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Monthly Archives: August 2022

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⏰ Only A Few Days Left To eFile Your 2290 Forms. Are You Ready? 💪

Posted on August 17, 2022 - 10:06 am by
Only A Few Days Left To eFile Your 2290 Forms

Trucking businesses like yours are preparing to eFile their 2290 forms before the August 31 deadline. Are you? 

When was the last time you filed your 2290 tax returns?

Must be a long time ago. 

The thing is, 2290 tax returns must be filed every year whether or not your vehicles are suspended from the 2290 HVUT tax. 

So, if you’re operating a perfectly functional, regular vehicle to transport goods all over the U.S., then this is the right time to prepare your 2290 forms and file your HVUT returns online. 

And do it quickly because the 2290 due date for 2022 is just around the corner, and you might just miss it if you don’t get started now. 

And while you’re at it, be sure to file your 2290 returns with an IRS-authorized eFile provider like EZ2290 that 10,000+ truckers like you trust. 

It’s true. 

Businesses like yours file 2290 returns with IRS-authorized eFile providers to avoid being scammed by fraudulent companies pretending to be “legit” eFile providers. 

And when you eFile with EZ2290, you have all these amazing features and advantages that help your business save time and effort. (More on this later)

The following discussion will focus on 2290 form filing requirements, the due date for Form 2290, and of course, authorized eFiling options to eFile Form 2290 online. 

So, let’s get started.

Topics Covered

  • IRS 2290 Form For 2022: A Quick Overview 
  • Form 2290 Instructions 2022: Information You Need To File 2290 Form Online
  • IRS Form 2290 Due Date 2022: When Is 2290 Due In 2022?
  • How To eFile Form 2290 Online With EZ2290?

IRS 2290 Form For 2022: A Quick Overview

  • Form 2290 is an IRS return that exclusively deals with heavy highway vehicle usage tax information or HVUT. 
  • Use Form 2290 to report vehicle information, such as vehicle weight, vehicle category, vehicle identification number (VIN), tax suspension details, mileage use limit, and other information. 
  • Businesses need to file the HVUT Form 2290 and pay the 2290 tax due on or by the IRS deadline (as applicable from the month of first use).
  • The filing cycle begins in June and ends by the end of July of the successive year, making it a June-July filing cycle.
  • File Form 2290 before the IRS Form 2290 deadline to avoid late filing penalties and notices from the IRS. 

Form 2290 Instructions 2022: Information You Need To File 2290 Form Online

You will need a variety of vehicle and business information in order to fill out the 2290 form per the IRS instructions.  

Use the following checklist to make sure you have all the details you need to prepare and file your 2290 forms.

  • The legal name of the business or DBA (Doing Business As) name
  • EIN (Employer Identification Number) or TIN (Taxpayer Identification Number) 
  • Business address 
  • The taxable gross weight of the vehicle
  • Vehicle categories
  • Vehicle identification number 
  • The month of first use
  • Mileage use limit (miles utilized or exceeded or under-utilized by vehicles)
  • Logging status of the vehicle 
  • Suspension status of the vehicle 
  • Total number of vehicles 

IRS Form 2290 Due Date 2022: When Is 2290 Due In 2022?

Use the following 2290 due date chart 2022 to file your 2290 forms on or by the IRS deadline.

If The Vehicle Is First Used In This MonthFile Form 2290 & Pay HVUT Tax By
July 2022August 31, 2022
August 2022September 30, 2022
September 2022October 31, 2022
October 2022November 30, 2022
November 2022January 3, 2023
December 2022January 31, 2023
January 2023February 28, 2023
February 2023March 31, 2023
March 2023May 01, 2023
April 2023May 31, 2023
May 2023June 30, 2023

How To eFile Form 2290 Online With EZ2290 

Did you know that 10,000+ trucking businesses like yours use and trust EZ2290 for its super quick, secure, and convenient e-filing experiences? 

EZ2290 enables: 

And much more.

The best part is that you don’t need any technical expertise to get started with EZ2290. Our service offerings are designed to suit your unique filing requirements, no matter the size of your business. 

You can always use our online guides to navigate your way through our tools should you need help.

Use EZ2290 anywhere around the world, track your filing requests from any device, and most importantly, manage all your IRS communications in one place.

Tired of doing everything by yourself? Switch to managed services today. 

Get Started For Free & File Your Form 2290 Online

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How Trucking Companies Are Saving Time With EZ2290’s Bulk Upload

Posted on August 17, 2022 - 9:23 am by
Trucking Companies Are Saving Time With EZ2290 Bulk Upload Feature

Here’s how the bulk upload feature from EZ2290 would make your life easy and why you should consider using it for your bulk 2290 form filings.

Businesses love convenience. 

Honestly, who doesn’t?

You can tell how much someone loves convenience by looking at some of the apps and internet products they use. 

If you’ve used EZ2290 to submit your 2290 returns to the IRS, then you’re already one of those sophisticated internet users who love all things great and convenient. 

But convenience doesn’t just end at secure e-filings and 24×7 support. 

There’s so much more to 2290 filings that trucking businesses like yours need. 

For example, a convenient solution that enables you to import all your vehicle and business data in just a simple click. 

We’re referring to EZ2290’s bulk Data Upload/Import feature that enables you to import all the data you need at once, saving you time and effort. 

