Heavy Highway Use Tax Filing Requirements: 12 Things You Need To Know

There are a lot of doubts and misinformation attached to the heavy highway vehicle use tax or the HVUT. The HVUT is an annual fee that the operators of heavy vehicles have to pay every year.

If their vehicle has a registered gross weight of more than 55,000 lbs, they have to register it as a heavy highway vehicle. The taxable weight of the automobile is the total of the following:

• The unloaded weight of the vehicle when ready for service.
• Actual unloaded weight of any trailers or semi-trailers that are used in combination with the vehicle. 
• The weight of the maximum load that is carried on that vehicle or any trailer or semi-trailer that is used in combination. 
• The actual unloaded weight  of the vehicle when it is empty.

But let’s get on with a few questions that are asked about the heavy highway vehicle use tax.

1. What Is Heavy Vehicle Use Tax?

If you have registered your vehicle as a heavy vehicle, you are required to pay this tax. You must file form 2290 every year. The heavy vehicle use tax will be paid annually if you are registering your vehicle in your name.

If your vehicle has a taxable weight of more than 55,000 lbs, you need to pay this tax. If you use any public vehicle on a public roadway, you must pay this tax.

2. What Is Form 2290?

If you drive a heavy vehicle, you are required to register it within 60 days of purchase. You need to file form 2290 for this purpose. You must pay the appropriate tax after you have registered it in your name.

If your vehicle has a weight of more than 55000 LBS, you need to fill in this form and submit it as soon as possible.

The 2290 form is used for the following purposes:

• To help you figure out the taxable amount that is due on your heavy vehicle that weighs more than 55000 lbs.
• If you have completed the suspension statement on another form 2290 for your vehicle, it will help you figure out the taxes applicable on that vehicle (if it exceeded the mileage use limit during a given period).
• This form also helps you out when you want to determine the amount of tax payable on your vehicle if its gross weight increases and that makes it fall into a different category.
• You can use this form to claim suspension from the tax if your vehicle is used for less than 5000 miles during a given period.
• It can be used to claim a credit for any tax that you have paid on your vehicles that were stolen or destroyed or were only used for less than 5000 miles.

3. How Much Does It Cost?

You need to get in touch with your third-party administration to understand the associated costs with the HVUT.

4. When Do You Pay HVUT 2290?

The heavy vehicle use tax is usually payable by August 31st every year. If you have a vehicle that has a weight of more than 55000 LBS and it operates on US public highways, it will be considered taxable under the law.

5. How To Pay HVUT Online?

The easiest way to pay for this tax is online by submitting your form 2290. Schedule 1 contains all the records of taxable vehicles during the taxation period. The deadline is August 31st.

If you are a domestic freight transportation company or even an international carrier whether from Columbia, Canada, or Mexico, you must submit form 2290 and Schedule 1 by August 31st. You can process the payment to the IRS through a credit card or debit card.

As an alternative and a faster way to get this process completed, you should get in touch with your third-party administrator and ask them to do the needful.

6. How Often Do You Pay The HVUT?

This tax is only paid once every year. It is due on August 31st.

7. How To Pay Heavy Vehicle Use Tax?

Paying your heavy vehicle use tax is very easy. You will first have to gather the right information for your heavy highway vehicle use tax.

It includes your employer identification number, vehicle identification number, and the taxable gross weight of each vehicle that you use on public roadways. Get your form 2290 from the internet or ask your third-party administrator to get it for you

Calculate your tax:

There are certain vehicles that are exempt from this tax:

• Automobiles that travel less than 5000 miles per year
• Agricultural vehicles that travel less than 7000 miles every year 
• Any non-highway motor vehicles such as machinery used for non transportation functions
• Qualified blood collector vehicles

Determine the taxable weight of the vehicle and also calculate the fee that is applicable per automobile. Vehicles that weigh around 55,000 LBS have to pay no tax.

If your vehicle weighs between 55,000 and 75,000 LBS, you will have to pay $100 and also $22 per every 1,000 lbs in excess of 55,000 lbs. If your vehicle is over 75,000 lbs in weight, you will have to pay $550.

8. What Is Proof Of Heavy Vehicle Use Tax Payment?

You will get a stamped 2290 schedule 1. This will be your proof of payment. The IRS is going to issue it to you.

9. What Happens When You Don’t Pay HVUT?

If you fail to pay this tax, it is going to cost you heavily. If you fail to file your return before the due date or do it late, you will have to bear a penalty of 4.5%. In addition to this, there is a penalty of 0.5% as well.

Interest is also charged at a rate of 0.54%. Remember, these penalties can add up rather quickly. If you have a valid reason for not being able to pay this tax, you will have to give it in writing so that your penalties are forgiven.

10. Is 2290 And Heavy Vehicle Use Tax The Same Thing?

There is a very basic difference between the two. In order to file for your heavy highway vehicle use tax, you have to fill out form 2290.

11. At What Weight Do You Need 2290

The simple answer to this is that if your vehicle is more than 55,000 lbs in weight, you need to fill out the 2290 form right away.

12. How Long Does It Take To Get 2290 Back?

It usually takes somewhere between 1 and 6 weeks to get your schedule 1 stamped. You will get your form 2290 stamped from the IRS soon enough if you are punctual with your tax filing.