Here are 5 payment options for online truck tax filers to pay 2290 HVUT taxes online easily and quickly.
If you’re reading this, you’re probably wondering “how do I pay my HVUT taxes quickly?”.
You’re not alone.
Thousands of trucking companies file their 2290 HVUT forms around this time of the year and pay their HVUT taxes through various payment methods.
And just like you, many are opting for electronic payment methods for a swifter and instant payment experience.
The IRS enables truck taxpayers to pay their HVUT truck tax online as well as offline.
Use the following guide to pay your HVUT taxes quickly.
Note: If you still haven’t figured out your HVUT estimates, use EZ2290’s virtual HVUT tax calculator to calculate your total HVUT for the filing period.
The IRS has started to accept online payments through the use of debit and credit cards in 2021.
When you want to pay your HVUT tax through an IRS-authorized agent like EZ2290, you can choose this method for a convenient payment experience.
Select the Debit/Card option on the payment methods page, and you will be redirected to the IRS.gov/PayByCard page. You can make a direct payment to the IRS here.
If you’re filing with an eFile provider, you will probably need to pay a little extra (less than $3) as a service fee, since the providers send your eFile requests to the IRS and process the filings. You will need to pay more depending on the volume of your eFilings.
On the payments page, make sure that you select the service provider with whom you’re filing your 2290 forms.
Select the payment category “2290” to proceed further
Ensure that you select the correct tax year (otherwise, you’re authorizing payments for a different tax year, and you can’t claim a refund).
Review the payment information before you proceed to authorize the payment. If you’ve entered incorrect information, now’s the time to go back and change it.
Once the payment has been processed, you will receive an electronic receipt.
EFW or Direct Debit
EFW payment method allows you to pay the IRS 2290 tax due by enabling a direct debit from your bank account, giving it the name “direct debit” or EFW (Electronic Fund Withdrawal).
This is a simple payment method that many trucking companies use for bulk payments, especially for scheduled eFile and ePay experiences.
Information you need for using this payment method:
Banking information
Routing number
Checking or savings account number
Your payment or withdrawal amount
The date you want your fund withdrawn
On selecting this payment method and entering the above information, a request will be sent out to your bank. Once your bank authorizes the payment, the amount will be debited from your account on the date and time you selected.
It’s one of the most convenient ways to pay your HVUT truck tax, especially if you plan on scheduling your tax payments in advance.
EFTPS
If you have an account at eftps.gov, you can make the payment relatively quickly.
However, if you don’t have an account, you will be asked to enroll. The IRS will take at least 7 business days to process new enrollments.
So, if you’re looking for a “quick” payment option, this isn’t it (especially if you’re new to EFTPS).
This is a free payment method provided free to all taxpayers. It’s secure and enables you to make payments from your bank account.
You will be required to verify your bank account details before you’re able to access payments.
Once the payments have been received by the IRS, you will receive the payment confirmation to your email address.
Mail-In Checks
This is a traditional payment method preferred by businesses that have been in business before electronic payments were brought into mainstream use.
This method has lost its charm over the years since newer, faster, and more secure payment options have been introduced.
However, if you prefer the good old way of paying your taxes, you will need to send a physical copy of your check.
Address this to the “United States Treasury” and mail it to the following address.
Internal Revenue Service
P.O. Box 804525
Cincinnati, OH 45280-4525
Print and enclose a copy of the Payment Voucher 2290-V along with the check.
Include the following information on the back:
Your Employer Identification Number (EIN)
Daytime phone number
Form 2290 and the tax period
ACH- Direct Bank Account Draft
This is an electronic version of mailing your checks. Just as the name suggests, this payment method requires you to submit a direct bank account draft to withdraw or debit the amount directly from your bank.
You will need the following information to proceed with this payment method.
Routing Number
Account Number
Account Type (Checking or Savings)
Account Holder Phone Number
How’s this different from the traditional mail-in check method? Well, for starters, it’s electronic. This means, no more worrying about stamps, printing costs, envelopes, losing checks, and the lot.
eFile your 2290 returns and pay your HVUT with the super-quick payment methods available at EZ2290.
A useful guide to help you fill out Form 2290 and eFile the HVUT Form 2290 for the 2022-2023 tax year.
Every year, millions of trucking companies file their 2290 forms.
The HVUT Form 2290, as the name suggests, reports certain information on the heavy vehicles that utilize highways in a particular period.
The 2290 filing season is just around the corner. And this gives you the perfect opportunity to review your 2290 forms before you submit them to the IRS.
If you’ve prepared your 2290 forms already, use this guide to just double-check your 2290 reports.
And if you haven’t prepared your 2290 forms yet, use the following guide to draft and eFile your 2290 returns easily.
Although the fast-approaching deadlines can make the whole process seem a bit intimidating, filing your 2290 forms isn’t that hard.
The trick is in gathering all the necessary information required to prepare your 2290 files.
And if you already have all the information (business and vehicle details), then 50% of the job is done.
What remains is putting the pieces together and filing the HVUT form.
But wait.
Before you get to the 2290 filing, let’s take a quick look at the new draft of Form 2290 revised for the July 2022 filing season.
Now, let’s get to the real reason why you clicked on this read.
Your simple guide to eFile Form 2290 in 5 super-quick steps.
So, let’s get started.
Table of Contents
Before You Prepare Your 2290 Tax Return
Pay Attention To EIN/TIN And Legal Name
Report Tax Suspension Details
Figuring Out Your HVUT
Verify VINs Before You Report
Fill Out Schedule 1
eFile Form 2290 In 5 Quick Steps
Before You Prepare Your 2290 Tax Return
Businesses are in a rush to file Form 2290.
As a result, they miss out on reporting some critical information. Be it vehicle category or tax suspension details.
So, before you start preparing your 2290 tax returns, take a couple of minutes out of your precious time and use the following checklist to gather the information needed.
This will enable you to prepare and file your 2290 forms much more efficiently.
EIN or TIN
Legal Name
Business Address
The Month of First Use
Vehicle identification number
The gross weight of the vehicle
Vehicle category
Vehicle logging status
Tax suspension details
Number of vehicles for which you’re reporting
Other information
Pay Attention To EIN/TIN And Legal Name
The taxpayer identification number or employer identification number is assigned by the IRS to business entities. It’s used for identifying a business with a designated code – the TIN.
