The heavy vehicle use tax or HVUT is a fee assessed annually on heavy vehicles operating on public highways at registered gross weights equal to or exceeding 55,000 pounds. The gross taxable weight of a vehicle is determined by adding the unloaded weight of the motor vehicle and any trailers together with the maximum load customarily carried on-road by the truck-trailer combination.
The HVUT rates for these vehicles are broken down into 3 categories. Vehicles that are less than 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. Vehicles that weigh over 75,000 pounds the maximum HVUT is $550 annually.
The damage to the road surface caused by heavy trucks is 160,000 times more than that of a car, according to the findings of the American Assciation of State Highways Official (AASHO) road test. The tax, which is based on the vehicle weight, is a significant source of transportation funding in the US.
The HVUT is more fair by ensuring that operators of heavy trucks pay a little more for the highway network relative to the motorists and light trucks who meet their responsibility through other forms of taxes (e.g., registration fees, motor fuel taxes) but do less damage to the system. So it makes more sense that the heavier vehicles pay a higher tax since they are doing more damage to the road.
E-file IRS Heavy Highway Vehicle Use Tax Return with ExpressTruckTax.com and get stamped Schedule 1 in minutes. If you have any questions contact Truck Tax team at 704.234.6005 or email us at support@expresstrucktax.com