When is Form 2290 due for 2026?

For a truck in service in July 2026, the 2026–2027 Form 2290 is due August 31, 2026. If you first put a truck in service later in the year, it's due the last day of the month after first use.

How much does it cost to file 2290?

E-filing through an IRS-authorized provider runs about $15–45, plus the actual Heavy Vehicle Use Tax (up to ~$550 per truck). You don't need an expensive filing service.

Do I need Form 2290 if my truck barely runs?

If your truck is 55,000 lbs+ you still file, but if it runs under 5,000 miles a year (7,500 agricultural) it's "suspended" — you file and owe no tax. You still need the stamped Schedule 1 for your plates.

Form 2290 (Heavy Vehicle Use Tax) — how to file by the deadline

If your truck is 55,000 lbs or more, you owe the Heavy Vehicle Use Tax on Form 2290 — and you need the stamped Schedule 1 to keep your plates. Here's how to e-file it yourself, cheap.

2026–2027 return due August 31, 2026

The tax period runs July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027, and the IRS began accepting filings July 1. For a truck in service in July, the deadline is August 31, 2026. Put a truck in service later? It's due the last day of the month after first use.

What 2290 is and who owes it

Form 2290 is the federal Heavy Vehicle Use Tax (HVUT), owed to the IRS on trucks with a taxable gross weight of 55,000 lbs or more that use public highways.

You file based on your truck's taxable gross weight. If you run under 5,000 miles a year (7,500 for agricultural), the vehicle is "suspended" — you still file, you just owe no tax.

Why the stamped Schedule 1 matters

When you file and pay, the IRS returns a stamped Schedule 1 — proof of payment. You need that stamped Schedule 1 to register or renew your plates (IRP), so don't lose it.

E-filing gets your stamped Schedule 1 back in minutes, which is why it beats mailing a paper return when a plate deadline is close.

How to file it (e-file yourself, ~$15–45)

1
Have your EIN ready (an SSN won't work for 2290) and your truck's VIN, taxable gross weight, and first-use month.
2
Pick an IRS-authorized e-file provider from the IRS list at irs.gov (search "2290 e-file providers").
3
Enter your vehicle, pay the tax (electronic funds withdrawal, EFTPS, card, or check), and submit.
4
Save the stamped Schedule 1 the IRS sends back — you need it for your plates.

E-filing through an IRS-authorized provider is only about $15–45, plus the actual tax (up to ~$550/truck). You never need a $100+ "filing service" — you get your stamped Schedule 1 back in minutes doing it yourself.

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Common questions

When is Form 2290 due for 2026?: For a truck in service in July 2026, the 2026–2027 Form 2290 is due August 31, 2026. If you first put a truck in service later in the year, it's due the last day of the month after first use.
How much does it cost to file 2290?: E-filing through an IRS-authorized provider runs about $15–45, plus the actual Heavy Vehicle Use Tax (up to ~$550 per truck). You don't need an expensive filing service.
Do I need Form 2290 if my truck barely runs?: If your truck is 55,000 lbs+ you still file, but if it runs under 5,000 miles a year (7,500 agricultural) it's "suspended" — you file and owe no tax. You still need the stamped Schedule 1 for your plates.

Fact-checked June 2026 · always reconfirm at fmcsa.dot.gov — fees, screens, and timelines change.