These are the times that need quick thinking and smart working. No one has the time to wait and manually enter the data for hundreds and thousands of forms. It’s practically not viable. 

EZ2290 is on a mission to make 2290 e-filing and HVUT compliance a no-nonsense ordeal for users by bringing together some of the easiest solutions in one place. 

This includes making bulk filings easy for businesses. 

Let’s discuss this in some detail. 

What Is The EZ2290’s Bulk Upload Feature? 

EZ2290’s bulk data upload enables a user to upload or import bulk vehicle data, business EIN/legal name information, and other 2290-related data in a single click. 

With predefined Excel templates, you can easily import and format the imported data for appropriate comprehension. 

If you’re a tax practitioner or a paid preparer or have multiple trucking companies to manage, EZ2290’s bulk data upload feature comes in handy.  

Here’s how you can access this feature. 

Step 1: Create your EZ2290 account for free 

Step 2: Log in to your account and go to your user dashboard

Step 3: Select ‘Bulk Upload’ 

Step 4: Select the file on your computer and the upload process will begin 

Don’t worry. EZ2290 is encrypted with a 256-bit bank-grade advanced encryption standard. This means your data is only yours and no one will be able to access it (not even us). 

The uploaded data can be formatted for comprehension with the predefined Excel templates on your data management dashboard. 

This helps you populate the data on your 2290 forms appropriately. EZ2290 will even prompt you to enable the ‘auto-populate’ feature to complete the 2290 HVUT forms quickly. 

How Is Bulk Upload/Import Useful For Your Trucking Business? 

Import bulk data easily within seconds 

You may have a few vehicles to report on a 2290 form, or you may have a bunch of businesses for which you need to file 2290 forms in the volumes of hundreds or even thousands.

No matter your filing requirements, you will be able to upload your bulk data easily within a few seconds, securely, without interruptions. 

Import data for multiple EINs easily

If you’re someone who owns multiple trucking companies or files for multiple trucking businesses, EZ2290 has got you covered. You can upload the data for multiple business profiles separately with the bulk upload feature. 

Remember that you will need to create separate business profiles before you start the upload process. After this, you can eFile 2290 forms for all the EINs at once seamlessly. 

You will need to make the 2290 tax payments for each of the businesses separately to receive separate IRS-stamped Schedule 1 forms. 

Meet deadlines faster

Bulk data uploads make way for a faster form completion process. 

What this essentially means is that you’re uploading all the necessary data at once, creating multiple forms, and reviewing them. 

The entire process of importing data, completing your 2290 returns, and reviewing the forms takes you a handful of minutes before you’re eFiling your HVUT returns with the IRS. 

This would normally take hours or maybe even days if you were to manually enter the data and complete the forms. 

What’s more? You’re able to meet your deadlines faster and prevent late filing penalties because you have a super smart compliance product by your side. 

Get more work done in less time 

When you’re utilizing the bulk upload feature, you can simultaneously make use of our bulk filings feature to optimize your 2290 filing process.  eFile thousands of 2290 forms at once. eFile 2290 forms for multiple EINs at once. 

You’re essentially optimizing your 2290 compliance ecosystem with an IRS-authorized compliance enabler that works to help you. 

eFile without interruptions 

EZ2290 not only brings you bulk filings and bulk upload functionalities. You can also leverage a variety of other useful features that help you eFile your 2290 returns with the IRS seamlessly. 

We directly transmit your electronic filing requests to the IRS and help you receive the stamped Schedule 1 almost instantly. 

What’s even better is that you can easily address your rejected returns and incorrect VIN reports at no additional cost. 

Ditch hours and even days of paperwork, and switch to the smarter approach to HVUT compliance with EZ2290.  Prepare and eFile your 2290 forms without any obstacles. 

Sign Up For Free & Bulk eFile 2290 Forms Online

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What Are IRS Form 2290 Agricultural Vehicles? How To Report Them?

Posted on August 16, 2022 - 12:13 pm by
What Are IRS Form 2290 Agricultural Vehicles

Here’s a simple guide to help you understand the HVUT agricultural vehicles and report them on Form 2290 appropriately.

Quick Topics

  • What is an agricultural vehicle?
  • How does the IRS define an agricultural vehicle?
  • How is an agricultural vehicle different from regular commercial highway motor vehicles?
  • How to report agricultural vehicles on HVUT Form 2290?
  • eFile HVUT Form 2290 with EZ2290 & report agricultural vehicles

What is an agricultural vehicle?

An agricultural vehicle is just another vehicle that instead of transporting products and processed commodities, it transports raw, natural materials. Things like wood, cocoa beans, coffee beans, fruits, vegetables, pulses, herbs, seeds, and other agricultural commodities are transported with agricultural vehicles.

In the HVUT tax reporting practice, agricultural vehicles are taxed slightly less when compared to regular commercial motor vehicles (CMV). Agricultural vehicles are termed “logging” vehicles because, in this context, logging vehicles are primarily used for transporting forestry goods and commodities.

2290 HVUT Agricultural Vehicles qualify for HVUT tax filings if the vehicle’s taxable gross weight is 55,000 pounds or more. This taxable gross weight metric is the same for all highway vehicles.

How does the IRS define an agricultural vehicle?

The definition is loosely stated and talks about “carriers” with tractor equipment (meaning a trailer), but it also includes self-propelled tractors and motor trucks that are designed for hauling farm equipment on a flatbed. 

