Today is Deadline to File 3rd Quarter IFTA Return

The deadline to file 3rd Quarter IFTA Return is today!! You must file a return even if you did not run during the quarter.  You would just file a “zero” report.

Failure to file a return, filing a late return, or failure to remit any or all tax due will result in a penalty of $50.00 or 10% of the net tax due to all member jurisdictions, whichever is greater.  Interest is computed on all delinquent taxes dues each jurisdiction at a rate of 1% per month.  Even if you have a net refund, interest still applies to each jurisdiction for any underpayment of fuels use tax to that jurisdiction and is calculated beginning the day after the due date of the return for each month, or fraction of a month, until paid. So the longer you are late, the more you will owe.

The deadline for 3rd quarter IFTA returns is today, October 31st, so if you have not yet filed your return, you will want to file it now to avoid penalties and interest.  At Truck Services of North America, we make it simple by preparing and filing your quarterly returns for you. TSNA takes the paperwork out of your way.  Contact us at TSNAmerica.com or call 803.386.0320.

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Tomorrow is the Deadline to File Form 2290

Tomorrow, Wednesday, October 31, 2012 is the deadline to file Form 2290 for Heavy Vehicle Use Taxes on vehicles first placed on public highways during the month of September.  On the road and unable to file on your own?  No problem, just give us a call and we’ll take care of it for you.  We take all your information over the phone and submit it to the IRS on your behalf!  All we need is your information and a signed Form 8453, giving us the authorization to file for you.  We can fax you the form, you sign it a fax it back and we take care of the rest.

We can even send your employer proof that you filed your Form 2290 for you.  So don’t risk IRS penalties by missing tomorrow’s deadline.  Truck Services of North America can handle it for you.  TSNA takes the paperwork out of your way!  Contact our US Based Customer Service at 803.386.0320 to get your Form 2290 returned filed today!  Check out all our services at TSNAmerica.com.

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eManifest Compliance For Highway Carriers Begins Nov 1, 2012

What is eManifest?
eManifest is about getting the right information at the right time, making the border smarter and more secure.  This will allow the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) to identify potential threats to Canada, while facilitating the movement of low-risk shipments across the border.

The law that was passed in June 2009, allows the CBSA to mandate various members of the trade community to submit pre-arrival data for risk assessment purposes.

The CBSA completed the deployment of electronic systems (Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) and eManifest Portal) for highway carriers to transmit cargo and conveyance data in 2011.

An informed compliance period for highway carriers is set to begin November 1, 2012, and remain in effect until May 2013, during which carriers will not be denied entry to Canada or subject to penalties for eManifest non-compliance. Beginning in May 2013, eManifest highway carrier requirements are expected to be mandatory and non-compliant carriers could be subject to penalties.

Find out more about the latest information and requirements for highway carriers regarding eManifest.

Stay informed of the changes in the laws that are put in place to make our roads safer.  Truck Services of North America supports all efforts to keep our roads safe and to inform you of the laws so you can avoid penalties, fines and possible license suspensions.

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International Fuel Tax Agreement (IFTA Fuel Tax Return)

Reminder that all 3rd Quarter IFTA Returns are due next Wednesday, October 31, 2012.  The International Fuel Tax Agreement (or IFTA) is an agreement between the lower 48 states of the United States and the Canadian provinces (except Northwestern Territories, Nunavut and Yukon), to simplify the reporting of fuel use by motor carriers that operate in more than one jurisdiction. This simplifies the process of reporting quarterly fuel tax returns.

This tax is required for motor vehicles used, designed, or maintained for transportation of persons or property and:

• Having two axles and a gross vehicle weight rating or registered gross vehicle weight in excess of 26,000 pounds, and/or
• Having three or more axles regardless of weight, and/or
• Is used in combination, when the weight of such combination exceeds 26,000 pounds gross vehicle or registered gross vehicle weight.

Exceptions exist for Recreational Vehicles (such as motor homes, pickup trucks with attached campers, and buses when used exclusively for personal pleasure by an individual). Some states have their own exemptions that may apply to farm vehicles or government vehicles, so check your state for their specific exemptions.

The IFTA license offers several benefits to the interstate/inter-jurisdictional motor carrier. These benefits include one license, one set of decals per vehicle, one quarterly fuel tax report for all vehicles that reflects the net tax or refund due. Tax returns are required even if no operations were conducted or no taxable fuel was used during the reporting period. Returns that are not filed or not paid in full are considered late and will be assessed penalty and interest.

When filing a tax return, a licensee may apply the fuel overpayment generated in one jurisdiction to the taxes owed for another jurisdiction. These advantages result in cost and time savings for the carrier and the member jurisdictions.