Now, trucking companies must report their EINs or TINs in the “EIN” box of the 2290 form and specify the legal name or the doing business as (DBA) name.
This allows the IRS to identify and validate your 2290 reports quickly and effectively.
However, some trucking companies, in a hurry to submit their 2290 forms by the deadline, omit TIN reporting, which results in file rejections and TIN discrepancy assessments from the IRS.
Remember to verify your TIN and legal names before you report them on any IRS form. This will save you from B-notices and incorrect TIN penalties (up to $250 per incorrect TIN reported).
Report Tax Suspension Details
You don’t have to pay HVUT for vehicles that are suspended from HVUT. However, you still need to report the vehicle details to retain the tax suspension status.
So, let’s assume that you own a couple of trucks that utilize the highways within the 5000-mile limit. You don’t have to pay HVUT for this. But you need to report this information in the HVUT form.
However, when your vehicles exceed this 5000-mile limit, the tax suspension status will be revoked, and you will have to start paying HVUT from that period.
The same reporting rules apply to agricultural vehicles as well. However, for agricultural vehicles, the mileage use limit is 7500 miles, exceeding which would require the truck owners to pay the HVUT.
Figuring Out Your HVUT Tax
Use the “tax computation” section on Page 2 to calculate your taxes.
If you’re filing for non-logging vehicles (non-agricultural vehicles), then just review the weight of your vehicles and enter the number of vehicles. Calculate the tax by multiplying the tax range by the number of vehicles.
For example: 2 trucks weighing 56,000 pounds x $122 (annual tax) = $244 (amount of tax)
Now, check if you have any vehicles that were reported for an increase in the taxable gross weight.
If you have paid additional tax for such vehicles, then add the additional amount to the computed tax amount as derived above. The sum is the total tax you owe.
Alternatively, you can just skip calculations and just focus on reporting your vehicle information with EZ2290.
You see, EZ2290’s dynamic HVUT calculator calculates the tax in the background as you enter the vehicle information, giving you peace of mind.
Just focus on reporting, we will take care of the tax computations.
Before you get to reporting your VINs, try verifying them for accuracy.
Every character in your VIN must be in accordance with your vehicle records.
Otherwise, you’re paying HVUT for vehicles that either don’t exist or don’t belong to you.
So, verify your Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) before you report.
You can use readily available tools online to verify your VINs.
Try this free tool, for example. It provides a comprehensive report on your vehicle for free and provides all the information you need to validate your VINs.
However, human errors are common. So, if you’ve previously reported an incorrect VIN, just file a 2290 VIN Correction form instead and correct your VINs quickly.
Fill Out Schedule 1
This is the easiest part of the whole reporting regime (Or the hardest if you don’t have the vehicle information by your side).
In order to fill out Schedule 1, you need your business information (address, legal name, and EIN) and vehicle information (vehicle identification number and vehicle category).
Just enter the VINs and the corresponding vehicle categories in the form.
Don’t forget to fill out both copies of Schedule 1. This is important because one copy of the form will be signed and stamped by the IRS, and will be sent back to you as “proof of payment” of HVUT.
Note: 2290 proof of payment is necessary when you want to follow up with the IRS for 2290 Amendments and other filing requests.
eFile Form 2290 In 5 Quick Steps
With EZ2290, you can prepare and eFile your 2290 returns in just 5 super-quick steps!
Import your vehicle data with Excel and populate the forms. At this point, you can switch to Managed Servicesfrom EZ2290 to automate the form population and eFile process.
Alternatively, you can choose to do this manually.
Step 3: Validate your 2290 reports
Use real-time TIN matching from EZ2290 and verify your EIN. This is especially useful if you’re a paid preparer who is filing for multiple clients.
Validate VINs to reduce VIN correction instances.
Step 4: Submit Form 2290 to the IRS
Select a payment method and pay your HVUT. We will transmit your 2290 forms directly to the IRS.
Step 5: Get IRS-stamped Schedule 1 instantly!
Once your 2290 eFiles are processed successfully, you will be able to download your IRS-stamped Schedule 1.
Further, the digital copy of stamped Schedule 1 will be stored on the cloud, enabling you to view the file as needed.
Instructions for filing road tax Form 2290 easily in just 5 quick steps.
This is an instructional guide designed to help self-employed truckers and small trucking companies.
So, if you’re a beginner, feel free to print this out and check off each step as you progress through the 2290 filing process.
Before you skip to the instructions, take a look at the draft Form 2290 for the 2022-2023 tax year.
Step 1: Create Your FREE EZ2290 Account
To start filling Form 2290 with the relevant information and file the road tax form 2290 electronically, you’ll need to create an account with EZ2290.
EZ2290 is an IRS-authorized eFile platform.
We enable convenient regulatory reporting and tax compliance experiences for trucking companies like yours.
Create your EZ2290 account for free here to get started or sign in here
Once you’re logged in, go to your EZ2290 dashboard, and look for the ‘Import’ button. Use this to select and import the data needed to report Form 2290.
At this point, you can switch to Managed Services from EZ2290 to automate this process.
Outsource your 2290 filings to our team, and we will take it from there.
This also enables you to match the TIN with the corresponding entity name and vice versa, per the IRS records.
Select the Purpose of Filing
Form 2290 can be used for a variety of reporting purposes, limited to the scope of the form, as follows.
Address change: Select this box if the previously reported address is different from the current address.
VIN correction: Select this box if the previously reported vehicle identification number is incorrect.
Amended return: Select this box if the mileage use limit for the suspended vehicle has exceeded or if the taxable gross weight of the vehicle has increased.
Final return: Select this box if you no longer have any taxable vehicles to report.
And if you’re filing Form 2290 in accordance with the regular reporting regime, you don’t have to select anything.
Suspension Details
One or more of your vehicles could be suspended from HVUT taxes if the mileage use limit is below 5000 miles (for regular vehicles) and 7500 miles (for agricultural vehicles).
Report the vehicle identification numbers of the suspended vehicles and declare eligibility.
Note: Suspended vehicles are only exempt from HVUT taxes. Reporting and filing are still mandatory.
Figure the HVUT Tax
Use the ‘Tax Computation’ table on Form 2290 to calculate the HVUT tax you owe to the IRS.
