Monthly Archives: June 2016

Don’t you love going fast? Down the road, pulling the load, everything in line, and arriving on time.

We like that, too. When it comes to paying your heavy vehicle use tax, you can choose three speeds.

Super slow, where you write a check and mail it in.

Then there are two faster options.

One is to pay the IRS directly through their EFTPS (Electronic Federal Tax Payment System). But you have to have a login to do that.

An easy fast way to pay is to use ACH withdrawal. The money will come directly from your checking account. Just enter your Routing and Account numbers. But what if you make a typo in your Routing number? That will definitely slow you down.

To keep you up-to-speed, we implemented a Routing number verification. Every time you enter a Routing number we verify it against the Federal Reserve’s list of valid Routing numbers. If you happen to enter it incorrectly, you will be met with a red X. When you get it right, you will get a green check to continue.

We also give you an on-screen example of where to find the Routing number. The Routing number is always 9 digits. The Account number can be more than that. So make sure you have the right information and never have to slow down!

4th of July, 2016 special coupon code – 7416, use it at checkout for 25% off (offer good until July 8th, 2016)  

What is TIN Verification?

It’s a tool to confirm the name and EIN match. We check the information for you with the IRS database. That way you can help avoid rejection.

Can I Do TIN Match Myself?

Yes! You can call the IRS EIN hotline at 800-829-4933. Press 1 and then 3. And then wait. Eventually, you can speak with someone to confirm business details such as your EIN, name, and address that you registered the business under. Make sure you have recent tax filing information available as well. The IRS will ask questions to confirm you are who you say you are before sharing information.

Don’t have time to sit on hold until an overworked IRS agent answers the phone?

An Easier Way

You can use TIN Verification in EZ2290.com. When you enter your business profile, just click “Verify TIN” under the Confirm EIN box. There is a small convenience fee to verify the information.

In a few seconds you will know if you have the correct information. A green check mark means everything is good. A red X, like you see above, means something is off.  

Why did I get an error?

Usually the error is because the name is wrong. Here is an example:

• Jim Smith owns JS Freight Haulers. He is the sole proprietor.
• Jim registered for an EIN two years ago. It is 99-1234567.
• Jim entered his business name as JS Freight Haulers in his business profile.
• The IRS rejected his 2290.
• The correct name to enter on his business profile is James Smith (Jim is his nickname).

Why doesn’t the IRS recognize my business name?

Most small businesses file their taxes through their SSN, not their EIN. The IRS tracks the EIN for a sole proprietor or most LLCs to the individual’s name. The business name in most of these cases is a “doing business as” name, or DBA. Check out this post for more details on getting an EIN. Jim entered his DBA name instead of his own name. That is why the IRS rejected his form. The IRS won’t recognize a DBA name.  

How do I fix the error?

When you use TIN Verification you know right away something is wrong. You can fix the name and verify again to confirm it is right. Once it is verified you can file your 2290.  

What if the IRS rejects my form?

If the IRS rejects the form, you can edit the business profile to change the name or EIN. Then you can re-submit the form. If you filed and then left to do something else, though, you may not get back to edit the form for a few hours or days. Verifying the TIN can help avoid that wasted time and money.

Is July or August your busiest time on the road? Pre-file your Form 2290 now and avoid the headache of scrambling to file before the deadline*! P.S. Keep scrollin’ for Conan’s driving school clip.  

Save Money by Pre-Filing Form 2290 Now!

EZ2290.com has the new tax year forms available for July 1st, 2016 to June 30th, 2017! If you pre-file with us now in the month of June you can save 10% on the filing fee by using the discount code: SAVE10NOW. Enter the code at checkout.  

File and Forget About It….

Go ahead and pre-file now and we’ll take care of the rest. Once the tax season starts over on July 1st and the IRS begins accepting the 2290 Forms, we’ll submit yours and then automatically email you the Schedule 1 after the IRS accepts your return.  

Can I get my Schedule 1 before July 1st?

A lot of customers that pre-file think they will get their Schedule 1 as soon as they submit the 2290. The fact is: the IRS will not release Schedule 1’s for any 2016 tax year 2290 filings prior to the start of the tax year which is always July 1st. Depending on the quantity of forms being submitted electronically, the IRS may not be able to release those Schedule 1’s for a few days. If you have to have the Schedule 1 prior to July 1st, you can try to file at your local IRS office.  

