Tax & Permit Filing Services

Running a carrier requires filing multiple tax and permit documents annually: Form 2290 (heavy vehicle use tax), IRP (apportioned registration), IFTA (fuel tax reporting), and state-specific permit applications. This section profiles the providers that handle these filings for small carriers.

The four filing regimes

These are commonly grouped as “trucking taxes,” but they are four separate obligations with different thresholds, authorities, and deadlines. Which apply depends on the equipment operated and where it runs.

• Form 2290 — Heavy Vehicle Use Tax. A federal excise tax collected by the IRS on vehicles with a taxable gross weight of 55,000 pounds or more. The tax period runs 1 July to 30 June, and for a vehicle already in service at the start of that period the return is generally due by 31 August. The stamped Schedule 1 returned is not merely a receipt: states require it to register the vehicle, so a late filing can prevent registration.
• IRP — International Registration Plan. Apportioned registration for vehicles operating in more than one jurisdiction. Rather than registering separately in each state, the carrier registers in a base jurisdiction and fees are distributed according to miles run in each. This is registration rather than a tax return.
• IFTA — International Fuel Tax Agreement. Quarterly fuel tax reporting for qualified motor vehicles, filed with the base jurisdiction and redistributed among the states travelled. IFTA is self-reported and reconciled by audit, so the records underlying the figures carry as much weight as the figures themselves.
• UCR — Unified Carrier Registration. An annual registration with fees banded by fleet size. Small, easily overlooked, and enforced at roadside.

IRP and IFTA generally apply to interstate vehicles over 26,000 pounds, or with three or more axles regardless of weight. Thresholds and jurisdiction-specific rules vary; confirm with the base state before assuming exemption.

What a filing service does

These services prepare and submit filings, track deadlines, and for IFTA and IRP often help organise the underlying mileage and fuel records. For Form 2290 the value lies mainly in speed and IRS e-file authorisation, as the return itself is short.

They cannot generate the underlying records. IFTA and IRP filings are only as accurate as the mileage and fuel data supplied; incomplete trip records produce filings that fail audit. The carrier remains responsible for the accuracy of what is filed regardless of who prepared it.

Assessing a provider

Confirm the provider is IRS-authorised for e-filing where Form 2290 is concerned. Establish whether rejected returns and VIN corrections are re-filed at no charge, since a rejection close to a deadline is the costly scenario. For IFTA and IRP, determine the required format for mileage data and whether an export from the carrier’s ELD is accepted. Clarify whether pricing is per filing, per vehicle, or annual, as the difference compounds across a growing fleet. Establish what support is provided during an audit.

Form 2290 E-Filing Services

ExpressTruckTax

ExpressTruckTax provides IRS-authorized Form 2290 e-filing. Pricing starts at $19.90 for one vehicle and scales to $229.90 for 500+ vehicles. An unlimited-filing plan costs $379.90 (for unlimited vehicles filed annually). ExpressTruckTax offers free VIN correction support, real-time filing status updates, and a mobile app for filing on the road.

EZ2290

EZ2290 is an IRS-authorized Form 2290 e-filing service. Pricing starts at $19.99 per filing. EZ2290 offers free re-files for rejected returns and free VIN corrections. The platform includes support for Form 8849 (claim for refund of excise taxes) and bulk uploads for multi-vehicle filings, along with amendments for prior-year corrections.

Comprehensive Permit and Tax Filing Service

JJ Keller Permit Service

JJ Keller Permit Service handles a broad range of tax and permit filings: Form 2290 (federal heavy vehicle use tax), IRP (apportioned registration across states), IFTA (fuel tax reporting), mileage-based taxes (Oregon, New Mexico, New York, Kentucky), UCR (Unified Carrier Registration), and Authority Permit applications (new permits and renewals).

JJ Keller emphasizes fast turnaround: fuel and trip permits are typically issued within one hour, and oversize/overweight permits within three hours during business hours. The service includes 24/7 trip permit advisers for urgent or complex permit needs. The DataSense® portal centralizes trip permits, fuel data, toll records, and related documentation. JJ Keller also provides proprietary IFTA and IRP compliance audits and offers base-state and next-year permitting recommendations as part of the service.

Pricing is not publicly listed; JJ Keller provides quotes based on carrier size and specific filing needs. This is an enterprise-focused service model rather than standardized per-filing pricing.

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Next step: Read IFTA and Fuel Tax Basics to understand what fuel-tax filing is required and when.

Also relevant: USDOT and MC Numbers — your operating authority and the filings that support it.