Select the weight of the vehicle from the vehicle weight range provided in Form 2290.
Enter the number of vehicles. The number of logging vehicles in correspondence with their weights must be separated from non-logging vehicles.
If your vehicles are subject to partial-period tax, then enter the information per the logging status of the vehicle.
Now multiply the number of vehicles with the annual tax amount specified in Column 1 of Form 2290.
If filing for partial tax, multiply the number of vehicles with Column 2 of Form 2290.
Authorize Consent & Information Validity
Third-party designee: Select this box if you’re consenting to a third party viewing your reports and discussing the information with the IRS.
Authorization: The taxpayer must provide their written consent in this section by providing their signature. This is mandated to certify the validity of the information reported in the form 2290.
Paid preparer: Only a paid preparer must use this section. If you’re a paid preparer, use this section to furnish the relevant business information.
Report Vehicle Information in Schedule-1 of HVUT
Enter the vehicle identification number of the vehicles for which you’re reporting, and enter their categories.
You will need to re-furnish the business details, such as the EIN and legal name of the entity, and other information in both copies of Schedule 1 of Form 2290.
When you file 2290 by paper, Schedule-1 is filled twice because the IRS retains one copy of Schedule-1 and sends the stamped copy as proof of payment.
Step 3: Review The Entered Information
Once you’ve completed filling out the form with the relevant information, it’s time to review the completed Form 2290.
Reassess the taxable gross weight of the vehicle before filing Form 2290.
Check the categories of the vehicles and separate the suspended vehicles from the regular ones.
Check the logging status of vehicles before you report the VINs. Review the vehicle weights in the tax computation section.
Note: EZ2290 has a built-in smart tax calculator, which automatically calculates the tax as you enter the information on the electronic forms. This enables you to properly focus on tax reporting, and not worry over the math.
Step 4: Submit 2290 Forms To The IRS
Once you’re through reviewing the 2290 forms, it’s time to pay the HVUT tax and submit the returns to the IRS.
Choose from the available payment options to make the payment.
Make secure payments instantly without delays. We protect your payments with the 256-bit end-to-end encryption standard.
Step 5: Download Proof Of Payment Or Schedule-1
Once your bank approves the payment, EZ2290 automatically transmits your forms to the IRS.
You will be able to view and download a digital copy of the IRS-stamped Schedule-1 (also known as proof of payment).
The payment and submission process should not take more than a minute or two. However, if you’re experiencing technical difficulties, you can get in touch with our support team here.
10 Reasons Why You Should Be eFiling Form 2290 Online With EZ2290
Filing Form 2290 online with EZ2290 is quick and easy.
eFile 2290 forms instantly
With EZ2290, you can easily eFile your Form 2290 online instantly.
What’s even better is that you can get the IRS-stamped schedule 1 right away. No more waiting. And no more worrying about your returns reaching the IRS. The moment you hit ‘eFile’ and make the payment, your 2290 forms will be securely transmitted to the IRS inbox.
File for all your vehicles at once with bulk filing
While you can report multiple vehicles on just one 2290 form, EZ2290 enables large fleet owners to report and file multiples of 2290 forms in a jiffy. This is especially useful for paid preparers who file 2290 forms for multiple clients at once.
Secure payment options
EZ2290 enables you to pay your HVUT tax securely through its readily available online payment methods instantly.
Just pay online and submit your 2290 forms to the IRS.
EZ2290 supports the following online payment methods:
Credit Card
Debit Card
EFW (Electronic Funds Withdrawal)
EFTPS (Electronic Federal Tax Payment System®)
Review your truck information easily
You can validate your EIN/TIN and legal name combinations easily with EZ2290’s real-time TIN Check tool.
What’s more? You can reach out to the EZ2290’s tax support team and get your 2290s reviewed for accuracy before you file them.
Correct your VINs for free
Reported an incorrect VIN? No worries. With EZ2290’s VIN Correction, you can easily file 2290 VIN Correction forms and rectify your incorrect VIN reports FOR FREE.
That’s right.
EZ2290 doesn’t charge you extra for the VIN Correction filings.
If you’ve previously eFiled a 2290 form with us, you can file 2290 VIN Corrections at no additional charge.
Resend rejected returns at no additional cost
Let’s say that you’ve eFiled your 2290 returns with EZ2290, and the IRS has rejected the returns for some reason.
EZ2290 will not only help you re-file the corrected versions of the rejected return for free, but additionally provides the tax assistance necessary to resolve the issues cited by the IRS.
Send other 2290-related forms easily
Apart from 2290 fresh filings, EZ2290 supports the following 2290 eFiling experiences.
Get live assistance for your 2290 tax queries easily. Be it an incorrect report or an IRS notice or figuring out your vehicle weight, EZ2290’s support team is here to help.
Contact the EZ2290 support team here for real-time assistance.
Prevent penalties effortlessly
Penalties can literally ruin the financial health of a small business.
It’s an unprecedented “loss” for the business, which could have been easily avoided if the preparer paid attention to the reporting requirements and validity of the data.
You can’t avoid the penalties once they’ve been assessed by the IRS, but you can definitely do your best to prevent them. And it starts with reporting your truck tax information accurately and validating your reports, prior to filing.
With EZ2290, validate your TIN and legal name combinations per the real-time records of the IRS.
You can further validate and format your business addresses per the USPS records with EZ2290.
Get live tax help from the experts at EZ2290 when you’re eFiling with EZ2290, and validate your reports (just to be sure).
Once you’ve drafted your returns, we will send email reminders, so you never miss a deadline. This is to prevent you from late filing penalty assessments.
Import and ‘sync’ your truck tax data with EZ2290.
Use quick tools like Excel to upload your data to our encrypted platform. This way, all the information you need is in one place.
You can further make changes to your data in real-time without switching platforms.
Leverage managed services to outsource your 2290 eFiles
With EZ2290’s Managed Services, you can just outsource your 2290 eFiles to our teams. All you have to do is send the 2290 tax-sensitized data required to complete the forms, and we will take it from there.
With Managed Services from EZ2290, you can eFile thousands of 2290 forms at once.
We will continue to communicate with you through email to keep you updated on the eFile status.
Follow this simple hack to fix an incorrect VIN report on HVUT Form 2290 easily.
