Anybody who’s been in the business long enough knows how quickly the little, day-to-day things can add up, especially when it comes to tax considerations. For example, checking your Form 2290 status might seem like a small task, but it plays a major role in keeping your truck legally on the road. Fail to keep up with your filing status, and you could end up facing delayed registrations, or even trigger penalties from the IRS.
To help your business keep on truckin’, this article will break down why your Form 2290 status is so important, how you can verify it, and what to do in the case that your submission is delayed or rejected.
The purpose of your Form 2290 status is to show whether the IRS has accepted your Heavy Vehicle Use Tax (HVUT) filing. The HVUT, paid via – you guessed it – Form 2290, applies to people who drive vehicles that weigh 55,000 lbs or more. Because trucking and other large vehicle transportation tends to take its toll on public infrastructure, the funds from the HVUT are allocated towards highway improvement projects and other road repair efforts.
The annual deadline for filing Form 2290 for vehicles in service by July is August 31. If a newly purchased vehicle goes into service after July, the due date for filing Form 2290 is the last day of the month after the vehicle begins operating on public roadways.
Once filed, it’s important to keep an eye on the status of your Form 2290, as many DMVs require proof of acceptance, in the form of a stamped Schedule 1, to renew truck registrations. Ignoring your status could result in missed deadlines, which can lead to financial penalties or compliance issues.
Luckily, there are a few ways to monitor the status of your 2290 filing! Written correspondence about Form 2290 can be sent to
Internal Revenue Service
7940 Kentucky Drive
Florence, KY 41042-2915
You can also directly contact the IRS by phone to confirm acceptance if needed by calling their Form 2290 Call Site, which operates Monday – Friday between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. Eastern time. The phone numbers are:
For a faster and more hands-off way to check your Form 2290 status, the IRS’s e-file system has a platform, accessible through their official website, for checking that status. Most e-file providers offer real-time tracking, as well as email confirmations. We recommend that once you receive your stamped Schedule 1, you keep a digital or printed copy on-hand.
When a Form 2290 status shows that the form is ‘Processing,’ the typical waiting period for that form to be marked as ‘Received’ can range from a few days to a few weeks. If your status reads as ‘Processing’ for an extended period of time, you may need to contact the IRS for clarification on the holdup. Delays are often caused by a person submitting their Form 2290 using incorrect payment methods, or by failed transactions.
Often, a Form 2290 gets delayed or outright rejected by the IRS because of a filing error. The most common data entry mistake seen in Form 2290 filings is entering the incorrect VIN number. Other mistakes that may lead to rejection include incorrectly entering your company’s EIN, submitting the wrong vehicle or business information, or accidentally submitting duplicate filings.
The IRS has also become very strict about company details: your business name and address must match what the IRS has on file exactly—punctuation, spacing, and abbreviations included (for example, “Smith and Sons Trucking” vs. “Smith & Sons Trucking”). This tighter matching helps prevent fraud where a single character change could expose a company’s information.
It’s also wise to make sure your EIN is fully registered in the IRS system before submitting your Form 2290. Submitting before your EIN is fully established will often result in an automatic rejection.
If your Form 2290 Status shows that your submission has been rejected, have no fear! First, review the rejection notice from your e-file provider or from the IRS to identify the issue. Next, it’s time to correct and resubmit your Form 2290 as quickly as possible, to avoid incurring any penalties for late submission. Some tax services will even allow you to re-file your Form 2290 for free if your initial submission is rejected.
You may not think that there’s a lot riding on your Form 2290 status, but your Schedule 1 is only valid if your Form 2290 was accepted, and status errors could render the filing invalid, causing unfortunate bottlenecks for your business. Best to keep things simple and choose a trusted e-filing service to help you minimize filing errors, keep your status current, and safeguard a fast and easy filing process.
Let i2290 be that trusted service for you! We specialize in one thing: making it as easy and painless as possible for our customers to file their return from anywhere with internet access. Our user-friendly platform walks you through a series of quick questions about your vehicle(s), then automatically calculates your taxes. For a small fee, we then file your Form 2290, which generates your stamped Schedule 1 in a matter of minutes.
If you run into any roadblocks with your filing, don’t worry! Our world-class customer support team, made up of professionals fluent in English and Spanish, is always happy to help and answer any questions you may have. We offer VIN corrections and weight increase amendments at no extra cost in case you need to correct any errors in the original filing. i2290 will also store a digital copy of your stamped Schedule 1 for seven years, so that you’ll always have easy access when you need it.
Ready for a simple, stress-free Form 2290 filing process? Create an account with i2290.com today!
Special note: This article is for general purposes, and is not intended to provide, and should not be relied on for tax, legal, investment, or accounting advice. The best way to ensure you’re properly filing and paying appropriate taxes is by following IRS regulations and consulting with a tax professional.
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