IFTA Registration and Filing
IFTA registration is how interstate carriers report and pay fuel taxes across the states they run, through one quarterly return instead of dealing with each state separately. Get your IFTA account and stickers set up wrong, or miss a quarterly filing, and you face penalties and audit headaches. Tech Rig sets up your IFTA registration correctly so the fuel-tax side of running interstate is one less thing to worry about.
Reviewed by Robert Hooke, Co-Founder.
What IFTA registration is
The International Fuel Tax Agreement (IFTA) simplifies fuel-tax reporting for carriers operating in more than one state or province. You register in your base jurisdiction, receive an IFTA license and decals (stickers) for your vehicles, and file one quarterly fuel-tax return that reconciles the fuel you bought against the miles you ran in each state. It applies when a commercial vehicle operates across multiple member jurisdictions and carries persons or property, and: has two axles with a gross or registered weight over 26,000 lbs; or three or more axles regardless of weight; or is used in combination with a combined weight over 26,000 lbs.
Some operations are exempt: running entirely within one jurisdiction, recreational vehicles and personal non-commercial use, and certain government vehicles. If you are not sure IFTA applies, we confirm before you pay.
IFTA vs IRP
IRP is about registration and apportioned plates. IFTA is about fuel tax. Most interstate carriers need both, and we set them up together, but they are separate programs.
- IRP
- Plates and registration.
- IFTA
- Fuel tax.
What our IFTA registration service includes
- We confirm IFTA applies to your operation and identify your base jurisdiction.
- We complete your IFTA registration so you receive your license and decals.
- We explain the quarterly filing schedule and what records you need to keep (mileage and fuel receipts), so your returns are accurate.
- We coordinate IFTA with your IRP setup.
Our IFTA setup fee is $225 standalone ($175 inside a compliance package). This covers Tech Rig's setup and filing-assistance fee; government, state, credential, and jurisdiction fees are calculated separately and paid before filing. IFTA returns are then filed quarterly (see IFTA quarterly filing, $150).
IFTA quarterly filing
The setup above is a one-time account and decal setup. The quarterly filing is the recurring part: every quarter you file one fuel-tax return that reconciles the miles you ran and the fuel you bought in each member jurisdiction, then settle the balance. We prepare and file that return for you each quarter so you do not miss a deadline.
Our quarterly filing fee is $150, plus the government fee. This is separate from the one-time setup ($225 standalone, $175 in-bundle).
IFTA registration FAQ
What is an IFTA sticker?
A decal placed on your vehicle showing it is registered under the International Fuel Tax Agreement. You get them with your IFTA license.
How often do I file IFTA?
Quarterly. You report miles and fuel by state and settle the difference. Keeping mileage and fuel records as you go makes this simple.
Do I need IFTA and IRP?
Most interstate carriers need both. IFTA is fuel tax; IRP is plates and registration.
What if I run in only one state?
IFTA is for interstate operation. If you run purely intrastate, it may not apply. We confirm before you pay.
Set up and ready to run? See our dispatch services.
Running across state lines? Get your IFTA set up so quarterly filing is simple.