motorcarrier.ai
Quarterly Filing Service

IFTA Registration & Quarterly Filing

We handle the quarterly math, paperwork, and jurisdiction breakdowns so IFTA stops stealing hours from your life every quarter.

$99
Initial registration
$49/quarter
Quarterly filing
Get Started with IFTA

Most carriers burn 4+ hours per quarter on IFTA. We do it for $49.

500+ quarterly filings completed
Average 2-day turnaround once records are in
Human-reviewed mileage and fuel reconciliation

What Is IFTA?

IFTA (International Fuel Tax Agreement) is a tax agreement between the 48 contiguous US states and 10 Canadian provinces that simplifies fuel tax reporting for interstate carriers.

Instead of filing fuel tax returns in every state you drive through, IFTA lets you file one quarterly return through your base state (the state where your vehicles are registered). Your base state then distributes the taxes to each jurisdiction based on the miles you drove there.

The catch? You need to track every mile driven in every state and every gallon of fuel purchased in every state. Then you calculate net tax owed or credits for each jurisdiction. That's where most carriers get overwhelmed — and where we come in.

Who Needs IFTA?

You need an IFTA license if you operate a qualified motor vehicle in interstate or international commerce. A qualified motor vehicle is one that meets any of these criteria:

  • Two axles and a gross vehicle weight or registered gross vehicle weight exceeding 26,000 lbs
  • Three or more axles, regardless of weight
  • Used in combination when the combined weight exceeds 26,000 lbs
  • Operates in two or more IFTA member jurisdictions
Operating without IFTA?

Driving interstate without a valid IFTA license can result in fines of $100–$500+ per state, impoundment of your vehicle, and being forced to purchase trip permits at the roadside.

Quarterly Filing Deadlines

IFTA returns are due four times a year. Miss one and you face penalties, interest, and potential license revocation.

Apr
Q1 (Jan–Mar)
Due: April 30
Jul
Q2 (Apr–Jun)
Due: July 31
Oct
Q3 (Jul–Sep)
Due: October 31
Jan
Q4 (Oct–Dec)
Due: January 31

Late Filing Penalties

Penalties are $50 or 10% of the net tax due (whichever is greater), plus interest that compounds monthly. Repeated late filings can lead to IFTA license revocation.

What We Handle

From initial registration to quarterly filings — we do the heavy lifting.

Initial IFTA Registration

We prepare and submit your IFTA application to your base jurisdiction so you get your IFTA license and decals.

Quarterly Return Preparation

Every quarter, we compile your mileage and fuel data, calculate your tax liability, and prepare your IFTA return.

Jurisdiction Mileage Calculation

We break down your total miles by state and province — the most tedious part of IFTA filing — so every mile is allocated correctly.

Fuel Tax Reconciliation

We reconcile your fuel purchases by jurisdiction against tax owed, calculate credits, and determine your net liability or refund.

ELD Integration

If you use an ELD like Motive (KeepTruckin) or Samsara, we can pull your GPS trip data directly to auto-calculate jurisdiction miles. No more manual trip logs or spreadsheets.

Auto Mileage Tracking

GPS data from your ELD automatically breaks down miles by state — accurate to the mile.

Fewer Audit Risks

ELD-sourced data is more defensible in an audit than manual logs or estimates.

Save Hours Per Quarter

No manual spreadsheets. Your ELD feeds us the data, we prepare the return.

Common IFTA Mistakes

These are the errors we see most often — and exactly what our service prevents.

Not filing zero-activity returns

Even if you didn't drive a single mile in a quarter, you must still file a zero-activity IFTA return. Skipping it leads to penalties and can result in license revocation.

Wrong jurisdiction mileage allocations

Estimating miles by state instead of tracking actual routes leads to incorrect tax calculations. Auditors compare your filings to toll records and weigh station data.

Missing fuel receipt documentation

You need to keep fuel receipts for 4 years. Missing receipts mean you can't claim fuel tax credits — and you pay more than you should.

Mixing personal and business fuel purchases

Only fuel used in qualified motor vehicles counts toward IFTA credits. Including personal vehicle fuel triggers audit flags.

Filing late

Late IFTA returns incur penalties of $50 or 10% of the tax due (whichever is greater) plus monthly interest. It adds up fast.

How It Works

Three steps. No spreadsheets. No jurisdiction math.

Step 1

Send Us Your Data

Share your trip reports and fuel receipts — or connect your ELD and fuel card for automatic data sync.

Step 2

We Prepare Your Return

We calculate miles per jurisdiction, reconcile fuel taxes, and prepare your quarterly IFTA return.

Step 3

Filed & Confirmed

We file with your base jurisdiction and send you confirmation. You stay compliant, hassle-free.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is IFTA?

IFTA (International Fuel Tax Agreement) is a tax agreement between the 48 contiguous US states and 10 Canadian provinces. It simplifies fuel tax reporting for carriers that operate in multiple jurisdictions by letting you file one quarterly return through your base state instead of filing separately in every state you drove through.

Who needs an IFTA license?

You need IFTA if you operate a qualified motor vehicle in interstate or international commerce. A qualified motor vehicle is one that has two axles and a gross vehicle weight or registered gross vehicle weight over 26,000 pounds, OR has three or more axles regardless of weight, OR is used in combination when the combined weight exceeds 26,000 pounds.

What are the IFTA quarterly deadlines?

Q1 (January–March) is due April 30. Q2 (April–June) is due July 31. Q3 (July–September) is due October 31. Q4 (October–December) is due January 31 of the following year.

What happens if I file late?

Late filing penalties are typically $50 or 10% of the net tax liability (whichever is greater), plus interest that accrues monthly. Your IFTA license can also be revoked for repeated late filings.

Do I need to file if I didn't drive interstate this quarter?

Yes. Even if you had zero activity, you must file a zero-activity return. Failing to file — even with nothing to report — can result in penalties and eventual license revocation.

How do ELD integrations help with IFTA?

ELDs (Electronic Logging Devices) like Motive and Samsara track your GPS position continuously. We can pull your trip data directly from your ELD to auto-calculate jurisdiction miles — eliminating manual tracking and reducing errors.

What records do I need to keep for IFTA?

You must retain trip records (origin, destination, route, miles by jurisdiction) and fuel records (date, vendor, location, gallons, cost) for 4 years. These records must be available for audit by any member jurisdiction.

Can I get a refund through IFTA?

Yes. If you purchased more fuel in a jurisdiction than your mileage-based tax liability, you'll receive a credit (refund) for that jurisdiction. This is common when you fill up in states with high fuel taxes but drive relatively few miles there.

Ready to Stop Worrying About IFTA?

$99 registration + $49/quarter. No surprises. No spreadsheets.

Get Started Free — Apply Now