Heavy Vehicle Use Taxes (IRS Form 2290) for Commercial Vehicles

A vehicle is considered to be commercial vehicle in the United States if it is titled or registered to a company. This all-encompassing definition includes vehicles in a fleet, company cars, as well as other vehicles used for business. Vehicles that are designed to carry more than 16 passengers are also considered to be a commercial vehicle.

Here are the qualifications for commercial vehicles

• A company or corporation owns the title of the vehicle.
• The vehicle is used for business purposes.
• The vehicle is a leased vehicle and in the name of the financial institution that owns it.
• The vehicle exceeds a certain weight and is therefore “classified” as commercial even though it may not be commercially used or commercially owned. A weight of 26,001 pounds or more is always considered to be commercial.
• The vehicle is used to transport hazardous materials.

Commercial trucks are classified into different classes according to their gross weight:

1.    Class 1- GVWR:  from 0 to 6,000 pounds (0 to 2,722 kg)
2.   Class 2- GVWR:  from 6,001 to 10,000 pounds (2,722 to 4,536 kg)
3.   Class 3- GVWR:  from 10,001 to 14,000 pounds (4,536 to 6,350 kg)
4.   Class 4- GVWR:  from 14,001 to 16,000 pounds (6,351 to 7,257 kg)
5.   Class 5- GVWR:  from 16,001 to 19,500 pounds (7,258 to 8,845 kg).
6.   Class 6- GVWR:  from 19,501 to 26,000 pounds (8,846 to 11,793 kg)
7.   Class 7- GVWR:  from 26,001 to 33,000 pounds (11,794 to 14,969 kg)
8.   Class 8- GVWR:  above 33,000 pounds (14,969 kg)

If a Class 8 commercial vehicle weighs more than 55,000 lbs, it is subject to heavy vehicle use taxes. The tax is paid to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) using the IRS Form 2290. Heavy Vehicle Use Tax is a federal tax.  Individual states do not collect the tax. However, in order to properly register your vehicle with the state, you must present a Stamped Schedule 1 from the Form 2290 to the local DMV when registering the vehicle.

The official qualifications to be liable for heavy vehicle use taxes stipulate that a vehicle must have a gross weight 55,000 lbs or more. The IRS defines taxable gross weight as the sum of:

• The unloaded weight of a vehicle that is fully equipped for service
• The weight of any unloaded trailers, equipped for service, and typically used with the vehicle
• The maximum weight of the load customarily carried on the vehicle and on any trailers customarily used with the vehicle.

ExpressTruckTax.com is an IRS authorized E-File provider who can help you file form 2290 as well as keep secure online records of previously filed form 2290’s. For more information on the 2290 filing process, heavy vehicle use tax, IRS payment methods, etc visit the Express Truck Tax website or call our Truck Tax experts at 704-234-6005. You can also email any questions to support@ExpressTruckTax.com.

Obama Supports Transportation Bill to Save Jobs

President Barack Obama has once again urged Congress once more to extend the transportation bill, following a jobs report that was not very flattering of the American economy. This message served as a warning that letting the current transportation bill expire would be an economic disaster that could be easily avoided.

Obama focused on the amount of jobs that would be furloughed and eventually removed if a decision could not be made in Congress. “Right away, over 4,000 workers would be furloughed without pay. If it’s delayed for just 10 days, we will lose nearly $1 billion in highway funding that we can never get back. And if we wait even longer, almost 1 million workers could be in danger of losing their jobs over the next year.” These jobs are literally left in the hands of Congress.  They can choose to extend the bill, or create a more long term solution, but action needs to be made regardless.

President Obama made a speech from the White House’s Rose Garden last week, in which he 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. He gave Congress another warning at that time also, stating that letting the transportation bill expire at the end of the month would be “not acceptable” and “inexcusable.”

In his recent address, the president reiterated that thousands of workers and their families would be hurt if infrastructure projects like highway construction, bridge repair and mass transit systems were put on hold. Obama has previously spoken about renewing the transportation bill as a “no-brainer.” It is also important to note that Congress has renewed the bill seven times in the last two years, and as badly as Americans need jobs, not renewing it this time would be a grave mistake. Nonetheless, a new and sustainable bill would be the best option.

