Ontario IFTA Information
Located in east-central Canada is Ontario with a population of about 14 million and nearly 40% of all canadians. Currently to obtain an IFTA license in Ontario you must submit a completed application to the Ministry of Finance.
Requirements for IFTA Ontario Licensing
Welcome to the world of professional trucking! If you’ve recently earned your CPL, you’re here because you need easy to understand information about the IFTA regulations. Let’s begin with the qualifications for IFTA Ontario licensing to help you determine what you need to do first.
The IFTA, International Fuel Tax Agreement, is a plan between the U.S. and Canada that simplifies payment of fuel use taxes among state and national borders. Currently, 48 U.S. states and 10 Canadian provinces are members of the IFTA. You’ll only need one license and one set of IFTA decals to operate among any of the jurisdictions.
First, you’ll need to determine your base jurisdiction. The qualifications for claiming Ontario as your base jurisdiction and applying for an IFTA license are as follows:
- Your business is based in Ontario, and all operational controls and records are maintained and can be made available in the province.
- You operate a qualified motor vehicle in Ontario and at least one more participating jurisdiction.
A qualified motor vehicle is defined by the IFTA as one that is designed, used, and maintained for transporting persons or property. Also, the vehicle must have two axles and a GVW exceeding 26,000 pounds, or three axles regardless of weight, or used in combination when the combined GVW exceeds 26,000 pounds. More information about these requirements can be found here.
When you receive your IFTA permits, a copy of the license must be carried in each vehicle you operate. Plus, an IFTA decal must be displayed on each side of the cab’s exterior. As an IFTA licensee, you’ll be required to submit quarterly fuel use tax reports to your base jurisdiction.
The IFTA quarterly fuel tax schedule is as follows:
Quarterly IFTA Due Dates |
|
|---|---|
| Q1 January – March | April 30 |
| Q2 April – June | July 31 |
| Q3 July – September | October 31 |
| Q4 October – December | January 31 |
Keep in mind that late filing or payments can incur a penalty of 10% of the total tax liability or $50, whichever is greater. Delinquent taxes can also prevent the renewal of your license.
Renewing Your Ontario IFTA License
Your Ontario IFTA license is valid for one year and expires on December 31st. It’s best to submit the IFTA sticker application before November 30th to avoid any delays. An extension is possible, but only if you are up-to-date with all IFTA payments and reports. If you qualify for an extension, you’ll have until March 1st to display the current IFTA stickers.
At this point, you’re probably shaking your head and wondering how you’ll manage to keep up with all the IFTA requirements and still have time to drive. The guys at TruckingOffice are one step ahead of you. We know how time-consuming it can be trying to keep track of the forms and logs and dates. That’s why we created a software program to help truckers like you.
How TruckingOffice Can Help
Think of our program as an assistant that takes care of all the administrative aspects of your business. TruckingOffice makes filing your quarterly IFTA easy by keeping all of your information in one place. We track invoices, dispatches, mileage and expense records, vehicle maintenance, and more. Your miles are calculated automatically using PC*Miler. We also make sure you meet all IFTA reporting deadlines. Contact us today to learn more about how our innovative program will save you time and money. Start filing your IFTA the easy way today!