Mistakes.
All of us are guilty of doing them.
Some are excused, and some are forgotten.
But if you too are guilty of reporting an incorrect VIN, don’t be.
It’s reasonable.
We’re all too busy focusing on getting the information together. And as a result, it’s plausible to report a vehicle identification number (VIN) incorrectly.
The funny part is that the IRS is probably used to receiving incorrect VINs all the time.
That’s probably why we have the 2290 VIN Correction form, which is specifically meant for correcting VINs.
So, today, let’s take a quick look at fixing an incorrect VIN report easily (without panicking).
Incorrect VIN: How To Fix Your 2290 Reports
Fixing an incorrect VIN begins with fixing your filed 2290 return.
While the “undo” button doesn’t exist in real-life scenarios, we can still “amend” the incorrect reports.
What we essentially mean by this is that in order to fix an incorrect VIN, you’ll need to file a 2290 VIN Correction form.
2290 VIN Correction isn’t exactly a new form, but it must be filed separately.
The form’s purpose is to let the authorities at the IRS know that your previous filings report incorrect VIN(s). It also communicates that the fresh report with the corrected VINs must be considered for regulatory processes.
Before You File 2290 VIN Correction: Verify VINs With Free VIN Check
A quick guide to help trucking businesses and paid preparers with their 2290 e-files + tips to improve reporting accuracy.
Quick HVUT Compliance Guide
The filing season is one of the most crucial times for businesses. For trucking businesses, however, filing season has paramount importance as noncompliance could mean that the trucking business could be off the road.
Trucking businesses pay hefty fees to licensed CPAs to calculate and prepare their HVUT 2290 returns accurately. While this is a smart move, the reporting or calculation inconsistencies could be further streamlined with an organized approach.
The following guide will help you attain HVUT compliance while ensuring reporting accuracy. Feel free to use this guide in the order of your reporting priorities.
Review Due Dates & Penalties
Before you or your preparer starts working on your e-files, it is essential to understand the timelines you have to work with. For example, you can approach your 2290 returns with a comprehensive viewpoint if you have at least 3-4 months before the due date.
If you’re looking at the due date in a couple of weeks, the process has to be accelerated to meet the compliance requirements before or by the due date.
And by the time you come around to reading this guide, you will have very little time to work with it. In such a case, you have to gather all the required information at once before you start entering the information in the forms.
Validate TIN & Business Name
IRS is paying special attention to TIN discrepancies in light of heightened AML/KYC risks. If you’re a licensed preparer working with a number of clients, it is absolutely essential that you verify the tax details of your clients and report the information accurately before you proceed to other steps.
If you do not have a TIN/EIN, you can use your social security number to report your vehicle information on the 2290 return.
Do note that the IRS reserves its right to reject returns if you report an incorrect taxpayer identification number or employer identification number.
Tax Calculation
The taxable weight of the vehicle, logging status, and the month of first use must be derived clearly before you start calculating the HVUT tax for a heavy vehicle.
For newly purchased vehicles, the 2290 return must be filed in the successive month after the first use.
For example, if you have started using your new heavy vehicles in March 2021, then you must file the IRS 2290 returns by the end of April 2021.
If the IRS has approved any tax refunds, the refund amount can be deducted from your total tax and the product of that is your tax payable.
Vehicle Weight & Logging Status
A vehicle has to weigh at least 55,000 pounds or more for it to be qualified for HVUT taxes. Since the weight of the vehicle could change due to mechanical and loading changes, the tax burden will also change simultaneously.
The vehicle must utilize the federal highways for it to be qualified for HVUT and if any of your heavy vehicles do not meet the criteria, you can request for suspension of taxes.
The logging status of your vehicle will bring you lower rates of tax. If you have logging vehicles; meaning, if you are utilizing the vehicles for transporting forestry goods, the tax rates will be slightly lower.
VIN Verification
Vehicle identification number plays a significant role when the IRS has to tax your vehicles. If you enter a wrong VIN, the return will be rejected. For this, you have to submit a VIN Correction to report the correct VIN.
In the unlikely situation of the IRS accepting a wrongful VIN, the tax burden (no matter how high) has to be borne by your trucking business. However, such instances are pretty rare since preparers and businesses alike go through plenty of paperwork and registration forms to confirm the official vehicle identification number of a vehicle.
Accelerate 2290 E-Files With IRS Authorized eFile Provider – EZ2290
If you haven’t started your 2290 e-files yet, you should do so quickly with EZ2290.
The IRS deadline for HVUT Form 2290 is fast approaching, and there is very little time to prepare your returns and submit the forms before the deadline.
EZ2290 is an IRS-authorized agent accelerating 2290 e-files with its automated features, smart calculations, multi-device accessibilities, penalty prevention programs, free VIN corrections, and free re-files for rejected returns.
Here’s your go-to guide to help accelerate your 2290 e-files before the IRS HVUT deadline and improve your 2290 reporting accuracy.
Form 2290 Due Dates & Deadlines For 2021-2022 Tax Year
As the HVUT filing season is nearing its deadline, trucking businesses are in a rush to file their 2290 returns with the IRS. Having a handbook by your side will help you prevent filing delays, improve reporting, and accelerate submissions.
This simple guide has been prepared to help trucking businesses, fleet owners, owner-operating entities, and self-employed truckers with their 2290 filings.
Please note that this is a simple guide to help you with the overall process. If you are looking for comprehensive procedures and complex tax assistance, you can reach out to our customer success teams here, who provide live assistance to registered and non-registered users. If you haven’t registered with EZ2290 yet, create your free account now and start your 2290 e-Files today.
Before You Start Preparing
It is important to gather the required information for your 2290 tax reports before you start entering the information in the returns.
Have a licensed CPA or an accountant help you get the required tax and vehicle information, such as the taxpayer identification number (TIN), the number of heavy vehicles, their weights, vehicle categories, tax suspension information, mileage usage, and more.
This information plays a huge role in your 2290 reports.
Addressing Outstanding HVUT 2290 Reports
If you haven’t paid your HVUT taxes for the previous period(s), or if you are awaiting certain responses from the IRS, or if there are any pending returns from previous periods, or if you have been penalized in the past, it is worth spending some time on these instances first.