The IRS does not specifically define agricultural vehicles. However, in the IRS’ view, a highway agricultural vehicle is generally defined as a truck or truck semi-trailer having two or three wheels, that is used to transport agricultural products to market or warehouses.

For an agricultural vehicle to be qualified for HVUT reporting, it has to meet two requirements: 

  1. The vehicle must weigh at least 55,000 pounds. This is the ‘unloaded’ weight of the vehicle with all the equipment and components which are necessary for regular operations. 
  2. The vehicle must be used for agricultural product/material transportation only.

How is an agricultural vehicle different from regular commercial highway motor vehicles?

Agricultural Vehicle Commercial Highway Motor Vehicle
Agricultural vehicles are only used for transporting forestry goods, agricultural commodities, and raw materials. Commercial vehicles are used for transporting all kinds of commercial goods and products.
The minimum tax rate for a qualified HVUT agricultural vehicle is $75.The minimum tax rate for a qualified HVUT commercial vehicle is $100.
Agricultural vehicles are reported in the “logging” columns of Form 2290. Regular vehicles are reported in the “vehicles except for logging” columns of Form 2290.
Agricultural vehicles have a mileage use limit of 7500 miles.Non-logging vehicles have a mileage use limit of 5000 miles.

How to report agricultural vehicles on HVUT Form 2290?

The information reported on the 2290 form will assist the IRS in determining the tax due on a vehicle and impose the HVUT tax on the vehicle owner(s) appropriately. 

  • Select the weight range of your agricultural vehicles in the ‘tax computation’ section of Form 2290. 
  • Enter the number of vehicles you own in the appropriate “logging vehicles” columns.
  • Report the vehicle identification number and the month of first use in Form 2290 Schedule 1
  • Enter the tax suspension details of your agricultural vehicles (other than the ones reported on the ‘tax computation’ section of Form 2290 and Schedule 1).

eFile HVUT Form 2290 with EZ2290 & report agricultural vehicles

eFile your IRS Form 2290 with an IRS-authorized eFile provider like EZ2290. 

EZ2290 powers 10,000+ trucking businesses like yours. 

With EZ2290, you can leverage:

●     Automatic HVUT tax calculations

●      Secure & encrypted eFile transmissions

●     Free 2290 VIN Corrections

●      Free re-filing for rejected returns

●      Quick and easy bulk data import

●      Dynamic form completion

●      Convenient online tax payment options 

●      Priority 2290 tax support

Join thousands of businesses like yours who use EZ2290 every month and trust its seamless eFiling experiences.

Calculate 2290 Tax For Free | Start Now – It’s Free

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Guide To Understanding Your EIN & Why You Must Have An EIN To File Form 2290?

Posted on August 12, 2022 - 12:03 pm by
Guide To Understanding Your Employer Identification Number

Understand the significance of EIN in your Form 2290 filings.

The Employer Identification Number or EIN is a taxpayer identification number (TIN) assigned to self-employed individuals and businesses.

It’s common knowledge that TINs (or EINs in this context) are assigned to businesses by either the Social Security Administration (SSA) or the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). 

When businesses have a designated EIN, it basically represents their “identity”. Hence, the self-explanatory term “employer identification number”. This number or code is assigned to businesses or employers for the sole purpose of identification. 

EINs are used for a variety of purposes. For example, when you file your tax returns or pay your taxes, EINs are used to identify and track the history of filings. 

Similarly, EINs are also used to check the legal standing status of the business per the official records of the IRS.

For example, when you apply for a business loan or sign an agreement with a new investor, furnishing your EIN along with your company’s identification details is mandatory. 

If you’re a trucking company owner or an owner-operator, you will need to furnish the EIN and legal name of the business in IRS Form 2290.

This will ensure that your 2290 tax filings correlate with the taxpayer identification number, and helps the IRS tax a specific business appropriately. 

Without a TIN or an EIN, your 2290 filings  (or any tax filings for that matter) will be rejected by the IRS. 

The following discussion will primarily focus on EIN and its significance in 2290 filings. 

Let’s get started. 

  • EIN In Form 2290 Reporting
  • Advantages Of Reporting EIN On Form 2290 Accurately
  • How To Report EIN or TIN On IRS Form 2290?
  • How To Correct A Wrong TIN Entered In Form 2290?
  • How EZ2290 Helps

EIN In Form 2290 Reporting

The Employer Identification Number or EIN is a nine-digit number assigned to business entities by the IRS. Your good practices should include reporting a valid TIN or EIN on Form 2290 to stay compliant with the IRS. 

Just like any other IRS return, the 2290 form also requires the filer to report the EIN on Form 2290. Without which, the 2290 return stands invalid and will be rejected by the IRS. 

If you’re a preparer, then you probably file IRS 2290 Form for multiple businesses. It’s ideal to rely on Real-Time IRS TIN Matching to prevent reporting incorrect TINs or EINs on your clients’ 2290 forms. 

Advantages Of Reporting EIN On Form 2290 Accurately

  • Helps prevent file rejections. 
  • Helps prevent TIN discrepancy penalties from the IRS.
  • Helps prevent B Notice assessments. 
  • Helps the IRS tax your business appropriately. 
  • Helps identify taxable businesses (if you own multiple businesses).
  • Helps track your filing history easily.
  • Helps correct previously misreported returns. 
  • Helps with managing and tracking refund claims (if any).
  • Helps amend your 2290 tax information appropriately.

