you are reporting tax (including an increase in taxable gross weight) and those that you are reporting suspension of the tax by category and vehicle identification number (VIN). The Schedule 1 may also be used as proof of payment to register your vehicle in any state. Use the stamped Schedule 1 that was returned to you by the IRS for this purpose.

Who Must File?
You must file a Form 2290 and Schedule 1 for the tax period beginning on July 1st, and ending on June 30th, if a highway motor vehicle is registered, or required to be registered, in your name under state, District of Columbia, Canadian, or Mexican law at the time of its first use during the period and the vehicle has a taxable gross weight of 55,000 pounds or more. Any type of business entity may file a Form 2290 with the IRS.

How much is the Tax?
There are three different categories for HVUT rates for these vehicles. Vehicles Below 55,000 pounds do not have HVUT because they do not qualify as a heavy vehicle. Vehicles between 55,000 and 75,000 pounds owe $100, plus $22 per 1,000 pounds over 55,000 pounds. Finally, for vehicles that are over 75,000 pounds the maximum HVUT is $550 per year.

The gross taxable weight is calculated by adding the following:
Unloaded weight of vehicle, fully equipped for service.
Unloaded weight of any trailers equipped for service and customarily used in combination with the vehicle
Weight of the maximum load customarily carried on the vehicle and on any trailers customarily used in combination with the vehicle.
Who is Exempt?
Although it is rare, some Vehicles that fit the above description may be exempt from the HVUT and Filing requirements of Form 2290. To officially be exempt from filing Form 2290, the vehicle must be owned and operated by the following:
The Federal Government
The District of Columbia
state or local government
American National Red Cross
Non-Profit Volunteer Fire Department, Ambulance Association, or Rescue Squad
Indian Tribe Government (Only if the Vehicle is Used for essential Tribe or Government Function)
Mass Transportation Authority (Only if granted certain powers normally exercised by the state)
Qualified Blood Collector Vehicles
Mobile Machinery that meets specifications for a chassis
As mentioned earlier, the ideal e-file provider for this service is www.ExpressTruckTax.com. They provide a very excellent service for all Truck Tax Needs. And since the current tax year has been delayed due to slow congressional action, the filing period for this tax will be November 1 – November 30. Due to this shorter filing season, it is even more beneficial to file online in order to be sure that your return is accepted before the deadline.

The IRS Reminds Truckers They Have Extra Time

September 10th, 2011

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Truckers should wait until November to file their federal highway use tax returns – a three-month extension — in this new YouTube video.

Watch this and other videos on the IRS’s YouTube Channel

Trucking Industry Supports President Obama’s Push for Highway Funding

September 5th, 2011

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On Wednesday, August 31, 2011, President Barack Obama was joined by Transportation Secretary, Ray LaHood, as well as Richard Trumka, president of the AFL-CIO, and also David Chavern, the chief operating officer of the Chamber of Commerce as he made a speech to a gathering of Highway Workers regarding the Transportation Bill currently in Congress. His speech mainly focused on the jobs that would be lost if Congress failed to pass the bill by September 30th (the current transportation legislation is set to expire on Sept. 30). According to his speech, nearly one million highway workers would be out of a job if the current legislation expired without enacting new legislation.

The current transportation legislation “The Safe, Accountable, Flexible, and Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users” expired in 2009, but Congress has kept adding extensions to the legislation. The most recent one expires at the end of September. If it is not extended, or if new legislation is not enacted to replace it, the transportation industry will experience a shutdown similar to what the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) experienced earlier this year.

If there is no immediate solution, the Transportation department will experience about 4,000 jobs to be furloughed without pay, and up to one million jobs if the delay is any longer. These are jobs for the people who build our roads and keep them safe. It would be detrimental and irresponsible to our highway system if this legislation is not kept in place.

The American Trucking Associations (ATA) came out in support of President Obama stating that Congress needed to quickly act on another extension, but more extensions are no replacement for a long-term highway solution. The ATA also urged the administration to use caution when using private sector funding for public infrastructure.

Soon after, The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials also released a statement in agreement with the ATA. Another organization that supported President Obama’s push for new legislation came as a surprise was OOIDA (Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association). This was a bit surprising because OOIDA and the ATA have had a history of having a different opinion than the ATA. But as to this issue they have a similar viewpoint. They also agree that the government should try to avoid private sector funding for public transit.

This delay in the typical tax year for those filing Truck Taxes has affected an entire industry. Once an extension is passed or new legislation is enacted, those Truck Taxes will be able to be filed with Express Truck Tax at www.ExpressTruckTax.com. You can use this service to quickly EFile your Heavy Vehicle Use Taxes with Form 2290, 8849, IFTA and more! It only takes minutes to complete. If there are any questions, you can send them to (704)234-6005 or support@ExpressTruckTax.com.

