| For those of you who are involved in the trucking | | | | they have the forms on hand in the office. |
| industry, you're probably no stranger to the Heavy | | | | But for a lot of drivers this is a ridiculous amount of |
| Vehicle Use Tax, but others out there are just getting | | | | effort for such a small amount of cash. They have to |
| started and want to be sure they are meeting | | | | put a whole stop to their day, or if they have a drive |
| obligations. Even the veterans of the industry may not | | | | planned maybe take the whole day off, just to go turn |
| catch all the changes as they come. So I want to go | | | | in one piece of paper. |
| over the different ways to file tax form 2290 to give | | | | Paying By Mail |
| everyone a basic idea of what's going on. | | | | Which is why the Internal Revenue Service offers the |
| What is It? | | | | option of mailing the form in with a check or money |
| For those of you really trying to get a glimpse of what | | | | order. Once again, just download it from the web and |
| it means to be a trucker, the Heavy Vehicle Tax is a | | | | print it out. |
| tax that the government requires be paid by the | | | | Send it in to the IRS and after a week or two you get |
| professional men and women who use large machines | | | | a receipt in the mail as well as stamped proof that |
| to do business on our streets and highways. | | | | you've paid, which you need to carry on you at all |
| In theory, it is paid by anyone running a rig that weighs | | | | times in your vehicle because authorities will often ask |
| at least 55,000 pounds, including trailers and a typical | | | | to see it. And it's required for certain activities, such as |
| full load. | | | | leasing vehicles or purchasing insurance. |
| You May Be Exempt | | | | This brings up the obvious reason why paying by mail |
| Some of you out there, however, may be exempt. For | | | | isn't always such a great option. Waiting a week or |
| instance, commercial vehicles that travel less than | | | | two for that paperwork means a week or two of not |
| 5,500 miles on an annual basis are not required to pay. | | | | having that stamped proof in your truck. |
| And the same goes for agriculture rigs that don't travel | | | | This means if someone asks for it you can really get |
| any more than 7,500. | | | | scrutinized closer than is efficient if you're on your way |
| There are also exemptions for other vehicles, including | | | | with a load, and it's really detrimental if you need to |
| Red Cross, bloodmobiles, government vehicles, | | | | apply for insurance. |
| volunteer rescue services, and more. But in most | | | | Paying by Internet |
| cases, even if you're not responsible for paying the | | | | Just since 2007, the IRS has been offering the option |
| fee, you're still responsible for at least filing Tax Form | | | | of e-filing the Form 2290. Companies on the Internet |
| 2290 to show you are free of the obligation. | | | | have received approval for the IRS to file the |
| Paying in Person | | | | paperwork for you, allowing truckers to stick with the |
| The most common way, at least before recent | | | | business of trucking instead of running all around town |
| industry innovations, to pay the highway use tax is to | | | | to file paperwork. |
| drive in to the office of IRS in your city or town and | | | | After you pay your fee, you can print out your proof |
| turn the paperwork in. | | | | and stash it in you glove box—no waiting for it to |
| To make this a little more convenient, you can go | | | | come in the mail. While some people may not have |
| online and download the form first. That way, by the | | | | easy access to the web, for those who do it is no |
| time you show up to the office, it's already filled out | | | | question that this is the most efficient option for paying |
| and ready to go. If you don't have Internet, however, | | | | tax form 2290. |