How To Make Form 2290 Simplified For You
Form 2290 filing is coming up!
Make sure you are prepared by knowing exactly what category your vehicle falls under.
There are some questions that may trip you up. If you don’t know definitions of the terms below, you may end up wasting your time and money.
These terms will help your Form 2290 filing be the simplest it’s ever been.
Logging Vehicles
Some commercial vehicles are mistakenly classified as logging vehicles because some truckers think that a logging vehicle is simply any vehicle that carries logs. Unfortunately, this is not the case.
Your vehicle can be classified as a logging vehicle only if it meets the following criteria:
- Your vehicle exclusively transports products harvested from a forest
- Exclusively transports forestry products to and from different points within a forest
Knowing if your vehicle can be considered a logging vehicle is important so that you are taxed at the appropriate rate.
Agricultural Vehicles
Unlike logging vehicles, agricultural vehicles are identified by a special tag or license plate.
An agricultural vehicle is any vehicle used for farming purposes for over half of the time (based on mileage) during the tax period.
Vehicles used for agricultural purposes, regardless of weight, are allowed to drive up to 7,500 miles before having to pay any tax.
However, this doesn’t mean that owners of agricultural vehicles are exempt from filing an HVUT. The Form 2290 is a requirement for every commercial vehicle over 55,000 pounds.
Suspended Vehicles
HVUT can be suspended if you expect to complete no more than 5,000 miles of highway use.
For agricultural vehicles, the limit is increased to 7,500 miles. As long as you don’t exceed these limits, you won’t have any taxes due.
Regardless of the number of owners, the mileage use limit refers to the total mileage a vehicle is used during the taxable period.
Exempt Vehicles
Exempt vehicles are vehicles not required to file Form 2290 or pay HVUT.
In order for a highway motor vehicle to be exempt, it must be used and actually operated by one of the following:
- The Federal Government
- The District of Columbia
- A state or local government
- The American National Red Cross
- A nonprofit volunteer fire department, ambulance association, or rescue squad
- An Indian tribal government but only if the vehicle’s use involves the exercise of an essential tribal government function
- A mass transportation authority if it is created under a statute that gives it certain powers normally exercised by the state.
It is vital that you know what category your vehicle(s) fall under so that you won’t waste your time and money. No one wants to find out they filed the wrong vehicle or paid taxes that they didn’t have to.
Want To File Online?
This season, stay updated on what is required and how to properly file.
Making corrections aren’t fun. Luckily, when you file with Express Truck Tax you get FREE corrections, as well as receive a complimentary error check.
Want To File Early?
You no longer have to wait until July 1st to begin your Form 2290 filing. File as early as today!
Our sister product, Truck Services of North America (TSNAmerica), has started pre-filing. Join thousands of others who have already gotten their Form 2290 taken care of until July 1, 2020. Call today, at 803.386.0320! Form 2290 support team members are waiting to hear from you!