How To Report EIN or TIN On IRS Form 2290?

Employer Identification Number is to be reported on Form 2290 and Schedule 1. 

The vehicle information you report on your 2290 tax return, such as the vehicle identification number, month of first use, mileage use limit, tax suspension details, and other information is linked and identified with the employer identification number reported on Form 2290. 

If you have paid HVUT tax on your heavy vehicles, then you’re bound to pay a certain amount of tax. Upon stamping and issuing the Schedule 1 (proof of payment), your tax payment is confirmed by the IRS.

The EIN is reported on both copies of Schedule 1 by the preparer or the filer to confirm and approve the “proof” of payment. 

How To Correct A Wrong EIN Entered In Form 2290?

  • Note that the EIN once assigned to a business entity does not change or renew. 
  • If the entity has been legally dissolved or if the ownership changes, a fresh EIN will be assigned to the entity. 
  • A new EIN issued by the IRS takes about 2 weeks to be added to the IRS database. In the meantime, if you try to report and file your returns with the freshly issued EIN, your returns could be rejected citing “invalid” EIN or “unknown EIN records”. 
  • If the EIN remains unchanged but the name of the business entity changes, then such a name change should be reported by filing a fresh 2290 form. 

If you’ve reported an incorrect EIN on Form 2290 or Schedule 1, then you must correct such a report at the earliest by filing a new Form 2290 and attaching an explanation for the fresh filing, specifying “EIN Correction”. 

You may even need to pay the tax amount again. However, you can request a refund for the same by filing Form 8849 and attaching the necessary proof to back up your claims. 

How EZ2290 Helps

Reporting your EIN accurately is extremely important because it helps you avoid trouble with the IRS. 

Similarly, it is essential to file your 2290 tax returns with an IRS-authorized eFile provider like EZ2290.

This helps you avoid fraudulent schemes designed to steal your business information. 

With EZ2290, you can: 

  • eFile IRS Form 2290 online
  • Pay your HVUT tax online conveniently
  • Amend your 2290 vehicle information 
  • eFile 2290 VIN Corrections for FREE
  • Re-file rejected returns for FREE 
  • eFile 2290 returns in bulk

Get Started Now & eFile 2290 Online

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2290 Payments: How To Use EFTPS To Make Quick & Easy HVUT Payments Online?

Posted on August 12, 2022 - 11:00 am by
EFTPS Payment Method For 2290 HVUT Payments

Paying 2290 taxes online? Here’s how EFTPS can help speed up the process. Learn all about EFTPS with EZ2290.

Table of Contents

  • What Is EFTPS?
  • Origin Of EFTPS
  • What Kind Of Payments Can You Make With EFTPS?
  • Can You Pay Excise Tax HVUT 2290 With EFTPS?
  • How To Pay HVUT 2290 Tax With EFTPS?
  • Does EZ2290 Support EFTPS Payment Method?
  • eFile HVUT Form 2290 & Pay HVUT Online With EFTPS

What Is EFTPS?

EFTPS or Electronic Federal Tax Payment System is a federal tax payment system provided by the IRS. The payments system is administered by the Department of Treasury and is offered to all taxpayers for free.

Businesses and individuals alike can make secure and seamless tax payments online with this electronic payments system without any limits on single-transaction tax payments.

Origin Of EFTPS

EFTPS was established in 1995 to enable faster tax payment experiences for taxpayers across the U.S. 

Businesses, individuals, organizations, trusts, and other kinds of organizations can easily make a variety of tax payments through the EFTPS payment system.

Prior to this, taxpayers were used to filing and paying their taxes by mail. To prevent missed tax payments and to make it easier for taxpayers to track payments, the IRS decided to modernize the tax payments system by introducing EFTPS.

Thanks to the pandemic, EFTPS has been extremely useful for taxpayers across the country, with many making their tax payments online from the comfort of their homes and offices.

This electronic payment system further enabled taxpayers to schedule their tax payments 365 days in advance, helping taxpayers to plan their taxes and pay them on time.

What Kind Of Payments Can You Make With EFTPS?

EFTPS enables taxpayers to pay a variety of federal taxes as follows.

  • Corporate taxes
  • Self-employment taxes
  • Estimated taxes
  • Payroll taxes
  • Excise taxes, such as 2290 tax on heavy highway vehicle

So, if you’re wondering how to pay your HVUT 2290 tax online instantly, then EFTPS is your go-to payment method.

It’s a super quick and convenient approach to planning and paying your HVUT tax online in just a few moments.

How To Pay HVUT 2290 Tax With EFTPS?

In order to access the federal tax payment system, EFTPS, you will need to register with the EFTPS portal.

Log on to the official portal here and initiate the registration process.

However, note that the IRS takes about 5-10 business days to process your request and mail the credentials to you.

You will need the following information to enroll with the federal tax payment system, EFTPS.

  • EIN or TIN
  • Business name/legal name and address
  • Contact information
  • Bank account number
  • Routing number

Enroll With EFTPS In Just 3 Quick Steps

1. Sign up with EFTPS

This is where you will need the aforementioned information. Provide your business details and enroll your business with EFTPS. Make sure that you provide accurate contact information so that the IRS can send their communications to you directly.

