Dates come and go whether we’re prepared for them or not. And when we don’t plan for important events, they can blindside us. Simply putting a date on the calendar only gets you so far. True preparation means working backward from key deadlines and milestones to create a plan. The busier your life is, the more intentional your schedule must be. Think about the truck driver schedule. Juggling both long hours on the road and business responsibilities can make it difficult to plan effectively and execute well.
Keeping up with tax deadlines is just one more responsibility—one that is crucial to avoid penalties and keep operations running smoothly—but one that is necessary to weave into the truck driver schedule.
Below is a breakdown of the most important tax deadlines to build into your truck driver schedule throughout the year.
First and foremost a truck driver schedule must account for Form 2290 and payment of the Heavy Vehicle Use Tax (HVUT).
Who: those who own trucks 55,000 pounds or more operating on public highways.
Why: This tax helps fund federal highway maintenance—and it gets you your stamped Schedule 1, which you need to register your truck.
When: The filing deadline is August 31. If you start using your truck mid-year, you’ll need to file based on the month you first put it on the road.
How: The fastest way is to e-file and pay online. The amount due depends on your truck’s weight (and whether it’s used for agriculture).
Next, if you’re an owner-operator, you have quarterly estimated tax payments you need to make and include in your truck driver schedule.
Who: Anyone who is self-employed. If you own a trucking company, you have business taxes you have to pay instead.
Why: Because no employer is withholding your taxes, quarterly payments cover income tax and self-employment tax (Social Security & Medicare).
When: Payments are due four times a year:
How: Payments can be made via the IRS EFTPS system, tax software, or through an accountant. Keeping accurate income records helps estimate payments more accurately throughout the year and avoid penalties.
Finally, like all working citizens, the truck driver schedule includes your annual income tax filing.
Who: This is required for all truck drivers, whether company drivers, owner-operators, or trucking business owners.
Why: Just like everyone else, truckers must file an annual tax return to report income, deductions, and tax payments.
When: April 15th is the deadline for individual income tax filings. If you operate a trucking business, your filing date may differ based on business structure.
How: Use tax software or a professional to ensure you claim all eligible deductions (fuel, per diem, maintenance, etc.). If you’ve made quarterly payments, they’ll be credited toward your total. Extensions are available—but they don’t extend the time to pay what you owe.
Your truck driver schedule doesn’t end with the key tax deadlines noted above. Staying on top of your tax obligations is a year-round affair for truckers. Since you must set aside a percentage of your income for taxes, it could be wise to create a separate tax savings account and set aside a percentage of your income every time you get paid.
Maintain detailed expense logs; it’s very important to track fuel, maintenance, and per diem expenses throughout the year. As the phrase “per diem” would suggest, it’s optimal to track expenses daily. Digital recordkeeping is superior to and easier than physical recordkeeping in most regards. There’s a multitude of technological aids at our disposal from tax reminder apps to your phone’s stock default digital calendar alerts to expense tracking apps.
No matter how you choose to handle taxes, the best course of action is to be proactive about it. Don’t be like Frank who is already late and still trying to catch a cab. Be a Chad and take the driver’s seat. Plan. As the architect of your truck driver schedule, engineer and execute your very own tax strategy.
Proactive planning helps avoid the stress that comes with last-minute scrambling & IRS penalties, and it allows you to prepare to take deductions for which you qualify. For personalized planning, you can consult a tax professional.
Now that we have established the 2290 due date and the importance of timely filing to avoid late fees, consider a simple streamlined way to E-file with i2290! If you file Form 2290 by mail, who knows when you’ll receive your stamped Schedule 1? And there’s the potential to have to contest penalties if something goes wrong with the mail service. i2290 allows you to file confidently, maintain compliance, and avoid unnecessary penalties.
With i2290, you can enjoy the convenience of e-filing your return from anywhere with internet access, saving time and money, while reaping the additional benefits of easily accessible digitally maintained records for seven years, filing VIN corrections and weight increase amendments for free, and access to a world-class customer service team.
Put i2290 in your truck driver schedule. Create an account with i2290 today and answer a few questions about your vehicle and your business. Then for a small fee, we will do the calculations for you and generate your stamped Schedule 1 in a matter of minutes!
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.
We're confident that your experience with INSTANT 2290 will be the best Form 2290 e-filing you've ever had. If for any reason you are not satisfied, just contact support for a full refund. No questions. No conditions. Create your account to get started!