* When is the Deadline?

The actual deadline to renew your 2290 for the upcoming tax season is August 31st. However, if you need that Schedule 1 before then to get your tags, you’ll have to go ahead and file before that deadline date.

Conan goes off to driving school!

Cost #1 — The Cops and Court Fees

Cost #2 —Clients calling about their delayed shipment

Cost #3 —No papers, no work

Fast Forward…

“IRS”: Mrs. Stevens, your payment for Federal Tax Transaction ID 152425658515226 failed to come through. You need to pay your 2290 Heavy Highway Usage Tax and we need your payment immediately.

Mrs. Stevens: We did pay our taxes by mailing in a check to the IRS. You must be mistaken.

“IRS”: We have received no such payment and require the payment in full, plus penalties for not paying on time. You need to make your payment over the phone today, by debit or credit, or we will be calling the authorities and will have you arrested for failure to pay!

SCARY!

IRS PHONE CALL SCAM MORE POPULAR AND MORE COSTLY

The IRS phone scam has unfortunately cost Americans millions of dollars. Reports of this scam began in 2013. It has grown into the largest and most pervasive impersonation scam for the Treasury Inspector General’s office. In California alone victims reported losing $3.84 million.

What can you do to ensure you don’t end up giving your hard earned cash to scammers?

1. Learn how the IRS operates when it comes to taxes and penalties owed.
2. Learn how the scammers operate, too.

Will the IRS call me if I owe taxes? No.

1. The IRS will never contact you by phone about any taxes or penalties you owe.
2. They do not use force, threats, or demand a payment.
3. They will never require that you make a payment a certain way.
4. The IRS does not ask for a debit or credit card payment over the phone.

How will the IRS contact me if I owe taxes?

The IRS will mail you a letter informing you of any taxes or penalties you owe. There will also be a number listed on the letter so that you can call the IRS and confirm. If you get a phone call by someone claiming to be from the IRS

1. Don’t talk to the caller or give out any information.
2. Hang up immediately.
3. Report the call to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, either online at IRS Impersonation Scam Reporting or by phone at 800-366-4484.
4. Record the employees name, badge number, and call back number.
5. Call 1-800-366-4484 to determine if the caller is an IRS employee with a legitimate need to contact you.
6. If the person calling you is an IRS employee, call them back.

  Characteristics of an IRS phone scam

1. Scammers will use fake names and IRS badge numbers.
2. They will use common names and surnames to identify themselves.
3. Some scammers will be able to recite the last 4 digits of your SSN.
4. They spoof the IRS toll-free number on a caller ID to make it look like it is actually the IRS that is calling.
5. You may hear background noise of other calls to mimic a call center.
6. They will threaten you with jail time or driver’s license revocation
7. After the scammer threatens you, they will hang up and another scammer will call back pretending to be from the local police or DMV. Unfortunately, the caller ID will support their claim.

You can also report the incident to TIGTA or at [email protected] (Subject: ‘IRS Phone Scam’).

5 Signs that an IRS caller is a crook

A big red flag is that a scammer is very aggressive about trying to obtain your money. To learn about the 5 signs click the following link: https://www.irs.gov/uac/five-easy-ways-to-spot-a-scam-phone-call Unfortunately, we face multiple different forms of IRS scams, not just through our phones.

Other forms of IRS Scams

1. Email
2. Letter
3. Fax
4. Text

These are all ways that scammers use to try access your money. They prey on your fear of jail and fear of paying more in penalties. You can keep from falling victim to these tactics by educating yourself. Below are a couple of links you can click on to learn more information about how scammers use these different forms of communication to try to scam the American population.

Read more about Tax Scams/Consumer Alerts directly from the IRS.

It pays to know your options!

What is the Form 8849?

Use Form 8849 to claim a refund of excise taxes. Attach Schedules 1, 2, 3, 5, and 8 to claim certain fuel related refunds such as nontaxable uses (or sales) of fuels. Attach Schedule 6 for claims not reportable on Schedules 1, 2, 3, 5, and 8, including refunds of excise taxes reported on Form 2290, Heavy Highway Vehicle Use Tax Return.