Under IFTA, you are able to file one return in your base jurisdiction and that jurisdiction will allocate the money appropriately.  This agreement definitely simplified what used to be a very long and time-consuming process. So don’t delay in filing your 3rd Quarter IFTA return by the October 31st deadline.  At Truck Services of North America, we make it even simpler by preparing and filing your quarterly returns for you. TSNA takes the paperwork out of your way.  Contact us at tsnamerica.com or call 803.386.0320.

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Renewal Deadlines for Truckers Who Operate in Oregon

Renewal period for Oregon Weight Receipt, IFTA and IRP are under way.  The deadline is December 31, 2012.  If you are renewing by mail, you will want to return your paperwork by October 31, 2012 to allow enough time to process the 2013 credentials.  A better and faster option is to renew your credentials online at OregonTruckingOnline.com with a PIN.

Oregon Weight Receipt and Tax Identifier, or Receipt is required in additional to registration plates and is used to collect highway-use taxes.  A carrier pays the Weight-Mile tax by filing a Weight-Mile Tax report.

IFTA is the International Fuel Tax Agreement between the lower 48 states of the United States and the Canadian provinces (except Northwestern Territories, Nunavut and Yukon), to simplify the reporting of fuel use by motor carriers that operate in more than one jurisdiction. This simplifies the process of reporting quarterly fuel tax returns.

IRP is the International Registration Plan that is an agreement for the registration of commercial motor vehicles involved in interjurisdictional travel throughout the 48 contiguous United States and 10 provinces in Canada.

The renewal period for Unified Carrier Registration or UCR is also open from now until December 31, 2012.

As a premier processing agency, Truck Services of North America can assist with renewing your Oregon Weight Receipt, IFTA, IRP and UCR.  TSNA takes the paperwork out of your way. For more details contact us at TSNAmerica.com or call 803.386.0320.

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2013 UCR Renewal Period Now Open

2013 Unified Carrier Registration is open and the deadline to register is December 31, 2012.  The Unified Carrier Registration (UCR) Plan and Agreement are part of a Federally-mandated, State-administered program that went into effect September 10, 2007.  Under this program, States collect fees from motor carriers, motor private carriers, freight forwarders, brokers and leasing companies, based on the number of qualifying commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) in their fleets. The revenues generated will be used for enforcement of motor carrier safety programs.

Who is Subject to UCR?  
All motor carriers (for-hire, private and exempt) – as well as brokers, freight forwarders, and leasing companies operating in interstate or international commerce are subject to the new UCR.   Entities based in Canada and Mexico that are involved in interstate or international commerce in the United States are also subject to UCR.

The 2013 UCR fees remain the same, with no increase.  Strict enforcement begins January 1, 2013 and states are implementing UCR audit procedures that in some states can be in excess of $1000 for your first offense.  You are required to maintain three years proof of UCR registration, so you will want to make sure you are registered from 2010 until now.  You are able to register for previous years.

As a premier processing agency, Truck Services of North America can get or renew your UCR for you.  TSNA takes the paperwork out of your way. For more details contact us at TSNAmerica.com or call 803.386.0320.

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Beware of Email Scams in Connecticut

More email scams have been reported, this time in Connecticut.  See the Press Release from Commissioner Sullivan of the Connecticut Department of Revenue Services:

Hartford – Connecticut Department of Revenue Services (DRS) Commissioner Kevin B. Sullivan today alerted taxpayers about emails claiming to have information about refunds from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

Commissioner Sullivan advised that neither DRS nor the IRS notify taxpayers about refunds via email, adding, “Scammers use these emails to elicit sensitive personal information that can be used to steal a taxpayer’s identity. They also use emails like this to trick users into downloading malware that sends information back to the criminals about bank accounts, credit cards, and passwords.”

Commissioner Sullivan said the emails he has seen claim that a calculation error has resulted in a refund and asks the taxpayer to follow a link to a website to claim the refund.

“Under no circumstances should you open any links or respond to these emails,” Commissioner Sullivan warned. Instead, taxpayers with any questions about the validity of communications they have received should contact the agency through its website atwww.ct.gov/DRS or www.irs.gov.

Taxpayers may also call DRS with any questions about bills or letters at (800) 382-9463 (within Connecticut but outside the greater Hartford area) or (860) 297-5962 (from anywhere).

Taxpayers who believe they have received a scam email are encouraged to report it to the Federal Trade Commission at:

https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov

Connecticut residents who believe they have been the victim of identity theft should report the matter to the Department of Consumer Protection at dcp.tradepractices@ct.gov

Media calls should be directed to the communications office at (860) 297-5610 or emailed to sarah.kaufman@po.state.ct.us.