IRS 2290 Form filing Delays for tax year 2011-2012

August 24th, 2011

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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.

Truck Tax Regulations for 2011 (HVUT)

August 20th, 2011

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You don’t have to be a transportation expert to understand that Washington DC is known for its gridlock. The very worst of it is actually off the roads and on Capital Hill. While both parties in Congress continue to argue, there is a significant piece of legislation that has yet to be voted on. The delay of this legislation being enacted has thrown many people in the trucking & transportation industry for a loop.

The law previously referred to is a transportation law known as SAFETEA-LU – the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, and efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users – which expired in 2009, but it allowed the taxes associated with the Highway Trust Fund to be collected for an additional two years. When SAFETEA-LU became law in 2005, lawmakers added what they believed to be enough time to get the next multi-year transportation authorization bill in place.

Those two years have passed faster than expected and we are left without a new Highway Bill to replace it. The House and Senate committees are now drafting preliminary versions of the legislation and will continue to debate its details. Let’s hope that both sides come to an agreement soon to avoid massive confusion in the trucking industry. Trucking Regulations alone are complicated enough.

Under normal circumstances, tax provisions related to the Highway Trust Fund would be extended as part of the authorization. Unfortunately, no one can accurately predict what will happen in the future, especially with the extreme volatility between political parties of late. One thing that is predictable, however, is that ExpressTruckTax.com will keep updating their website and blog with the latest news affecting the Trucking Industry. Once there is more information available about the HVUT filing process, we will let you know. Express Truck Tax is the premier provider of Tax Services for the Trucking Industry; as soon as the IRS releases the new Form 2290, it will be available for EFiling at www.ExpressTruckTax.com.

IRS Tax Implications for those in the Trucking Industry

August 19th, 2011

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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:

Calculating and paying the taxes owed on Heavy Highway Use Vehicles
Claiming a suspension of the tax for vehicles driven less than 5,000 miles during the applicable period (or 7,500 miles if agricultural use)
Claiming a credit for a sold, stolen or destroyed vehicle

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.

Three Month Extension of IRS Form 2290(HVUT) – Now Due on Nov. 30, 2011

August 3rd, 2011

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The IRS recently advised those in the transportation industry with heavy highway vehicles that their next federal highway use tax return will be due on November 30, 2011, instead of the typical due date of August 31st.

The current highway use tax is scheduled to expire on September 30, 2011. The proposed temporary regulations dictate that the November 30th filing deadline for Form 2290 HVUT Return for the tax period that begins on July 1, 2011, applies to vehicles used during July, as well as those first used during August or September. The IRS also states that returns should not be filed and payments should not be made before Nov. 1. This extension is designed to reduce confusion and possible multiple filings that could result if Congress reinstates or modifies the tax after that date.

For those in the transportation industry who need to apply for state vehicle registration on or before November 30th, the new regulations require states to accept the stamped Schedule 1 of the Form 2290 issued by the IRS for the previous tax year, ending on June 30, 2011 as a proof of payment. Federal Law requires that state governments receive proof of payment of the federal highway use tax as a condition of vehicle registration. Typically, after the return is filed and the tax is paid, the taxpayer receives a stamped Schedule 1 to use when registering the vehicle.

If someone needs to register a newly acquired vehicle during the July-to-November period, the new regulations require a state to register the vehicle, without proof that the highway use tax was paid, as long as the person registering the vehicle presents a copy of the bill of sale or another document showing that the owner purchased the vehicle within the previous 150 days.

The heavy vehicle use tax applies to trucks, truck tractors and buses with a taxable gross weight of 55,000 pounds or more. Vehicles such as vans, pick-ups and panel trucks are typically not taxable because they fall below the 55,000-pound requirement.

Although the IRS discourages filing until November 1, 2011, the good folks at Express Truck Tax are willing to help you every step of the way! If you have any questions regarding Truck Taxes, and how to file them, feel free to chat with their experts at (704) 234-6005. You can also email them at support@ExpressTruckTax.com. For more information about Truck Taxes, check out their Website and Blog: ExpressTruckTax.com

Author: Tax Tips Categories: 2290, 2290 efile, 2290 filing delay, 2290 form, efile IRS form 2290, Express Truck Tax, form 2290 delay Tags: 2011 form 2290 filing delay, 2290 form, 2290 tax filing, efile IRS form 2290, express truck tax, Form 2290, form 2290 filing delay, Heavy Vehicle Use Tax, HVUT filing, IRS form 2290, Truck Tax

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

July 25th, 2011

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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.