Pending or outstanding HVUT submissions can be cumulatively submitted along with the current period’s returns. However, some vehicle tax information, such as tax suspensions, final reports, unaddressed penalties + interest, and more can make a significant difference in the total tax you have to pay for this year.
Understanding Vehicle Categories
Vehicles are primarily categorized according to their taxable weight and logging status. However, the tax will differ according to other instances, such as tax suspension and exemption status. Further, agricultural vehicles and credit vehicles are subject to lower tax rates. These factors have to be considered when approaching your truck taxes.
Vehicle Weight Calculation
It is important to derive the actual taxable weight of your vehicle before you enter the details on your 2290 returns. You do not have to do any complex math to calculate the tax estimate.
All you have to do is check if the vehicle is 55,000 pounds or more. If the weight is 55,000 or more, then your heavy vehicle is required to be reported with 2290 HVUT forms.
Calculate your HVUT tax easily in a couple of seconds with EZ2290’s Smart Tax Calculator. Enter the weight, month of first use, and the logging status of your vehicle, and you will see the approximate tax you have to pay.
If you are a registered user of EZ2290, our dynamic platform automatically calculates the tax as you enter your vehicle details on your 2290 e-returns. The information entered in the fields is processed in real-time so that you have accurate figures to work with.
Tax Information Validation
When reporting your heavy vehicles, it is absolutely important to ensure that there are no TIN discrepancies. It is worthy to note that the IRS will reject your returns if the furnished TIN or EIN information does not match their official records. You can validate the TIN/EIN information in real-time with the IRS TIN Matching service from the official portal here or use trusted tools like Tax1099 TIN Match service for better and faster results. Only enter the tax information after thorough verification. This comes in extremely handy for paid preparers who prepare the tax returns on behalf of their clients.
Vehicle Information Validation
Similar to a TIN, the vehicle identification number of your highway truck has to be verified per the official records to check the status of the vehicle and assess the scope of the tax.
Entering the wrong VIN will result in the returns being rejected by the IRS due to incorrect information. VIN Lookup will help you validate the vehicle details and report accurately. You can verify your VINs online using VIN lookup tools for free. Use Ez2290’s free VIN corrections feature by filing a form 2290 amendment.
Form 2290 Due Dates & Deadlines For 2021 -2022
The IRS requires taxpayers to file their HVUT returns by paper or through electronic methods by August 31 of each year. The deadline for submitting your 2290 forms to the IRS for the 2021-2022 tax year is August 31, 2021.
If you have purchased a new vehicle, the 2290 returns have to be submitted by the end of the successive month, denoting the month of first use.
For example, if you first started using a vehicle in March 2021, then you must report the same by the end of April 2021 to ensure HVUT compliance.
Form 2290 Rejections & Amendments
The IRS can reject your HVUT 2290 forms if the tax or vehicle information reported is not accurate. There are a variety of reasons why a return could be rejected, including but not limited to the following citations.
Incorrect tax information
Incorrect vehicle information
Incorrect VIN
Return submitted after the deadline with no prior notice or requests
Here’s how a few smart diligent steps could help you accomplish HVUT compliance and ensure reporting accuracy for your 2290 returns.
Smart Tips For 2290 Filing
Trucking businesses and self-employed truckers are preparing their HVUT 2290 tax forms as the IRS 2290 deadline ( August 31, 2021) are on the horizon. While the IRS encourages taxpayers to file their returns before the deadline, they also stress the importance of reporting accuracy to help taxpayers prevent file rejections and assessments.
Intending to ensure HVUT compliance, many businesses are approaching their HVUT tax files with strategic planning and advanced tech stack solutions. This is to establish 2290 reporting accuracy and submitting the files before the IRS deadlines.
The following will discuss in detail some smart tips that accounting teams, truckers, and trucking businesses follow to ensure HVUT compliance for their businesses.
Tip #1: Planning HVUT Reports
Businesses that choose to plan their tax reports are more likely to achieve their tax goals than those that don’t. This is because of the focus they put on organizing the tax returns and reports that need additional attention.
For example, refund claims penalty assessment reviews and rejected returns will likely take more time than the regular 2290 reports of a tax year.
Further, planning your HVUT reports and tax forms in order of priority and due dates will help you accelerate your reporting operations and ensure compliance. August 31, 2021, is the due date for filing IRS Form 2290 for the 2021-2022 tax year.
Additionally, having a licensed CPA or better, a whole team of tax experts by your side through the filing season will help you better approach your tax reports.
Tip #2: Addressing 8849 Refund Claims, Tax Suspensions, Rejected Returns, 2290 Amendments, VIN Corrections & More
Trucking businesses with large fleets have a lot to review and address before they file their tax returns. And when they do submit the required forms, the returns can be rejected by the IRS for inconsistencies.
8849 Refund Claims, Tax Suspension Requests, Rejected Returns, 2290 Amendments, VIN Corrections, and the like need additional coordination and attention to comply with the tax reporting requirements.
In such cases, it is better to have dedicated teamwork on returns with complex tax issues and have separate teamwork on your new reports. This way, you are optimizing your reporting process without compromising on accuracy or due dates. This approach also simplifies your organizational workflow and accelerates productivity.
New or previous, all tax reports have to be thoroughly audited before submission to ensure that all the vehicle, tax, and business information is reported accurately. Defining focus groups for audits or even better, outsourcing your prepared tax returns for lifecycle audits will help you gain insights on your reports.
IRS-authorized agents like EZ2290 provide end-to-end 2290 solutions that could help you report and audit your tax returns better. Learn all about the EZ2290 Full Service here.
Besides, when your prepared returns are audited by a fresh pair of eyes, you are more likely to address any issues that may arise and submit error-free tax returns to the IRS.
If outsourcing your audits is not on your agenda, you can try creating multi-level audits within the organization. This could help you improve your reporting accuracy and help you spot certain tax problems at various levels that need additional focus.
Tip #4: Tax Details Verification
Tax details, such as the Taxpayer identification number (TIN) or employer identification number (EIN) and the names associated with these business identification numbers have to be validated against the official records of the IRS before filing the returns. This practice helps prevent file rejections.
