Tax Warning for Truckers: Highway Use Tax Returns Due Soon

Truckers and other owners of heavy highway vehicles must, in most cases, file their next federal highway use tax return on August 31.

The deadline generally applies to Form 2290 and the accompanying tax payment for the tax year that began July 1 and ends June 30, 2017.

Returns must be filed and tax payments made by August 31 for vehicles used on the road during July. For vehicles first used after July, the deadline is the last day of the month following the month of first use. 

The tax of up to $550 per vehicle is based on weight; varied special rules apply and are explained in the 2290 instructions.

The highway use tax applies to motor vehicles with a taxable gross weight of 55,000 pounds or more, which usually includes trucks, truck tractors and buses. Ordinarily, vans, pick-ups and panel trucks fall below the weight limit and aren’t taxed.