Illinois IFTA Information
Illinois or “The Prairie State” is the 5th most populous state with a population of nearly 13 million people. In order to receive an IFTA license in Illinois you must complete your Motor Fuel Tax Application. An additional form must be completed by Illinois based commercial motor carriers. There are currently no charges to receive a license, however there is a $3.75 for each set for annual IFTA decals. Each qualified motor vehicle must have one set of IFTA decals.
State Requirements Illinois IFTA Licensing
Illinois is one of the 48 states in the U.S. that have joined the IFTA. If you are an Illinois-based trucker operating in two or more member jurisdictions, you are subject to the IFTA Illinois licensing requirements.
Before submitting an Illinois IFTA License application, you must first determine whether your vehicle(s) qualifies. A vehicle qualifies for IFTA licensing if it is designed and maintained for transporting people or products and meets the following:
- Has two axles and a GVW or registered GVW exceeding 26,000 pounds.
- Has three or more axles regardless of weight.
- Has a combination GVW over 26,000 pounds.
Some motor vehicles are exempt from registering for the IFTA in Illinois. For instance, RVs, school buses, and qualified vehicles that operate solely within the state are not required to obtain an IFTA permit.
After receiving your IFTA permit and decals, you are ready to roll. But, don’t forget to file Illinois IFTA fuel tax forms every quarter. You are required to keep track of all fuel purchased and used in each jurisdiction on your route. The taxes are filed with your base jurisdiction, and they take care of distributing the funds.
Failure to file by the deadline can cost you 10% of taxes owed to each jurisdiction, or $50, whichever is greater. You can find the Illinois IFTA Fuel Tax Form here. These are the quarterly deadlines:
Quarterly IFTA Due Dates |
|
|---|---|
| Q1 January – March | April 30 |
| Q2 April – June | July 31 |
| Q3 July – September | October 31 |
| Q4 October – December | January 31 |
Renewing Your Illinois IFTA License
An Illinois IFTA license is issued for one year and expires on December 31st. Your license will not be renewed if you are not in compliance with the IFTA fuel tax. It’s vital that you not wait until the last minute to file for the renewal. Delays can happen, and the IFTA sticker grace period runs out in February, so you don’t want to risk having to take your vehicle off the road until your license arrives.
Truckers in all IFTA jurisdictions are required to keep a copy of a valid IFTA license in each vehicle in the fleet. Also, each vehicle must have a current IFTA decal displayed on each side of the cab.
We’ve kept this information brief, but even so, it can still be confusing. Right now, you’re imagining yourself filling out tons of paperwork for every trip and picturing yourself searching for lost receipts or documents. If you’re looking for an efficient way to keep track of everything and still have time to drive, we have a solution that will free you from hours of tedious log keeping.
Benefits of Trucking Management Software
We understand the demands placed on truckers when it comes to staying compliant with fuel use reports. Those quarterly deadlines can sneak up on even the most organized drivers. But, with our system, you’ll never have to worry about filing late or losing documents. TruckingOffice makes filing your quarterly IFTA easy by keeping all of your information in one place.
Our program will also help you track invoices, vehicle maintenance, dispatches, IFTA permit renewals and much more. Your miles are calculated automatically using PC*Miler. If this sounds like a service you would benefit from, contact us today. One of our team members will be happy to tell you more.
Start filing your IFTA the easy way today!