Apart from TIN Matching or EIN Matching, businesses also have to pay attention to vehicle information, such as the taxable weight of the vehicles, month of first use, vehicle identification numbers (VINs), mileage use limit, and more. This information is intricate when reporting vehicle-specific information in the 2290 return. VIN Lookup tools like NICB’s VIN Check will help you verify the vehicle and tax details, enabling you to validate the vehicle information before entering the details on the 2290 returns and VIN correction forms.
Tip #5: Bulk Files (Choosing API Solutions)
As businesses expand, they have very little time on their hands to sit and review their tax information and eventually report them. When businesses find themselves unable to accommodate the pressing tax priorities, they tend to rely on API solutions that offer bulk filing options.
If you’ve made up your mind about bulk files, you must make sure to provide all the necessary information from your end to the concerned API team. Withholding your tax reports or information will result in 2290 reporting inconsistencies. This could eventually lead to filing rejections from the IRS. 10,000+ businesses in the U.S. are choosing to file with a reliable full-service enabler like EZ2290 to e-file 2290 returns in bulk. With seamless integrations, penalty prevention programs, smart tax calculators, dynamic user experiences, free VIN corrections, free re-files for rejected returns, bulk uploads, and more features, businesses can rely on EZ2290 for bulk files and lifecycle truck tax solutions.
Learn how to re-file your rejected Form 2290 returns + tips to establish HVUT compliance.
How To Re-File Rejected Form 2290 Returns
Imagine this; after spending hours and days preparing your 2290 returns, you finally submit your returns to the IRS only hours later, you receive a notice which tells you that your 2290 returns have been rejected citing incorrect information or non-compliance.
Not only have your efforts gone in vain, but you also have to repeat the filing process all over again (depending on the reason for rejection).
And you’re not only worried about re-filing your rejected returns but the pressure is on to report the information correctly and comply this time around.
If you do not address your rejected files, your business will be assessed for neglect and “willful disregard”.
This is a common scenario for a lot of truckers and it happens way more often than one would like to admit.
It is essential to understand that your 2290 returns can be rejected for any of the following reasons.
If you have reported incorrect VINs on your 2290 returns, your returns will be rejected by the IRS. VIN is a unique identification number designated for every vehicle. VINs are used by the IRS to track the tax history associated with the number.
If you have reported incorrect VINs on your 2290 returns, you can file a Form 2290 VIN Correction, which is exclusively used to address the incorrect VIN reporting.
After providing the necessary business and tax information, enter the correct vehicle identification number of the vehicle.
But before you enter it, be sure to verify and validate the VIN to ensure that you are reporting the correct VIN. Try these (1, 2) authorized VIN validation tools to search and verify your VINs.
If you have reported an incorrect TIN or EIN or if you have reported a historic TIN/EIN that no longer holds validity, then your 2290 returns will be rejected.
TIN or EIN is a unique business identification number that is used by the IRS to track the tax and compliance history of the businesses.
When you enter a TIN/EIN in any of the returns, the IRS checks the TIN and the name associated with that number against its own records to validate the details.
If the provided TIN/EIN does not match the records, the IRS will reject the returns.
To counter this issue, you can follow a quick real-time TIN Match regime, which helps you acknowledge the TINs or EINs that are valid and good, and the ones that are not.
Trucks use the federal highways primarily for transporting heavy shipments.
Each highway vehicle is given approximately 5000 miles per year, and 7500 miles if it’s an agricultural vehicle.
The more miles your vehicle uses, the more it is utilizing the federal highways, which causes wear and tear and damages the roads.
This is why the FHWA (Federal Highway Administration) introduced the HVUT bill, which enforces the trucking businesses to pay more taxes if they are exceeding the mileage limit.
If you have exceeded your miles and did not report the additional miles on your 2290 returns, your forms will be rejected and penalties may also be assessed per each violation.
To address this, all you have to do is report the current miles utilized by your vehicle in a tax year. You can use our free smart tax calculator to estimate the HVUT tax you owe on each vehicle according to its weight, logging status, and miles.
Noncompliance comes in many forms and businesses are mercilessly audited if the IRS notices that the business is involved in tax evasion and fraudulent activities.
When the IRS rejects your HVUT 2290 returns citing noncompliance, the issue cannot be taken lightly.
Businesses that are issued a non-compliance notice are under the radar for tax evasion, defying workplace safety norms, fraud, unverified resources and documentation, criminal history, and other violations.
If you have a poor history of filing returns or paying taxes, or if you do not have substantial evidence to support the lack of will to file your taxes and pay them, the IRS may penalize your business for each such violation.
Usually, the IRS issues a notice before it assesses a penalty. And when that notice is also disregarded, the IRS will track down the founders, executives, and other personnel.
To say the least, noncompliance costs businesses a hefty check (1,2,3,4).
HVUT tax funds are one of the largest revenue-generating sources for the FHWA. These funds are spent on constructing and maintaining the federal highways. These funds are also spent on related welfare activities.
Trucking businesses that want to stay on the road and do not want to risk losing their businesses to non-compliance must file their HVUT returns and related business tax returns on time.
Re-File Rejected Returns With EZ2290 In 3 Easy Steps
If you’re a registered user of EZ2290, you can go to your EZ2290 dashboard and view your IRS communications or check your e-filing history. Transactions that have been rejected by the IRS will be highlighted to help you address the issues at an accelerated pace.
If you’re not registered with EZ2290, you can still utilize our services to e-file your rejected 2290 returns conveniently. Sign up here to get started.
Follow the steps below to address your rejected returns and re-file them at no additional cost.
Step 1: Understand The Issue(s) Cited
If the issues cited are something as simple as incorrect tax or business details, you can create a new form and enter the new and updated information correctly.
Alternatively, you can get some tax assistance online from our EZ2290 support team. Go ahead and call or chat with one of our support executives. We’re familiar with the issues cited by the IRS and we’re trained to provide you with the required tax and compliance resolutions quickly.
If the IRS has cited multiple issues implying noncompliance, we recommend speaking to our tax experts here.
Step 2: Validate
Once you’re through reporting the details, do take some time to review your forms.
Validate the tax and vehicle details, such as TIN/Name combination, vehicle identification number, mileage utilized, and more.
Once you are confident that the newly furnished information is accurate and correct, proceed to the next step.
Step 3: Re-File 2290 Securely Online With EZ2290
You can re-file your rejected 2290 returns online with EZ2290.