Who needs to file an 8849?

There are several reasons why a person would file an 8849 Credit Request. The most common is when an individual or company has traded or sold their truck. If you include the 8849 credit request on the same 2290 return then the credit will be applied toward the new truck saving you time and money.

You may not always need to file an 8849 along with a 2290 form

There are occasions, for example, when you realize that you didn’t go over the 5,000 mileage minimum requirement in the tax period. You would then file an 8849 and the IRS will mail your credit refund to the mailing address in your Business Profile. You will want to use the same First Month Used for this filing that was used on the original 2290 which is normally July (the start of the Tax Year).

Over Payment / Mistakenly Filed

A new option that was added recently was the Over Payment / Mistakenly Filed reason. As an example, this is useful when you filed a 2290 for a truck early in the tax period then bought a new truck after the Holidays. When you filed the 2290 for the new truck you also added the first truck not realizing you already paid for it. The system will not catch the duplicate if the 2 forms are not identical (1 truck vs 2 trucks). Therefore you will end up paying twice for one vehicle and will then file an 8849 to get the money back that you over paid.

Reasons to pick from when filing an 8849 Form:

• Sold / Traded
• Stolen
• Destroyed
• Mileage Not Exceeded
• Over Payment / Mistakenly Filed

How do I file an 8849?

1. After logging in to your account, click Continue next to the company name/EIN listed under your Business Profile. If you just setup an account, click on Add Business and fill that information out completely.
2. If you are in your Tax Information screen, click on Create New Return or click Save & Continue if adding the new business.
3. You will complete the same steps as a normal 2290 by selecting the Tax Year and the First Month Used.
4. Here is where the steps will change. You will want to click on the 8849 Return button which is the one on the right. Your refund will be mailed to you! The IRS does not issue any refunds via debit/credit card or toward your ACH Bank Account. If you want to file a 2290 and add an 8849 to apply the credit, choose 2290 Return New first. Then choose 8849 Credit Request on the vehicle information screen after you’ve added the new 2290 vehicle. This is the only option where you can apply the credit toward a 2290 that you have to file.
5. Now you will need to add the vehicle that you want the credit on. Click on Add New and then fill out the fields required. They start out like this:
   1. VIN number – all 17 characters of the truck’s VIN or add an X at the end if it’s less than 17
   2. Reason (see list above) – depending on the reason chosen, more fields may show up that needs filled out as well; Logging, Weight Category, etc.
   3. Effective Date – this is the date that the truck was either Sold/Traded, Stolen, Destroyed, etc. If Mileage not Exceeded or Over Payment, we suggest using July 1st as that was the start of the Tax Year.
   4. Explanation – this is very important! Need to list the effective date again in this field, the VIN Number and any other important information that will help the IRS to approve your request. If selling a vehicle, include who it was sold to. They will delay a refund if they don’t have all of the information needed.
6. Click Save and double check the Tax Meter on the right of the screen to make sure the amount of refund looks correct. If not, you may need to choose a different First Month Used or double check the year of the Effective Date.
7. If you have any documents that can support your claim for a refund then please add them. It is not required but it does make your refunds get approved and processed a lot faster by the IRS. However, the system will only accept documents uploaded in the PDF format and have to be less than 1 MB in size. Examples of supporting documents: Bill of Sale, Police Report, previous 2290 where vehicle was submitted and paid for, etc.
8. Proceed with the form by clicking Save & Next.
9. The next screen is the new form that the IRS added in November 2015 – 8453-EX, everything is automatically filled out on this screen, and it just requires a signature at the bottom. To sign, use your mouse while holding the left mouse button down and add your signature. Click Next.
10. Double check everything that is entered on this Review & Submit page. This is your chance to make sure it is all correct and there are no typos, etc. Click Submit.
11. Click Next on the pop up message telling you that your refund will be mailed to you shortly. And by shortly, they mean weeks or months. 
12. The last 2 pages are the ones for our filing fee. Choose this return only and then enter the credit card information for our filing fee. Once you click Pay Now and get the reference # on the screen you have successfully submitted your form to the IRS! Congratulations!