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The IRS this week reminded taxpayers it’s time for those who register, or are required to register, heavy trucks and buses to file and pay their heavy highway vehicle use tax for the 2021 tax year using Form 2290. 

The deadline is Aug. 31 for the tax period that runs July 1 to June 30, 2022, the IRS said. The tax is required for motor vehicles that weigh over 55,000 pounds and carry loads over public highways. Vans, pickup trucks, and panel trucks are generally exempt because they usually weigh less than 55,000 pounds. 

Taxpayers who are unsure if they must file and pay the tax can use the IRS online tool, “Do I Need to Pay the Heavy Highway Vehicle Use Tax,” which provides information in a question-and-answer format. A recorded webinar, “Understanding Form 2290 – Heavy Highway Vehicle Use Tax,” is also available online. 

Go here to access the Tax Year 2021 Form 2290 Heavy Highway Vehicle Use Tax Return. Taxpayers will need their Employer Identification Number (EIN), vehicle identification numbers (VIN) and the weight of each taxable vehicle in order to file. 

E-filing is required for taxpayers reporting more than 25 vehicles on Form 2290 and strongly encouraged for those with fewer vehicles. Go to IRS.gov for a list of IRS-approved e-file providers. 

The heavy highway vehicle use tax is a federal excise tax, which collects over $1 billion a year for the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Highway Trust Fund, which is used to finance federal government spending on highways and mass transit projects.