Our end-to-end encrypted platform allows you to transmit your e-returns to the IRS directly.
Your data is protected and cannot be intercepted by anyone.
Do note that EZ2290 does not charge you for re-filing rejected returns. Re-files are absolutely free.
Businesses within the trucking industry understand the essence of HVUT compliance. A compliant business means sustainability and consistency.
With many businesses still recovering from a harsh 2020, not complying with the IRS would result in unwarranted penalties and interests.
So, be it a trucker or a trucking business, compliance is no longer a requirement – it’s a necessity. The rise in demand for compliance is directly proportionate to the ugly aftermath of noncompliance.
If you’re here, then you must also be desperately looking for a guide or some sort of help to navigate through the HVUT Form 2290 and its filing process.
So, let’s get to it.
What Is Form 2290?
Form 2290 is an IRS informational return used to figure and pay heavy vehicle tax. The IRS defines a heavy vehicle as any vehicle used for commercial or agricultural purposes weighing 55,000 pounds or more.
Tax professionals or the filer must report the vehicle information, such as the mileage utilized in a year, weight of the vehicle, vehicle identification number, and other such information.
The IRS uses the tax reports to interpret the highway utility and the tax received on highway infrastructure and development programs.
Origin Of Form 2290
Form 2290 dates back to 14th July 1986 when the FHWA (Federal Highway Administration) published a final rule implementing the requirements of the statute – Enforcement of Heavy Vehicle Use Tax in the Federal Registrar.
Form 2290 is since used to report the maximum weight and size of the vehicles utilizing the federal highways for commercial and non-commercial purposes.
For a taxpayer operating a trucking business, Form 2290 is used to report the vehicle information to communicate to the IRS about the purpose of use, the weight of the vehicle, mileage usage, period in which the vehicle was first used, taxable constituents, and other information.
This allows the taxpayer to figure and pay the tax per the HVUT tax norms, helping with HVUT compliance.
From The Perspective Of The IRS
All the information reported in the 2290 form is used to validate its credibility to ensure the accuracy of reports. The reports are further used to analyze and interpret the federal highway usage, damage caused by the heavy vehicles, investments in federal highway development programs, and concluding the pending projects and related decisions.
Additionally, the IRS maintains the database of the existing, new, and old trucking businesses and taxpayers in the industry to evaluate trends and compliance regulations.
Who Uses Form 2290?
Form 2290 must be used by the following individuals and entities.
Truckers
Trucking partnerships
Trucking companies
Owner-operators
Agricultural transporters
Heavy-duty transporters
Internal trade transport entities
Commercial goods transport entities
Please note that vehicles other than trucks that meet the HVUT criteria are also treated as heavy vehicles by the IRS and will be taxed accordingly. Taxpayers and entities alike must participate in the voluntary compliance program and contribute their share of taxes to help enhance the federal highway infrastructure of the country.
Form 2290 Taxable Gross Weight
The IRS has set up a transparent tax computation process in order to tax a vehicle according to its taxable gross weight as follows.
Tax Computation Table
Logging Vehicles
Vehicles that are used to transport forestry goods and trees to and fro from the harvest locations are called Logging Vehicles. Forestry goods and trees tend to be very heavy and logging vehicles are used for their immaculate strength and safety in transit.
A heavy load = additional pressure on the highway surface, which leads to eventual damage. Hence, Logging vehicles are taxed slightly higher than non-logging vehicles.
Exceptions For Form 2290
Certain individuals and entities are exempt from reporting with Form 2290, which are as follows.
The Federal Government
The District of Columbia
A state or local government
The American National Red Cross
A nonprofit volunteer of the Fire Department, Ambulance Association, and Rescue Squad
An Indian Tribal Government but only if the vehicle’s use involves the exercise of an essential tribal government function
A mass transportation authority created under a statute that gives it certain powers normally exercised by the state
Qualified blood collection vehicles used by qualified blood collection organizations
You are required to fill all the fields that apply to you and provide the most accurate information. If you are unsure about the information you’re about to report, it is probably best to approach a tax professional or get support from our Tax Support Team here. This voluntary compliance approach will save you from being penalized for fraudulent or incorrect filings.
HVUT Form 2290
Name: This one can be a bit tricky. Always note that the IRS is not asking for your name. The IRS is asking the name of the business/entity on behalf of which you’re filing Form 2290. You can check if the name/TIN combination is correct by conducting a quick TIN check with the IRS. If the TIN/Name combination matches, then you can enter the name per the IRS records in this form.
EIN: Employer Identification Number is a special identification number assigned to employers and businesses. Validate your EIN before you report it in the return.
Address: Enter the operational address of your business per the IRS records. The IRS tracks your tax and compliance history by contacting the local tax authorities. When you enter the ZIP and address, the IRS will contact the authorities of the local area specified.
Check If Applicable:You can see that there are certain boxes, which you can select if they apply to you.
If you are amending a previous 2290 return, then you can select the ‘Amended Return’ box.
If you are filing this return to correct an incorrect VIN previously reported, then select the ‘VIN Correction’ box.
If the operational address of your business has changed, then amend your business address by selecting the ‘Address Change’ box.
If this is your final 2290 filing; if you no longer own a taxable heavy vehicle or wound up your business, then you must select the ‘Final Return’ box.
Part I Of HVUT Form 2290
Form 2290 Part – 1
Enter the year in which the vehicle was first used by you or your workers for commercial purposes. For example, if the period in which you first used the vehicle was in July 2020, then enter 202007 in the first line of the right column.
If your vehicle was subject to an additional tax liability for increased weight in the filing period, then the additional tax amount imposed on your vehicle must be entered in line 3 of the right column.
Now calculate the sum of line 2 and 3 and enter the final tax amount in line 4 of the right column
If you have overpaid your taxes, then you have a tax credit. Enter the tax credit amount in line 5 of the right column.
Now, deduct the amount entered in line 5 from line 4, and enter the remainder amount here. This is the tax amount that you owe.
After this, you can select the method by which you plan to pay the tax you owe.
Part II Of Form 2290: Statement In Support Of Suspension
Form 2290 Part – 2
7) Declare whether the suspended vehicles that you have used on public highways are for agricultural or regular use.
