What Every Trucker Needs to Know About IFTA Filing


What Every Trucker Needs to Know About IFTA Filing
What Every Trucker Needs to Know About IFTA Filing

Trucking isn’t an easy job. Ask any truck driver, they’ll tell you the headaches they have to deal with, day in, day out. But one headache that never seems to go away is the ongoing paperwork, certifications, licenses, permits, and tax forms a transportation professional has to deal with.

Like the International Fuel Tax Agreement – better known as IFTA. You’ve seen the decals, and you probably know you need to report your fuel taxes.

But what happens when you decide, you know what? I’ve had enough. I’m not doing it!

Let’s take a look at that – what happens when you don’t file your IFTA. Learn how to file IFTA fuel tax?

“I’m just not going to file…”

Did you know that there are a whole slew of problems that arise when you do not file your IFTA return?

First of all, if you’re considered late you’ll have to deal with late fees and penalties.

For most states, the penalty for late filing is a flat rate fee of $50 or 10% of the taxes due, whichever is greater in value. Now Nevada does things a bit different. Nevada’s penalty for late filing is a $50 flat fee plus 10% of the taxes due. No thanks!

Starting the month after you receive your original penalty for late filing, you will be charged a rate of .4167% of the tax due every month until the tax amount is paid. Again, Nevada is the exception to the rule. Nevada charges the .4167% of the tax due every month as well as an administrative late fee of $100 the first time, $500 the second time, $1000 the third time, $1500 the fourth time, $2000 the fifth time, and $2500 for every time after that. Looks like I’m avoiding Nevada!

State highway patrols can access lists of fees and IFTA penalties when they find a trucker who hasn’t paid up. Unfortunately, in some states, both the fuel tax license holder and the driver can be held liable for unpaid taxes – which means leased drivers aren’t off the hook.

If your IFTA fuel tax license is revoked – you’re off the road until it’s reinstated. Do you really want to get parked?

IFTA Filing Methods

  • Method 1: Get organized. Sit down with a spreadsheet and start updating your fuel tax records daily. Let’s be real, though. If you were that ahead of the game, you’d already be doing that. 
  • Method 2: Hire someone. Basically, you can find some tax professionals who will do this sort of thing for you. You’ll still have to provide all those mileage numbers per state, fuel receipts, and then pay the person afterward. 
  • Method 3: ExpressIFTA. Sign up and try ExpressIFTA, the easiest application created to generate your IFTA fuel tax report. With ExpressIFTA, you can create easy-to-use trip logs, store all your vehicle data in the Truck Zone, and generate your IFTA taxes online.

What Are the IFTA Due Dates?

As the 3rd quarter IFTA reporting runs from July to September, it has a due date of October 31st. That means you need to file by midnight of October 31st! ExpressIFTA can at least make your Halloween a little less scary.

Instead of letting IFTA overwhelm you this year, grab the bull by the horns and face your fuel taxes head on! If you have any questions about using ExpressIFTA, call us at 704.234.6005.

Related Blog: Fuel Tax Tip: File Your IFTA in Minutes, Not Hours

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