How to get your Form 2290 Schedule 1 faster

Nobody likes to pay taxes on their truck, but it’s an annual fact of life for OOIDA members. And because you need a stamped Form 2290 Schedule 1 to register your vehicle, you want this process to go as smoothly as possible.

Here are some Form 2290 FAQs from IRS that can make this year’s filing season less aggravating, and get that stamped Schedule 1 back in your hands sooner.

1. What’s my deadline for this return?          

The Form 2290 tax year runs from July 1 to June 30and the due date for the return is Aug. 31.  Unlike most other returns, the Form 2290 is an “upfront” return. When you pay the tax in August, your truck is covered up to the following July.

An exception to the Aug. 31 due date occurs when a vehicle is put on the road in a month after July.  When this happens, the Form 2290 is due by the last day of the month following the month you put the truck on the road.  So, for example, if you put a new truck on the road in September, your Form 2290 for that vehicle will be due Oct. 31.   In this case you won’t owe a full-year’s tax, just the tax for September through June, when you will go on the normal return schedule. 

Keep in mind though, that if you buy a used truck on which the tax has already been paid, you don’t have to file until the normal Aug. 31 due date.

2. You sent me two forms, Form 2290 and Form 2290-EZ, which one should I file, or do you want me to send in both? 

We don’t want you to file both, that just makes more work for both of us, and can lead to IRS billing you twice for the same truck. 

You can use Form 2290-EZ if:

Everybody else needs to file a regular Form 2290.

3. Why do I need to put my VIN (vehicle identification number) on the 2290 Schedule 1? I’ve paid the right tax, what’s the problem?

The problem is IRS can’t stamp a Schedule 1 without a VIN on it. We’ll send it right back to you.  And without the stamped Schedule 1 you won’t be able to register your truck.  By writing the VIN on both the top and bottom copies of your Schedule 1, IRS will have a back-up copy on file in case you lose your original.  

4. I don’t have employees, so why do I need an Employer Identification Number?  Why can’t I just put my Social Security Number on my Form 2290?

You don’t want to use your SSN because your SSN is for your Form 1040 account, and you don’t want your Form 2290 payment to go to your Form 1040 account.

By putting your EIN on both the Form 2290 and the 2290 Payment Voucher you keep your money and your return moving in the same direction.  And you reduce that likelihood that IRS will send you a bill for something you’ve already paid.

 If you don’t remember your EIN, you can call the Form 2290 help line at 1-866-699-4096 and we will look it up for you.

If you are new to the business, and you don’t have an EIN, you can apply for one on-line.  Go to IRS.gov, click on Businesses, then click on Employer Identification Numbers (it’s on the left hand side of the page under “Topics”) for more information.

If you had an EIN in the past, but you’re not sure if it’s still good, call first.  Having more EINs than you need can cause IRS to send you a lot of unnecessary paperwork.

Truckers need an Employer Identification Number even if they don’t have employees.  Technically this is because the Form 2290 is considered a business tax return, and the IRS computer system keeps business taxes and individual (1040) taxes separate.

5. The deadline to register my truck is next week.  How can I get my stamped Schedule 1 on short notice?

Normal Schedule 1 processing takes 4 to 6 weeks.  If you are up against a registration deadline, you should call the nearest IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center and ask when you can come in and file your Form 2290 there.  To find a list of the Taxpayer Assistance Centers in your state go to IRS.gov, click on Businesses, then click on Find My Local Office  - the link is on the left hand side of the page under “Resources.”

Editor’s note:  This article was provided by Mark Pearce, a tax information specialist with the Internal Revenue Service