IRS 2290 Update for Tax Year 2011 – 2012

July 22nd, 2011

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On Monday, July 18, the IRS announced that the 2290 filing deadline for the 2011-2012 tax period would be extended by 90 days. All 2290 forms, which are usually due on August 31, will instead be due on November 30. The extension is designed to alleviate any confusion that may be caused by changes in the HVUT tax laws, which are currently set to expire on September 30, 2011.

In order to assist heavy vehicle owners with state vehicle registration, the IRS submitted new regulations requiring all states to accept the 2010-2011 proof of HVUT payment (schedule 1) for registration purposes during the months of July through November. The regulations also extend the grace period during which a newly acquired vehicle can be registered by the state without a 2290. Any heavy vehicle acquired on or after July 1 may be registered without proof of HVUT payment within 150 days of purchase. You will need to provide the state with documentation showing the purchase occurred within this grace period.

The IRS has tentatively announced that they will begin accepting 2290 returns and 2290 payments for the 2011-2012 tax period beginning November 1. ExpressTruckTax will send email notifications to all our registered users as soon as the IRS begins accepting 2011 electronic returns.

ExpressTruckTax Advanced Filing

For our users that have taken advantage of our Advanced Filing and have already prepared your 2011-2012 return, your completed 2290 will remain in our secure database – ready to be filed. Once the IRS begins to accept 2290 filings, ExpressTruckTax will automatically transmit your tax return to the IRS. If you need to edit or update your prepared 2290 at any time prior to November 1, you may do so simply by logging into your ExpressTruckTax account and editing your 2011 return. Please note, no tax payment will be processed by the IRS for the 2011-2012 tax period until the IRS begins accepting 2290 returns in November.

For those users that have not yet prepared your 2290 return for the 2011-2012 tax period, you may do so now using our Advanced Filing product. This will allow you to complete your 2290 return in advance, ensuring that you and your company are well prepared once the 2011-2012 filing season begins.

Please do not hesitate to contact our support center if you have any questions or if we may be of additional service. You can reach us by phone at (704)234-6005, Monday through Friday – 9 am to 6 pm (EST) or by email, 24 hours a day, at support@expresstrucktax.com. For more details regarding the 90-day extension, you may view the official announcement on the IRS Newsroom website. Thank you for using ExpressTruckTax, where IRS 2290 and IFTA are made easy!

If have problems registering your vehicles with the state, please provide this IRS communication to them.

IRS Communication:http://www.expresstrucktax.com/docs/temp%20reg%20form%202290%20internal%20external%20communique%20final.pdf

3 Month Extension for Truck Taxes(Federal Highway Use Tax Form 2290)

July 19th, 2011

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The Internal Revenue Service recently advised truckers and others filing Heavy Vehicle Use Tax that the next federal highway use tax return would be due on November 30, 2011instead of the typical August 31 deadline. The full letter from the Internal Revenue Service can be found here.

The extension is meant to remove confusion and multiple filings. Since new legislation needs to be voted on by Congress, the tax could be modified or simply reinstated. To ease the hassle of applying for state vehicle registration on or before November 30, state DMV’s must accept a stamped Schedule 1 of the prior year’s Form 2290. Typically, taxpayers receive a stamped schedule 1 after the Heavy Vehicle Use Tax is filed and paid. However, this year, the prior year’s schedule 1 must be used because the IRS is not yet accepting the Form 2290 for this tax year.

For Taxpayers who have acquired and need to register new or used vehicles during the July-November period, new regulations now require states to register those vehicles without a proof of HVUT payment. The taxpayer will be required to prove that they acquired the vehicle within the past 150 days.

For taxable vehicles used during July, the Form 2290 and payment are normally due on August 31st. The tax is calculated based on the weight of the vehicle. There are also many special rules that apply to vehicles with low mileage, as well as logging, and agricultural vehicles.

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Archive

The Internal Revenue Service Will Not Mail Form 2290

The IRS Reminds Truckers They Have Extra Time

Trucking Industry Supports President Obama’s Push for Highway Funding

IRS 2290 Form filing Delays for tax year 2011-2012

Truck Tax Regulations for 2011 (HVUT)

IRS Tax Implications for those in the Trucking Industry

Three Month Extension of IRS Form 2290(HVUT) – Now Due on Nov. 30, 2011

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

IRS 2290 Update for Tax Year 2011 – 2012

3 Month Extension for Truck Taxes(Federal Highway Use Tax Form 2290)

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