What’s a suspended vehicle, and how should you report 2290 tax suspended vehicles on IRS Form 2290?
Trucking businesses deal with fleets all the time.
You probably work with a variety of vehicles.
However, it’s not just about dealing with different types of vehicles but also working with vehicles that have different compliance formalities attached to them.
We’re specifically referring to Form 2290 tax-suspended vehicles that trucking businesses have to deal with.
Granted, this is a common occurrence in the trucking industry.
If you’re a seasoned truck tax expert, you already know how to navigate your business through such minor hiccups.
But even the most seasoned truck tax professionals need to brush up on the basics to help assist their clients better.
And business owners (especially the ones who are new to the industry) need to be aware of the “why” factors of suspended vehicles.
This read aims to focus on the factors that categorize a vehicle as “suspended”.
What are the driving factors?
And when is a vehicle categorized as “suspended”?
Most importantly – why do we need to report information pertaining to suspended vehicles?
The following discussion will cover all such broad queries.
Let’s get to it.
Form 2290 Tax Suspended Vehicles
Topics Covered
- What is a 2290 suspended vehicle?
- What makes a vehicle tax-suspended?
- Why do we report suspended vehicles on 2290 forms?
- How to report suspended vehicle information on IRS Form 2290?
- How to eFile Form 2290 online with the tax suspended vehicle information?
What is a 2290 suspended vehicle?
Heavy Highway Vehicle Usage Tax or HVUT is imposed on vehicles that weigh 55,000 pounds or more that utilize the public highways for transportation.
There are certain factors, such as the mileage use limit, that further qualify the vehicle for HVUT tax imposition.
The Mileage Use Limit (MUL) for agricultural vehicles is 7500 miles and 5000 miles for non-agricultural vehicles.
When the vehicle exceeds these mileage limits, a standard tax is imposed on the vehicle. The vehicle owner needs to report the vehicle information and file the 2290 returns with the IRS.
However, when the vehicle under-utilizes this mileage limit, it’s excused from the HVUT tax. Hence, the term “tax suspended vehicles”.
A suspended vehicle is a vehicle that is temporarily exempt from taxes. As soon as it qualifies for the HVUT requirements, the vehicle will be taxed, as usual, removing the “tax suspension” status of the vehicle.
A perfectly functioning vehicle that once recorded a higher mileage limit can also be termed “tax suspended” when the mileage utility goes below par.
What makes a vehicle tax-suspended?
The mileage use limit is a key factor that determines whether a vehicle should be “suspended” from the HVUT 2290 tax or not.
- Agricultural vehicles can be driven on the highways for up to 7500 miles without being taxed.
- Non-agricultural vehicles can be driven on the highways for up to 5000 miles without being taxed.
As long as a vehicle doesn’t exceed these mileage limits, the vehicle is “suspended” from 2290 HVUT taxes.
But the vehicle owners would still need to report the 2290 suspended vehicle tax information on Form 2290 and file the HVUT returns with the IRS.
The HVUT tax is only imposed on vehicles from the month in which the vehicle exceeds these limits.
This is why IRS Form 2290 also gives room to report partial-period tax information.
Why do we report suspended vehicles on 2290 forms?
The mileage utility limit of vehicles can vary with each year.
A non-agricultural vehicle that was utilizing more than 5000 miles in a period may not utilize as many miles in the following period.
This can result in tax suspension.
The IRS needs to be informed of such a change in vehicle information because the tax-suspension status of a vehicle directly impacts the tax levied on a vehicle.
This is why IRS Form 2290 comprehensively reports the tax suspension vehicles with the vehicle identification numbers and mileage use limit information.
How to report suspended vehicle information on IRS Form 2290?
There’s a dedicated space on IRS Form 2290 to report specific information pertaining to the tax-suspended vehicles.
Before you start reporting, you’ll need certain information as follows.
- Vehicle type (agricultural or non-agricultural)
- Mileage use
- Period for which the vehicle remains suspended from HVUT tax
- Vehicle identification numbers
- Change of ownership details (if any)
Vehicles that are suspended from the HVUT tax are termed ‘Category W’ vehicles.
The filer needs to declare whether the tax-suspended vehicles will be used on highways on Line 7 of Form 2290.
If so, the VINs must be reported on 2290 Schedule 1 as well.
The mileage use limit and the period for which the vehicle is expected to remain suspended from HVUT tax must be declared.
The vehicle identification numbers must be validated before they’re reported on Line 8b of Form 2290.
If the ownership of the vehicle changes, wherein at the time of the ownership transfer, the vehicles were still eligible for 2290 tax suspension, then the filer needs to produce the proof to back up the claim.
The new owner’s name and the date of ownership transfer must be specified.
How to eFile Form 2290 online with the tax suspended vehicle information?
It’s absolutely necessary to report the tax-suspended vehicle information on Form 2290.
This enables the trucking company or vehicle owner to report the vehicle information and accurately maintain vehicle records.
What this establishes is that the IRS taxes the vehicles appropriately, so that the business neither overpays nor underpays the 2290 HVUT tax due.
Tax suspended vehicles do not accrue tax or interest. However, they still need to be reported on Form 2290 and must be filed with the IRS.
It’s essential to eFile your 2290 returns with an IRS-authorized eFile provider to avoid scams and delays in your filings.
Do it with EZ2290 – an IRS-authorized eFile provider, powering 10,000+ trucking businesses like yours.
EZ2290 offers:
● Automatic HVUT tax calculations
● Secure & encrypted eFile transmissions
● Free re-filing for rejected returns
● Quick and easy bulk data import
● Dynamic form completion
● Online options to pay your HVUT with convenience
● Priority 2290 tax support
Join thousands of businesses like yours who use EZ2290 every month and trust its seamless eFiling experiences.
