When it’s tax time, anyone who drives trucks for a living knows it’s also time to file Form 2290. But how much does it cost to file a 2290? The answer might not be as straightforward as you’d think (or hope). If you want to file by mail, you can only do so with the IRS directly, and only if you have fewer than 25 vehicles. Otherwise, you’ll need to e-file your Form 2290, and to do that you’ll need to use an authorized e-file provider, as you can’t e-file directly with the IRS. 

So if you need to file your Form 2290 online, how can you accomplish it? And how much will it cost? In this article, we’ll address finding a participating authorized e-file provider, the information you need to have ready, the fees charged by e-file providers for their service, and the options you have for paying the HVUT, in order to best address the question: how much does it cost to file a 2290? 

How Do You Find a Participating Authorized E-File Provider?

If you have more than 25 vehicles, e-filing your Form 2290 is required. However, even if you have fewer trucks, e-filing is still encouraged for faster and more accurate processing. The IRS gives a list of authorized e-file providers by tax year, with services and rates varying slightly by provider. 

Pricing depends heavily on which service you choose; some sites offer prices starting at a flat rate for any number of vehicles under 24 – i.e.; charging $65 for a small fleet of vehicles, with a price increase once the number of vehicles exceeds 25. Others will start pricing at a single-vehicle rate, usually from $6-$10, with gradual increases in price. Additionally, most providers will offer additional services, such as filing a Form 2290 Amendment, at an extra charge. Some providers require a fee for VIN correction, while others offer this service for free. 

While prices will vary some from provider to provider, most IRS-authorized e-file providers come equipped with FAQ sections for quick questions about how and where to file, and many will have live chat options for real-time help with filing, a number to call for assistance filing, or both. It’s important to note, though, that the quality of customer service varies widely from provider to provider.

What Information Do You Need to Have Ready?

Once you’ve chosen a service for e-filing your 2290 form, you’ll need to make sure you have the right documentation ready to file. Make sure you have:

• EIN: The IRS does not accept Form 2290s filed using Social Security Numbers. Because Form 2290 is a business tax return, the IRS requires an Employer Identification Number, or EIN, to be used as the Federal Tax Identification Number on the return. Apply well before your 2290 is due for an EIN if you don’t yet have one. It usually takes between two and four weeks for the EIN to become established in e-file systems. 
• VIN: The Vehicle Identification Number, or VIN, is usually a 17-character series of letters and numbers. While it’s best to file with the correct VIN number the first time, typing errors can be fixed later using a VIN correction amendment. 
• Taxable Gross Weight: Your Form 2290 will need to include the taxable gross weight of the vehicle or vehicles you use. In the case of an apportioned plate with different registered weights in different states, you should use the greater weight, but ultimately it will be up to your vehicle registration office whether or not you have filed the correct weight. If you didn’t, they’ll require a correction before issuing you a new registration.

How Much Does it Cost to File a 2290?

Well, it depends on a number of factors. Most are tax-related; how much tax do you owe? How many trucks are you filing for? This will have an impact on how much it costs to file. The other factor will be external; how much is the e-file provider charging? 

Remember that whichever you choose, the authorized e-file provider you select for filing your Form 2290 does not charge the tax you owe, just their fee for filing. When filing your Form 2290 and paying your Heavy Vehicle Use Tax, calculate the tax liability for each vehicle. Your e-file provider should calculate taxes for you, but essentially the annual Form 2290 tax for one vehicle amounts to $100, plus $22 for each 1,000 pounds over the 55,000 minimum gross vehicle weight. The tax for vehicles over 75,000 pounds maxes out at $550. If you expect to drive less than 5,000 miles annually, or 7,500 miles for agricultural vehicles, your HVUT tax is suspended and you don’t need to pay anything, but you still must file if you plan to register the vehicle.

Did You Know i2290 is Here to Help?

How much does it cost to file a 2290? There are a lot of different answers to that question, because there are a lot of different e-file providers out there. Cut through the noise with i2290, a service designed to make Form 2290 tax preparation as quick and simple as possible. 

As the first company to offer Form 2290 automation to the trucking industry, we’ve remained singularly focused on optimizing this process for our customers to this day. i2290’s founder, Phil Boyer, even helped the IRS Development Consortium establish its electronic filing program for the 2290 return, shaping how the program works today. 

At i2290, we try to keep the cost to file the Form 2290 as low as possible, so unlike other services with multiple pricing tiers, we offer three simple pricing options so you can select a plan that best suits your needs. Regardless of what plan you choose, all of our customers receive access to free unlimited VIN corrections, free unlimited resubmissions for rejected tax returns, and free unlimited weight increase amendment filings. In these cases, you’ll only need to pay tax owed.  

Our software will ask you a few quick questions about your business and vehicles, then calculate your taxes automatically. Once your form is submitted, you’ll receive an IRS-stamped Schedule 1 in minutes, and i2290 will store your documents for easy access for up to seven years. If you struggle at any point in the process, our highly dedicated and much-loved customer support team won’t rest until any issues you may have are resolved. For an additional fee, we will even file for you by phone. Create an account with i2290 today to get started.

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 filing correctly and paying appropriate taxes is by following IRS regulations and consulting with a tax professional.