2. Set up your EFTPS account and password

You will receive the Personal Identification Number (PIN) via mail after you complete the first step. Use the PIN or a TIN/EIN to set up your account and password. At this point, you will need to set a new password for your account.

Remember that this step is a one-time process. The IRS does not send you “reminders” or “urgent” emails to reset your EFTPS account password. Beware of scam emails.

3. Pay or schedule your 2290 tax online

The best part about using EFTPS is that it enables you to pay an unlimited amount of tax in a single transaction. What’s even better is that it enables you to schedule your 2290 tax payments 365 days in advance. 

This way you never miss a deadline and prevent late tax payment penalties from the IRS.

Follow this guide from the IRS to use EFTPS and make quick payments.

eFile HVUT Form 2290 & Pay HVUT Online With EZ2290

EZ2290 supports a variety of payment options:

  • Credit/Debit Card
  • EFW or Direct Debit
  • EFTPS
  • Mail-In Checks
  • ACH- Direct Bank Account Draft

Join a community of 10,000+ trucking companies who eFile 2290 HVUT forms with EZ2290 and pay their HVUT taxes online using EFTPS.

So, go ahead and eFile that 2290 return confidently.

Get Started For Free

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5 Ways To Reduce 2290 Vehicle Downtime

Posted on August 11, 2022 - 9:55 am by
5 Ways To Reduce 2290 Vehicle Downtime

Here are 5 effective and useful ways to reduce vehicle downtime.

Humans need time to rest and de-stress.

They need to “rejuvenate” to get back to living and thriving.

This is just us after a long day of work.

Your vehicles go through a lot more.

After all, vehicles are man-made things. And they are bound to experience downtime every now and then.

If you’re a truck owner, you can easily tell if your vehicle is in bad shape.

There are almost too many signs that you just can’t ignore.

Yet, you choose to ignore them because you keep telling yourself that’s normal and that’s not urgent.

Only a week later, your vehicle makes a sudden pause and won’t start.

There are so many ways to get out of this tricky situation.

But the best approach is to incorporate certain strategies that aim to reduce vehicle downtime.

The following discussion will primarily focus on various ways in which vehicle downtime can be prevented.

Let’s get to it.

5 Ways To Reduce 2290 Vehicle Downtime

  1. Choose The Right Fleet For The Right Job
  2. Conduct Timely (And Effective) Inspections
  3. Schedule Repair & Maintenance
  4. Leverage Vehicle Downtime
  5. Monitor Vehicle Performance

1. Choose The Right Fleet For The Right Job

When you want to buy a new vehicle for your trucking operations or when you want to upgrade your fleet, it’s important to choose vehicles with sturdy exteriors, modern features, and advanced configurations.

Your new vehicle should add value to your operations, become a reliable asset, and most importantly, perform at its best for a long time.

Even when you’re working with your existing fleet, make sure that you assign the right kind of vehicle for the right job. A heavy, full-size truck is always a good option for heavy loads. But it’s not always ideal for lighter loads within short distances. 

Make sure that you’re not over-utilizing your best fleet on loads that don’t need that level of sturdiness.

2. Conduct Timely (And Effective) Inspections

At the end of the day, your vehicle is just machinery and the probability of malfunction cannot be ignored. This is why it’s ideal to conduct timely inspections, not just to stay compliant, but also to actually make sure that everything is in good shape.

The inspection is primarily conducted to evaluate the safety and functionality of the vehicle. Consider inspecting your vehicle carefully after every trip or after hitting a certain milestone (literally).

For example, it’s good to inspect your vehicle after every 2000 miles.  This will give your vehicle enough time to perform at its best, and then give you enough time to examine if something’s wrong. 

3. Schedule Repair & Maintenance

This is a necessary step you have to take to ensure that your vehicle performs at its best.

Don’t just address the issue when the vehicle finally gives up in the middle of nowhere.

Set aside some time, schedule repair and maintenance, and make sure that the issue at hand is addressed effectively.

4. Leverage Vehicle Downtime

Speaking of vehicle downtime.

It doesn’t have to be a bad thing. It can be a good excuse to get your vehicle checked thoroughly.

When your vehicle shows signs of trouble, it’s best to go with the “holistic” approach.

This means addressing not just the issue at hand, but also addressing other factors and source factors that are leading to such undesirable eventualities.

This improves the performance of your vehicle, keeps the vehicle in good condition for a longer time, and reduces the cost of frequent repairs (because you’re addressing all issues in one go).

5. Monitor Vehicle Performance

Your vehicle performance must be monitored to check if the vehicle is malfunctioning on its own or if factors such as distance, elements, or load weight are affecting the performance.

Extreme weather, aged/older components, rust, insufficient engine oil, and other factors slow down the performance of your vehicle.

Are your vehicles performing better when you’re not overloading your vehicles?

Are your vehicles performing poorer after a long, uninterrupted trip?

Draw the conclusions after thoroughly analyzing the data.

Downtime or not, if you’re operating your heavy highway vehicle on public highways, and it weighs 55,000 pounds or more, then you need to report your vehicle information on IRS Form 2290.

Trucking companies, small trucking businesses, truck owners, owner-operators, and fleet owners need to prepare and eFile IRS Form 2290.

Don’t eFile your 2290 forms with just any platform.

When you choose a platform to eFile your 2290 returns, you’re trusting it with your private business information.

In the wrong hands, this information can be used against your business.