“But thanks to political posturing in Washington, they haven’t been able to extend it this time — and the clock is running out,” he said. Virginia, Minnesota and Florida are examples of states that have thousands of jobs on the chopping block, and the President argued that the decision to let the bill expire is “completely avoidable.”

“This isn’t a Democratic or a Republican issue — it’s an American issue,” he said. The president also mentioned that a group of 128 Democratic and Republican mayors have written to Congress, urging their representatives to pass the extension.

Obama also added a statement that nicely summarizes the heart of the issue: “There’s a lot of talk in Washington these days about creating jobs. But it doesn’t help when those same folks turn around and risk losing hundreds of thousands of jobs just because of political gamesmanship. We need to pass this transportation bill and put people to work rebuilding America.”

To see a video of Obama’s address urging the passage of the bill, you can check it out here. This Information has been provided by the Truck Tax Team at www.ExpressTruckTax.com.

President Barack Obama Pushes for the Renewal of Transportation Bills

On Wednesday, August 31, 2011 at the Rose Garden, President Barack Obama spoke about the pending Transportation Bill currently in Congress to a large gathering of highway workers. He 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.

Among other things, the main focus of President Obama’s speech revolved around the necessity of renewing the Transportation Bill that is currently set to expire September 30. The primary arguments for extending the bill were that not extending it would cost up to a million jobs of hard working highway workers and extending the bill would also bring much needed tax revenue to fund road repairs and maintenance.

“Now is the time for Congress to extend the transportation bill, and keep our workers on the job. Now is the time to put our country before party and give certainty to the people who are trying to get by. There’s work to done. There are workers ready to do it. That’s why I expect Congress to act immediately.” said the President.

Video Link: http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/ExtensionofTr

What is HVUT Form 2290 (Heavy Vehicle Use Tax)?

Although it is many things, HVUT is first and foremost, an acronym standing for Heavy Vehicle Use Tax. This federal highway use tax is to be paid annually to the federal Internal Revenue Service (IRS) on vehicles that operate on public highways that also have a gross weight of 55,000 pounds or more. The federal government then distributes this revenue back to the state departments for highway construction and maintenance projects.

All carriers are required to send the proof of payment of the HVUT to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) along with their registration renewal in order to successfully register their Heavy Vehicle. Proof of this can be either a copy of a received Schedule 1 (from IRS form 2290) with a copy of the electronic receipt of Schedule 1 showing the dated e-file watermark, or a copy of the IRS form 2290 with a copy of the electronic IRS payment confirmation screen.

To clarify, the IRS Form 2290 is the official form that trucking companies and owner operators have to file to correctly pay their Heavy Vehicle Use Tax. The Schedule 1 is a part of that form. The easiest way to file this form is through an IRS Authorized E-File provider like Express Truck Tax. ExpressTruckTax.com makes this process incredibly simple so that filing this form only takes a few minutes.

For vehicles that are exempt from the heavy vehicle use tax payment by the IRS, a statement of exemption must be submitted by the carrier with their registration renewal. These vehicles are commonly referred to as “Credit Vehicles.” A carrier must send a copy of the IRS form 2290 showing their request for suspension from the HVUT payment with their registration renewal for vehicles that qualify for suspension. These vehicles can also be filed online from Express Truck Tax.

The relatively recent ability to file these taxes online also makes it possible to file VIN corrections online as well.  It is understandable that some mistakes may be made on tax returns from time to time.  Express Truck Tax understands this, and that is why they were the first to introduce Free VIN Corrections as part of their basic service. This should help to give peace of mind to anyone filing their tax return online. Since the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) is a complicated combination of letters and numbers, it is one of the easiest places to make a mistake on the Form 2290.

The best part about filing Form 2290 with Express Truck Tax is that they offer a terrific customer support team to assist with any questions people may have. They are available Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM until 6:00 PM EST at (704)234-6005 or anytime by email at support@ExpressTruckTax.com

Trucking Industry Supports President Obama’s Push for Highway Funding

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 E-File 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. 

Be Ready to File Form 2290 for Heavy Highway Vehicles

As the month of November moves closer and closer, you will want to be able to get your Form 2290 taken care of as swiftly as possible once it is made available. It is unfortunate enough that the filing process was delayed, but to avoid any future confusion about the issue, it would be beneficial to be ready to file once the form is available.

