Saturday, July 23, 2011

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


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.