Or even worse, your business information can be stolen.

eFile your IRS Form 2290 with an IRS-authorized eFile provider, such as EZ2290, which is trusted by 10,000+ truckers.

EZ2290 offers:

Join thousands of businesses like yours who use EZ2290 every month and trust its seamless eFiling experiences.

Start Now – It’s Free

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Calculating Federal Excise Tax HVUT For Heavy Trucks, Trailers, And Tractors

Posted on August 11, 2022 - 9:11 am by
How To Calculate HVUT For Heavy Trucks

A simple way to calculate your HVUT tax accurately and file your 2290 tax forms online.

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) requires truck owners, fleet owners, and trucking businesses to pay a certain amount of tax on the heavy vehicles that utilize the federal highways for transportation.

This is because heavy trucks wear off the highways a lot faster than lighter vehicles. The inherent heaviness of the vehicles in addition to the load weight that the vehicles transport, has an impact on the highways.

As a result, the federal highway administration through the IRS collects a small amount of tax from heavy vehicle owners.

Regardless of the number of owners a heavy vehicle has, the federal excise tax, HVUT must be paid, and the 2290 forms must be filed.

But of course, not all vehicles qualify for HVUT taxes. 

The motor vehicles that meet the federal highway vehicle usage requirements qualify for HVUT, and the vehicle owners must pay the computed tax.

The following discussion will cover all the important aspects of HVUT and help you learn the simplest way to calculate the HVUT for your heavy highway vehicle.

So, let’s get started.

What Is HVUT?

Heavy Highway Vehicle Usage Tax or HVUT is a federal excise tax imposed on heavy vehicles, such as trucks, tractors, truck-tractors, combination trucks, and other heavy vehicles that utilize the highways to transport goods, materials, and commodities.

The IRS Form 2290 exclusively deals with HVUT tax information reporting. 

Businesses and individuals who own and operate heavy trucks weighing 55,000 pounds or more are required to prepare and file their HVUT tax form 2290 to the IRS.

In addition to reporting the HVUT tax, the trucking business also needs to pay the HVUT tax owed to the IRS. The tax is calculated basing the gross taxable weight of the vehicle and the month in which the vehicle was first operated on highways.

Why Do You Need To Pay HVUT 2290 Tax?

HVUT tax is a federal excise tax. 

This means it’s a federal tax mandate that every trucking business and truck owner must follow. 

HVUT 2290 tax is also a significant source of transportation funding.  

The HVUT taxes, collected throughout the June-July cycle, are used for federal highway infrastructure.

The funds are specifically used for a variety of safety and highway development programs, including but not limited to:

  • Highway infrastructure
  • Highway improvements & maintenance
  • Bridge maintenance activities
  • Highway law enforcement
  • Congestion relief projects
  • Local highway safety programs
  • Research, engineering, and alike activities
  • Safety programs, such as driver education and training, vehicle inspection programs, vehicle size, weight enforcement, and others.

How To Calculate HVUT For Heavy Trucks, Trailers, and Tractors?

Let’s understand the HVUT tax computation with an example.

Say, you own a highway truck that you typically use to transport commercial goods.

The vehicle weighs 56,000 pounds, and you started operating the vehicle on the highway in February for the first time.

Remember that a heavy vehicle that weighs about 55,000 pounds is taxed at $100. 

With every 1000 pounds, the vehicle adds to its gross weight, an additional tax of $22 is added.

The tax computation for this use case would be as follows.

Tax rate for vehicle weighing 56,000 pounds = $122

$100 for 55,000 pounds + $22 for the 1000 pounds in excess of the 55,000 pounds.

Now, assume that the gross weight of the vehicle (the unloaded, “empty” weight of the vehicle including the operational equipment and installations) increased during, say April, to 58,000 pounds.

Note: 2290 Amendment form must be filed to report an increase in the gross taxable weight of the vehicle.

The additional tax would be $22 x 2000 pounds = $44.

Add this amount to the total tax above, which brings the net tax payable to $122 + $44 = $166 (before deductions)

If you’ve received a refund from the IRS for overpaying your HVUT taxes previously, then such an amount must be deducted from the net tax payable.

The product after the subtraction is the total net tax you owe to the IRS.

So, assuming that you received $50 in HVUT tax refund, the total net tax payable is $166 – $50 = $116

You must prepare and file a 2290 form to report the same to the IRS and pay your HVUT.

Calculate HVUT For Free

Note: HVUT is applicable on both agricultural and non-agricultural vehicles. However, the logging status of the vehicle will imply a slight change in the tax rates applicable. Qualified logging vehicles are taxed at $75, which is $25 less than the tax imposed on non-logging vehicles (which are taxed at $100).

Where To eFile HVUT Form 2290 & Pay HVUT Tax Online

Preparing your HVUT 2290 forms and paying your HVUT with an IRS-authorized eFile provider, like EZ2290, is a good start.

Over 10,000 trucking businesses like yours trust EZ2290 for its convenient eFiling experiences and seamless bulk 2290 eFiling solutions.

EZ2290 offers a simple 5-step process to eFile your 2290 and pay the 2290 tax online.