At Truck Services of North America, we are keeping you informed by making you aware of scams that out there so you can avoid being taken advantage of!

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Updated Kentucky Ad Valorem Fee Conversion Factor

The following was posted on the IRP website at http://www.irponline.org.

The Kentucky ad valorem fee conversion factor will change effective Jan. 1, 2013.

For more information see the memo and updated conversion factor table.  

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Jeff Tipton, branch manager, Kentucky Licensing and Registration at (502) 564-1257.

Truck Services of North America works to help you stay informed of changes in laws that affect you.  

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October 31st Deadline for IFTA, Kentucky, New Mexico, New York & Oregon

If you have the IFTA license, you must file the Quarterly IFTA tax return to your base jurisdiction, even if the licensee does not operate or purchase any taxable fuel in an IFTA member jurisdiction during the specific quarter. You will need to separate your mileage and fuel records for each fuel type. September 30, 2012 is the end of the 3rd Quarter for IFTA and the deadline to file your return is October 31, 2012.

What you need:

1. Mileage log-whether you use manual trip sheets, GPS, or electronic trip sheets; it is not only necessary to have in order to file your quarterly IFTA, but you will need these if you are ever audited.
2. Fuel Receipts-you will need to know how many gallons of fuel were purchased in each state.

In addition to IFTA, if you travel in Kentucky, New York, New Mexico or Oregon you will also need to file a Weight Distance Tax Return, in each state and that deadline is also October 31, 2012.

New York Highway Use Tax (NYHUT)

• Carriers operating certain commercial motor vehicles that weigh 18,000 lbs or greater in New York are required to register and obtain NYHUT tax credentials. Once a NYHUT account has been established, carriers must file and pay mileage tax on a quarterly basis. 
  
  

Kentucky Use Tax (KYU Number)

• All commercial motor vehicles (except buses) with a gross weight of 60,000 lbs and over traveling into or through Kentucky must be registered with the state. Carriers with an active KYU Number are then required to file a quarterly return and pay mileage taxes to Kentucky. New qualifying vehicles must be listed with Kentucky prior to the vehicle entering the state. Temporary permits are also available.
  
  

New Mexico Weight Distance Tax

• All commercial motor vehicles with a gross weight in excess of 26,000 lbs. must be registered with the state before traveling into or through New Mexico. Entrance can be paid at the port if not registered; however, it is not cost effective to pay at the port unless you travel through New Mexico only once or twice per year. Once a Weight Distance Tax account in New Mexico is established quarterly reports must be filed and mileage tax paid.
  
  

Oregon Weight-Mile Tax

• All commercial carriers with a gross vehicle weight in excess of 26,001 lbs. must obtain a temporary or annual permit to travel into or through Oregon. Oregon does not belong to the International Fuel Tax Agreement; however, a proper tax permit must be obtained before entering this state. Heavy fines are imposed on carriers entering into Oregon without the proper credentials.
• Oregon requires all new entrants to become bonded before permanent credentials are issued. Bonds may be placed by a Surety Company or posted with cash. The size of your fleet will determine the amount of the bond required.

As a premier processing agency, Truck Services of North America can assist with your your IFTA, NY HUT, KYU, New Mexico and Oregon Weight Distance Taxes.  TSNA takes the paperwork out of your way. For more details contact us at TSNAmerica.com or call 803.386.0320.

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IRP Basics

What is IRP?
IRP is the International Registration Plan that is an agreement for the registration of commercial motor vehicles involved in interjurisdictional travel throughout the 48 contiguous United States and 10 provinces in Canada.

Benefits of IRP?
IRP facilitates the collection and distribution of registration fees you pay between member jurisdictions while reducing the requirement of multiple license plates, cab cards or registration trip permits The fees are based on percentage of total distance the registered fleet of vehicles operated in each jurisdiction.

What are the IRP fees used for?
The fees are used to support highway infrastructure and safety related programs providing safer, more efficient highways.

Jurisdiction Responsibilities    

• Register apportioned vehicles 
• Calculate, collect and distribute fees
•  Audit carriers 
• Provide required information to carriers 
• Enforce requirements

Registrant Responsibilities  

• Applying for IRP registration
• Provide proper documentation
• Pay IRP registration fees
• Display registration credentials
• Maintain accurate distance records
• Make records available for review

Importance of maintaining accurate records
Clear and accurate record keeping is critical to the fair assesment and distribution of IRP registration fees. Records must be maintained for 3 years after the close of the registration period. If requested for an audit, they must be made available.  

The registration and renewal process may vary from state to state. For more information on IRP, check out www.irponline.org  or contact your base jurisdiction.  

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