File Form 2290 Online in Minutes

The Heavy Highway Vehicle Use Tax (HVUT) is a federal tax owed on heavy vehicles with a taxable gross weight of 55,000 pounds or more that operate on public highways. You report and pay it using IRS Form 2290. The tax is also commonly called the truck tax, highway use tax, or road use tax.

The Form 2290 tax period runs annually from July 1st through June 30th of the following year. For vehicles first used in July, the filing deadline is August 31st. For vehicles placed into service in any other month, the deadline is the last day of the month after the vehicle's first use on public highways.

Missing the Form 2290 deadline triggers IRS penalties. The late filing penalty is 4.5% of the total tax due, charged monthly for up to five months. There is also a 0.5% monthly penalty for failure to pay, plus interest on the unpaid balance. On top of the dollar cost, a missed deadline can delay your stamped Schedule 1 and create problems at state registration. Filing on time is the simplest way to avoid all of it.

To file Form 2290 online, you'll need four things: • EIN (Employer Identification Number). Your nine-digit federal tax ID. The IRS does not accept Social Security Numbers on Form 2290. • Business name. Your legal entity name as it appears on IRS records (check your Form SS-4 confirmation). • VIN (Vehicle Identification Number). Found on your vehicle registration or stamped on the truck, typically near the engine compartment or driver-side door. • Vehicle details. The taxable gross weight category and the month the vehicle was first used on public highways during the tax period.

No. The IRS requires an Employer Identification Number (EIN) on Form 2290 regardless of your business structure, even if you're a sole proprietor or single-member LLC. If you don't have an EIN yet, you can apply for one for free on the IRS website. The IRS recommends applying at least two weeks before your filing deadline, since new EINs need time to be added to the e-file system.