Step 1: Create your FREE EZ2290 account

Step 2: Import your vehicle & business data SECURELY

Step 3: eFile your 2290 tax forms QUICKLY

Step 4: Pay your 2290 tax via available ONLINE payment options

Step 5: Get IRS-stamped Schedule-1 INSTANTLY

Get Started For Free & File Your 2290 Forms

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HVUT Form 2290 Late Filing Penalties

Posted on August 9, 2022 - 1:04 pm by
HVUT Form 2290 Late Filing Penalties

Here’s what happens when you delay your 2290 filings beyond the IRS due date.

Are you someone who likes to live life on the edge? 

Or someone who isn’t easily scared? 

Or perhaps you’re just a regular human being who procrastinates.

No matter who you are, you can’t risk missing your 2990 filings beyond the IRS due date. 

But what would happen IF you delay filing your 2290 forms? 

How would the IRS respond?

Would there be any penalties? 

And if so, how big? 

Are there any exceptions for those who genuinely couldn’t file with a reasonable cause? 

Let’s learn all about it in the following discussion. 

What Is Form 2290? 

Form 2290 is an IRS form that specifically deals with heavy highway vehicle usage tax. Self-employed truckers and trucking businesses must file a Form 2290 to report certain vehicle information and pay the excise tax. 

If you’re a self-employed trucker or a trucking company, you need to prepare and file a Form 2290 for all vehicles that weigh 55,000 pounds or more. 

When Is Form 2290 Due?  

The current filing period for 2290 forms begins on July 1, 2022, and ends by June 30, 2023. 

Use the following 2290 filing table to prepare and file your 2290 returns.

If The Vehicle Is First Used During This PeriodFile Form 2290 And Make Your Payment ByEnter This Date On Form 2290, Line 1
JulyAugust 31YYYY07
AugustSeptember 30YYYY08
SeptemberOctober 31YYYY09
OctoberNovember 30YYYY10
NovemberDecember 31YYYY11
DecemberJanuary 31YYYY12
JanuaryLast day of FebruaryYYYY01
FebruaryMarch 31YYYY02
MarchApril 30YYYY03
AprilMay 31YYYY04
MayJune 30YYYY05
JuneJuly 31YYYY06

Delaying Your 2290 Filings: Conflicted Perspectives 

What would happen if you were to delay your 2290 filings? 

Hey, not everyone is trying to disobey the rules. 

Sometimes, life happens, and we simply can’t get to these regulatory obligations no matter how much we plan ahead. 

So, then what? Would the IRS still penalize you? 

There’s a precondition here. 

The IRS will consider extending the deadline if you have a reasonable cause. 

If you’re acting in good faith, and you’re not delaying your filings due to willful neglect, then the IRS can make an exception for you. 

Here’s a comprehensive explanation of all reasons that the IRS considers to be the conduct of good faith. 

Remember that the deadline is just to relieve you from the prescribed filing deadlines and not the taxes. 

Even if your request is accepted, you’ll still need to pay your HVUT at least partially to avoid penalty assessments. 

Penalties For Delaying Form 2290 Filings In 2022

If you fail to file your HVUT Form 2290 by the deadline, the penalty would be around 4.5% of the total tax you owe to the IRS. The penalty will continue to increase for up to 5 months until you pay it off in full. 

If you fail to pay your HVUT, the penalty is 0.5% of your total tax amount. This penalty will continue to accrue an additional interest of 0.54% of the tax, per month.

Now, let’s assume that your vehicle weighs over 77,000 pounds. The HVUT tax on such a vehicle is $550. 

So, delaying your 2290 form filings would increase the amount to $700 (approximately). That’s roughly $150 more than what you’re required to pay initially. 

And the penalty will drastically increase as the number of vehicles increases. 

However, if you have a reasonable cause for not filing your returns on time, you could request an extension, which would reduce the strain of penalties on your business. 

Take a quick look at this list of reasonable causes that the IRS considers for penalty relief.

What Is 2290 Filing Extension? 

File for an extension if you’re able to foresee that your firm may not be able to meet the 2290 deadline despite your best efforts. 

Note that you must file an extension before the deadline. Filing for an extension does not warrant an extension of tax payment. You’ll still need to pay your taxes at least in part or in full. 

To file for an extension of the 2290 filing deadline, you need to write a letter and send it to the following address in order to communicate your reasons. 

Address: 

Internal Revenue Service

7940 Kentucky Drive

Florence, KY 41042-2915

You need to provide a detailed explanation of your case and attach any supporting documentation for proof. 

How To Prevent 2290 Form Late Filing Penalties?  

  • Pay your taxes and file for an extension 

If you just need an extension to file your 2290 returns, consider paying your taxes to avoid penalty assessments. This will buy you some time to prepare and file your 2290 returns. 

  • File for an extension of HVUT payment and deadline 

Sometimes, businesses need time to file the IRS forms and the time to pay their tax. In such a case, write a letter to the IRS and request for an extension. If the IRS accepts such a request, you have time to file and pay your tax. 

  • Plan and schedule your filings in advance 

There are many ways to prevent being penalized by the IRS for delayed 2290 filings. However, nothing tops filing your 2290 forms on time and paying your HVUT tax on time. 

So, make use of certain productivity tools available online to remind yourself of the fast-approaching deadlines. 

