Deadline Draws Near for FHUT 2290

By: Larry Marler

The deadline for filing the Federal Highway Use Tax 2290 is close at hand - July 1. If you have never heard of this, it may be because you haven’t operated a truck of 55,001 GVWR or larger until now.

Many of our members have upgraded over the years and are now subject to the law requiring businesses to file the FHUT 2290. The links listed show the graduated scale based on the actual weight of the maximum load carried and the weights of the actual vehicles as a total actual taxable gross weight.

An example of a vehicle you might think would pay the fee would be a truck GVWR rated for 65,000 but was needed for volume to haul loads of Styrofoam. This may not gross out but to 45,000 lbs and would not fall under the requirement if the vehicle only hauled the maximum as noted.

Note: Don’t fudge on this, there are too many ways to be caught and that can result in large fines and assessment for payments from previous years, as well.

Other points to consider:

►Strongly encourage efiling at www.irs.gov , if you have 25 or more vehicles you must efile.

►Due date is July 1st

►Period of filing without penalty by August 31st

►Be sure to get proof of payment on all used purchased vehicles or you will be liable for the total time of taxes for the tax year July1 – June 30.

►Must show proof of paying the tax when purchasing new truck tags.

►Filing forms change each filing year.

Other links for full instructions and forms are:

www.irs.gov/instructions/i2290/index.html

www.irsgov/pub/irs-pdf/f2290.pdf