Washington, or more commonly known as “The Evergreen State” is located in the most northwestern region of the United States and is home to nearly 7 million people. To obtain an IFTA license in Washington you must submit a completed application to the Department of Licensing. There is currently no charge for an application, however there is a $10 fee for each set of decals. Each qualified vehicle is required to have one set of decals.

Requirements for IFTA Washington Licensing

Washington is one of 48 U.S. member states and 10 Canadian provinces that are members of the International Fuel Tax Agreement, also known as IFTA.  If you work as a carrier within the trucking industry and operate out of Washington, the IFTA regulations of this state may apply to you. To determine if you qualify to receive a Washington IFTA license, see the following guidelines:

• Is your business based in Washington?
• Are all of your operational controls and records maintained in or can be made available in Washington state?
• Will you accrue mileage in Washington and at least one other IFTA member jurisdiction?

If you meet these requirements, you then should determine whether your vehicle qualifies. IFTA regulations say that a qualified vehicle is one that is designed and maintained for the transport of persons or products. It must also have:

• 2 axles with a GVW or registered weight that exceeds 26,000 pounds;
• Or has three or more axles regardless of weight;
• Or is used in combination when the GVW or registered weight of said combination exceeds 26,000 pounds.

Additionally, there are also exemptions for some vehicles. Some exemptions are determined according to where you drive or purchase fuel for your vehicle.  In some jurisdictions, areas such as private roads, toll roads, or Native American reservations are exempt from IFTA taxes.

If you meet the above qualifications, you will need to apply for an application. Once approved, you will receive your IFTA license and IFTA decals. You will be required to carry a copy of the license in each vehicle operating in your fleet. Also, one IFTA decal needs to be affixed to each side of the cab’s exterior where they are fully visible.

There are additional responsibilities for IFTA members. You will need to track all fuel receipts, as well as other relevant documents for fuel purchase and miles traveled within each member jurisdiction. This information will be required of you when you file your quarterly IFTA fuel tax reports. Due dates for these reports are as follows:

To avoid any penalties or fees, you must submit your reports by their respective due dates. Late filings or payments may result in a penalty of 10% of the total taxes owed or $50, whichever is greater. Delinquency can also affect the renewal of your IFTA license.

Renewing Your Washington IFTA License

Washington IFTA licenses are issued for one year only and expire each December 31st. You should submit a IFTA sticker renewal application before November 30th to avoid any delays in receiving your new license and decals. Washington does allow a grace period, which extends into February of the following year if you have not received your renewal by the expiry date. However, you must have submitted your application on time to be eligible for this grace period. The previous years license and decals must be displayed until you receive the renewal decals.

How TruckingOffice Can Help

Even though IFTA was created to simplify fuel use taxes, there are still a number of responsibilities for members, as well as paperwork that needs to be completed on deadline. If these obligations sound stressful, TruckingOffice is here to help! 

With our TruckingOffice program, you can rest assured all of your invoices, fuel use, vehicle maintenance, dispatches, IFTA reports, and more are being taken care of.  Your miles are calculated automatically using PC*Miler. We make it easy for you to access your information anytime. To learn more about how we can help you save time, while maximizing profits, call our staff at TruckingOffice.  Start filing your IFTA the easy way today!