The IRS Form 2290 for Heavy Vehicle Use Taxes can be used to determine the amount of Excise Taxes needs to be paid to the IRS in order for the Heavy Vehicle to receive a Stamped Schedule 1. Although it can be complicated to file this return, ExpressTruckTax.com has made it much easier. The Form 2290 can be filed online through the secure E-Filing System that Express Truck Tax has created.
This Excise Tax must be filed annually for any vehicle over 55,000 pounds that operates on public roads. The tax amount can vary depending on the number of months the vehicle was in service during the tax period and it is also determined by the gross vehicle weight. This Taxable Gross Weight is calculated by using the total weight of the vehicle fully equipped for service.
Here is a Payment Table for Heavy Vehicles and logging vehicles as determined by the taxable gross weight of the vehicle.
As you can see from the graph, this only applies to vehicles operating on public roads that weigh at least 55,000 pounds. The taxable gross weight of a vehicle is determined by adding the following:
The actual unloaded weight of the vehicle, when it is fully equipped for service.
The actual unloaded weight of any trailers or semitrailers fully equipped for service normally used in addition to the vehicle.
The weight of the maximum load that can be carried on the vehicle and on any trailers or semitrailers typically used with the vehicle.
For Buses, The taxable gross weight is its actual unloaded weight fully equipped for service in addition to 150 pounds for each seat provided for passengers and driver.
Vehicle that drive less than 5,000 miles throughout the year would be considered a suspended vehicle, and there would be no tax due Tax Suspended Vehicles, also known as low mileage or category W vehicles are not subject to taxation because these vehicles will remain below the mileage threshold of 5,000 miles during the tax period (or 7,500 miles, if Agricultural use).