  • For starters, you can subscribe to EZ2290’s email list, so you receive email alerts about deadlines, important updates from the IRS, and useful tips on 2290 filings. This way you never miss a deadline and get all the information you need in one place from a verified source. 
  • Ask your Google Assistant to remind you about the 2290 filing deadlines as soon as the calendar year begins. Alternatively, you can set up reminders/events on your web calendars.
  • And lastly, prepare and draft your 2290 returns in advance with EZ2290. Import your vehicle data with Excel and prepare the 2290 forms without switching platforms. If the vehicle data needs to be changed, you can do it online.  
  • Use EZ2290’s HVUT Tax Calculator to get an estimate of the tax you need to pay. Set this amount aside prior to filings, so you never run short of funds to pay your taxes. 

Sign Up Now With EZ2290 & eFile Form 2290

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Understanding Your Commercial Motor Vehicle Classification: A Quick Guide

Posted on August 9, 2022 - 11:56 am by
Commercial Motor Vehicle Classification

Here’s a simple guide to help you understand CMV classification.

Did you know that there are approximately eight types of commercial motor vehicle categories in the U.S.? That’s right. The U.S. recognizes eight different classes of commercial motor vehicles and these classes are further clubbed and sub-divided into three, smaller categories.

Each of these categories designates vehicles in accordance with their gross weight. For starters, there are light-duty vehicles, medium-duty vehicles, and heavy-duty vehicles.

The gross vehicle weight rating or GVWR is considered to classify the vehicles or trucks that operate on U.S. highways.

This is why the HVUT tax laws specifically talk about ‘Heavy Highway Vehicles’ which meet the gross taxable weight qualifications.

If you don’t already know, the IRS requires trucking businesses to report and file a 2290 HVUT form if the gross weight of the vehicle is 55,000 pounds or more. The vehicle is taxed per the gross taxable weight and the month of first use.

Let’s learn more about the commercial motor vehicle classifications in the following discussion.

Gross Vehicle Weight Rating: An Overview

Here’s a simple way to understand this concept.

  • GVWR is a safety standard that applies to all heavy vehicles that operate on highways.
  • It’s a safety regulation mandated to prevent vehicle overloading.
  • The combined weight of the maximum weight-bearing components, such as the axles; and the weaker components, such as the body, frame, ​suspension, and tires, are considered when determining the GVWR
  • The manufacturer defines the maximum safest weight capacity of the vehicle.
  • This is the safest weight recommended for a vehicle for commercial transportation purposes.

Driving a heavy truck within the GVWR classifications is not easy.

This is why truck drivers are required to get special training and licenses to drive the vehicles.

Let’s take a look at different commercial motor vehicle classifications.

Gross Vehicle Weight Rating Classification For Commercial Motor Vehicles

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, here’s a simplified representation of trucks in accordance with their GVW rating.

Gross Vehicle Weight RatingVehicle ClassGVWR Category
Less than 6000 poundsClass 1: <6000 IbsLight Duty
10,000 poundsClass 2: 6001-10,000 IbsLight Duty
14,000 poundsClass 3: 10,001-14,000 IbsMedium Duty
16,000 poundsClass 4: 14,001-16,000 IbsMedium Duty
19,500 poundsClass 5: 16,001-19,500 IbsMedium Duty
26,000 poundsClass 6: 19,501-26,000 IbsMedium Duty
33,000 poundsClass 7: 26,001-33,00 lbsHeavy Duty
More than 33,000 poundsClass 8: <33,001 IbsHeavy Duty

Light Duty Vehicles

  • Vehicles with a gross weight of 6,000 pounds or less are usually considered to be light-duty vehicles.
  • These vehicles are classified as ‘Class 1’ and ‘Class 2’ vehicles.

Medium Duty Vehicles

  • Vehicles that have a GVWR of 10,001–14,000 pounds are classified ‘Class 3’ vehicles.
  • Vehicles that have a GVWR of 14,001–16,000 pounds are classified ‘Class 4’ vehicles.
  • Vehicles that have a GVWR of 16,001–19,500 pounds are classified ‘Class 5’ vehicles.
  • Vehicles that have a GVWR of 19,501–26,000 pounds are classified ‘Class 6’ vehicles.

Heavy-Duty Vehicles

Vehicles that have a GVWR of 26,001 to 33,000 pounds are classified ‘Class 7’ vehicles.

Vehicles that have a GVWR of more than 33,000 pounds are classified ‘Class 8’ vehicles.

Truck drivers need to get a special Commercial Driving License (CDL) for heavy duty vehicles to stay compliant with the highway authorities and the DOT.

If you’re an owner-operator/truck driver, it’s important to keep yourself posted on this information and familiarize yourself with the vehicle classifications. This will help you determine the load weight capacity of the vehicles and the gross taxable weight of the truck. This will also help you plan your load trips accordingly.

The vehicle classification information can be used to determine the HVUT qualifications.

If you’ve been in business long enough, you must already be familiar with 2290 return filings.

Every owner-operator, small truck business, and even a fleet company that operates trucks weighing 55,000 pounds or more, is required to file a Form 2290, according to the IRS.

So, when you plan on filing your 2290 returns, do it with EZ2290 – an HVUT compliance enabler.

EZ2290 enables:

And much more.

Calculate HVUT Tax Now | Get Started For Free

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Understanding Form 2290 Tax Suspended Vehicles 

Posted on August 8, 2022 - 12:11 pm by
Form 2290 Tax Suspended Vehicles

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)
Statement in Support of Suspension

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 2290 VIN Corrections

●      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.

Calculate 2290 Tax For Free | Start Now – It’s Free

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