8.A) Declare whether the suspended vehicles were subject to tax in the previous tax year. For 2020-2021, the previous filing year is 2019-2020. Check if your suspended vehicles were taxed in the 2019-2020 tax year.
8.B) Enter the vehicle identification numbers of the vehicles that were not subject to tax in the 2019-2020 tax year.
9) Declare the ownership transfer of suspended vehicles that were not subject to tax in 2019-2020 by entering the vehicle identification numbers, name(s) of the vehicle owner(s), and the date of ownership transfer.
Third-Party Designee:If you want another individual to be involved to discuss the details entered in the return with the IRS, then select the box in this section and furnish the Designee’s name, Personal Identification Number of the designee, and their phone number. If not, select ‘No’ and leave this section blank.
Sign Here: The taxpayer or the preparer has to make their declarations and furnish the signature to confirm that the information reported in the form is valid.
Paid Preparer Use Only: If you have hired a tax preparer, then he/she must provide the required information and provide their signature in this section.
Tax Computation: Form 2290
Tax Computation Table
Logging Vehicles are vehicles that are used for transporting forestry goods and trees. Vehicles Except Logging are vehicles that are used for transporting products not related to forestry.
Heavy vehicles used for commercial transport are considered Vehicles Except Logging in the HVUT tax lingo.
Enter the number of vehicles in each of the columns as applicable to your business and calculate the tax.
For example, if you own 1 vehicle that weighs 55,000 pounds and another vehicle that weighs 65,000 pounds. Just type the number of vehicles (not the tax amount) in columns 3(a) and 3(b).
Now, calculate the tax by multiplying Column 1 or Column 2 with Column 3.
Enter the total amount in the last box of Column 4.
Schedule 1 Of Form 2290
Schedule 1 of Form 2290
There are 2 copies of Schedule 1 in every 2290 form. You must fill, complete and file both the forms to the IRS. However, only one of the copies will be stamped by the IRS and sent back to you as Proof Of Payment. You must document Schedule 1 for future use and reference.
Box-Wise Instructions For 2290 Schedule-1
Enter your business name in the ‘Name’ box
Enter the operational business address with the zip code
Enter the EIN assigned to you or your business (must be in consensus with the IRS records)
Enter the period in which the reportable vehicles were first used.
Enter the vehicle identification number and the category of each taxable vehicle in the Vehicles You Are Reporting box.
Summary Of Reported Vehicles
Enter the total number of vehicles you’re reporting for the current filing period in Row A
Enter the total number of vehicles in Category W on which the tax is suspended in Row B
Now, deduct the total number of Category W vehicles from the total number of vehicles reported and enter the final number in Row C.
For example, if you have reported a total of 9 vehicles, and only 1 vehicle is suspended from the tax liability (Category-W Vehicles), then the total number to be entered on Row ‘C’ would be ‘8’.
How Do I Fill Out Form 2290?
You can type the information into an electronic version of the form and print it out to mail by paper. Alternatively, you can e-File with minimal effort. If you are using a smart e-Filing tool like EZ2290 for your HVUT filings, then you can complete the entire process of completing and eFiling in less than 15 minutes.
The most important thing here is to have all the required information by your side (regardless of the filing method you choose). It will fasten up your filing process and minimize errors in reporting.
How Do I File Form 2290?
You can file Form 2290 by paper or through electronic filing methods. While traditional paper filing takes more time to complete and process, the electronic filing comes with several automated advantages, which fasten up your e-Filing process.
Easily e-File Form 2290 Online With EZ2290
EZ2290 brings to you the smoothest 2290 e-filing experience. Receive the IRS-stamped Schedule-1 in just 4 easy steps. Further, our Smart Tax Calculator gives you an approximate estimate of the total tax you owe.
Truckers and trucking businesses must be filed the IRS Form 2290 for Heavy Vehicle Use Taxes (HVUT) every year by August 31st for the current tax period for heavy highway vehicles begin on July 1, 2021, and ends on June 30, 2022.
For Previous Tax Years
Use the following table to determine the due date for vehicles purchased and used in the current and previous filing periods.
If The Vehicle Is First Used During This Period
File Form 2290 And Make Your Payment By
Enter This Date On Form 2290, Line 1**
July
August 31
YYYY07
August
September 30
YYYY08
September
October 31
YYYY09
October
November 30
YYYY10
November
December 31
YYYY11
December
January 31
YYYY12
January
Last day of February
YYYY01
February
March 31
YYYY02
March
April 30
YYYY03
April
May 31
YYYY04
May
June 30
YYYY05
June
July 31
YYYY06
IRS Form 2290 Schedule 1
Schedule-1 of Form 2290 is proof of payment of the HVUT tax. This document is issued by the IRS with the official acceptance stamp. Schedule-1 must be documented and can be used as evidence for payment proof when amending returns. Additionally, Schedule-1 also comes in handy when you want to request suspension of tax for a vehicle.
What Is Form 2290 Amendment?
It is important to note that Form 2290 Amendment is not a separate form. You can report the amendments you want to make through Form 2290 by selecting the “Amended Returns” box. You can only file an amendment for previous returns.
You can file an amendment for your previous returns in the following scenarios.
Increase In The Taxable Gross Weight Of The Vehicle
If the weight of your vehicle increases during a tax year, you must file an amendment to communicate to the IRS about the change in the vehicle weight. Increased vehicle weight = Increased tax liability.
Suspended Vehicles Exceeding The Mileage Use Limit
Regular heavy vehicles are limited to use 5000 miles (7500 miles for agricultural vehicles) in a tax year. If the vehicle exceeds this mileage use limit, then the same must be communicated to the IRS through 2290 amendment.
VIN Correction
If you have reported an incorrect VIN in the previous returns, then the 2290 amendment must be used to correct the VIN. An incorrect VIN may increase the risk of file rejections citing noncompliance.
In Conclusion
The IRS is strict about HVUT compliance since HVUT is one of most important sources of generating revenue for the state. Complying with these regulations would allow the businesses to maintain tax transparency and enjoy the perks of being a compliant business, while non-compliant businesses will have to look forward to a taxing future.
While the traditional paper filing method is time taking and requires a professional by your side, smart e-Filing platforms like EZ2290 are enabling businesses to comply easily and e-File for a large number of vehicles in a few minutes.
Convenience is the only way forward for trucking businesses with large fleets that want to comply.
