| If your business operates heavy trucks (defined | | | | are required to e-file. |
| as vehicles with a gross weight of 55,000 pounds | | | | A company may file multiple returns in a given |
| or more) that drive on public highways, then you | | | | year, but it is highly advisable to consolidate VINs |
| are required to file IRS form 2290 and pay a | | | | whenever filing to reduce fees associated with |
| Heavy Vehicle Use Tax (HVUT). There are online | | | | filing and reduce error (including the error of |
| services that facilitate this process, so it does not | | | | overpaying). The problem with consolidating |
| have to be a burden on your time. | | | | returns is that you are required to file form 2290 |
| Although it may seem like just another tax on | | | | the first month a heavy truck (as defined above) |
| small business, it is an important tax because the | | | | is used on a public highway. So if you purchase |
| money is funneled to states for construction and | | | | trucks throughout the year, you will have no |
| maintenance projects. This is different from | | | | choice but to file multiple times. |
| certain other types of taxation, such as income | | | | In addition to filing electronically, you can pay |
| tax, because the money from the HVUT tax is | | | | electronically using EFTPS (Electronic Federal Tax |
| used to fix a problem caused by those paying the | | | | Payment System) or via bank draft. If you |
| tax. In other words, big trucks tear up the roads, | | | | choose to use EFTPS, you should sign up as early |
| and then the owners of the big trucks pay to | | | | as possible because you will have to wait up to 15 |
| have the roads fixed. | | | | days for the IRS to assign a Personal |
| The 2290 form can be paid electronically (called | | | | Identification Number (PIN) to you, after which |
| "e-filing") or with a paper return. There are | | | | you will have to create a password for your |
| advantages and disadvantages to both | | | | account. |
| approaches, although the electronic filing method is | | | | Although there is a certain level of burden |
| generally quicker. One advantage of paper returns | | | | associated with paying the Heavy Vehicle Use |
| is that they have various procedures that make it | | | | Tax, it is a necessary tax to keep public highways |
| easy to make corrections, whereas an electronic | | | | in good working order, and several companies |
| return will be rejected after a second attempt | | | | have made it as easy as possible to file by |
| that contains duplicate VINs. It should be noted | | | | providing electronic filing and payment options. |
| that companies that operate 25 or more vehicles | | | | |