In order to make the filing process easier with the IRS using Form 2290, it is very important that you keep accurate records, just like you would when filing any other type of tax return. It is crucial for anyone filing form 2290 to maintain their records for at least 3 years prior to the filing date for any taxable highway vehicles registered to them. For fleet owners and small trucking companies who have filed form 2290 in the past, it is wise to always keep the 2290 records on hand, as one never knows when IRS inspection may take place. It is even important to save these returns if they are only for a part of a year. In the case of a suspended vehicle (public highway use was less than 5,000 miles/year) it is still necessary to keep records of Form 2290’s filed for them as well.

You will need to gather the following information before filing form 2290 to accelerate the filing process. You will need a description of all vehicles for which you are filing as well as a VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) for each one. You will also need to know the gross taxable weight of the vehicle.  It is also necessary to report the date the vehicle was acquired, as well as the name and address of the previous owner. The first use month for the taxable period is also required for reporting. If a vehicle is considered to be suspended, keep a record of actual highway mileage. If the vehicle is an agricultural vehicle, then keep accurate records of the number of miles it is driven on a farm or field. Keeping proper records of your 2290 information will be a great help to you in the unfortunate event of an audit.  It will also make the task of filing this form much easier.

ExpressTruckTax.com is an IRS authorized E-File provider who can help you file form 2290 as well as keep secure online records of previously filed form 2290’s. For more information on the 2290 filing process, heavy vehicle use tax, IRS payment methods, etc visit the Express Truck Tax website or call our Truck Tax experts at 704-234-6005. You can also email any questions to support@ExpressTruckTax.com.

File IRS Form 2290 through an IRS-Authorized Service Provider

If you are a trucker, owner operator, or trucking company, you are subject to filing a tax return for the Heavy Vehicle Use Tax. These taxes have typically been filed with the IRS Form 2290. Until recently, this form could only be filed by paper. However, there have been great advances in technology over the past few years and the IRS now accepts and encourages taxpayers to E-File their 2290 Form.  

The IRS has approved several third party service providers to E-File the Form 2290 on behalf of those taxpayers who need to file. This list is posted on the IRS website. The IRS itself does not provide a way to E-File this form through their website. In deciding how to file, there are a few things that should be considered. When you select a provider, it is important to be sure that they are an Authorized IRS E-File Provider, make sure that they can handle all of your truck tax needs, and it is safest to find a provider that is entirely web-based.

• When selecting an Authorized E-File Provider, you should look on their website for something to verify that they are actually authorized by the IRS to E-File tax forms. Again, you can also refer to the IRS Website for a complete list of Authorized E-File Providers.  Be sure that the provider you choose is on that list!
• If you need to file several types of Truck Taxes and not only the Form 2290, like IFTA or Form 8849 then it would be helpful to have them all filed from the same place. Some service providers are only for Form 2290, or Form 8849, etc. The most convenient and economical way of filing would be to have them all filed with the same service.
• If an E-Filing system is not web-based, then there is less reason to use it. If a so-called E-Filing system is not web-based, meaning you need to download a program onto your computer in order to run the program, then it is not a true E-Filing system. The IRS recommends E-Filing because of its speed and security. If you are required to download lots of files and store information on your computer, your system is not completely web based. The benefits of a web-based system are obviously the speed of transfer to the IRS when you are finished, but also the security of storing your information online instead of on your computer. If you rely on your computer to store your information, you run the risk of losing all of your information if your computer crashed or if you spill something on it, etc.

ExpressTruckTax.com fits all of these qualifications for a Truck Tax E-File Provider. It is entirely web-based, they are a one-stop-shop for all truck tax needs, and they are authorized by the IRS as an E-File provider on the official list from their website. If you need any help, you can also contact their wonderful customer support team!  They offer live chat & phone support Monday through Friday (9:00am - 6:00pm EST) at 704.234.6005, as well as email support 24/7 (support@expresstrucktax.com). This way you can get a stamped schedule 1 in about 10 minutes. The file is electronically submitted to the IRS, and within minutes the file will be processed by the IRS and the filer will receive a notification from Express Truck Tax that their return has been processed.