IFTA due dates
| Quarter | Months | Return due |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 | January–March | April 30 |
| Q2 | April–June | July 31 |
| Q3 | July–September | October 31 |
| Q4 | October–December | January 31 |
If a due date falls on a weekend or holiday, many jurisdictions accept the next business day, but check with your base state. Late returns usually bring a penalty plus interest, and you generally still have to file a return for a quarter with no miles.
Who has to file
Qualified motor vehicles that travel in more than one IFTA jurisdiction: generally trucks with two axles and over 26,000 lbs gross weight, or three or more axles. You file one return with your base state, which shares the tax with the other states.
Records to keep
- Miles driven in each state, by trip (start and end points, route, odometer or GPS)
- Fuel receipts showing date, seller, state, gallons and price
- Keep them at least four years; audits ask for trip-level detail
How the return works
- Total all miles and all gallons for the quarter. Miles ÷ gallons = fleet MPG.
- For each state: miles in that state ÷ MPG = taxable gallons.
- Subtract gallons you bought in that state.
- Multiply by the state's rate from the quarterly tax rate matrix at iftach.org.
- Add it all up: positive means you owe, negative is a credit.
Run your numbers through the IFTA calculator before you file to check the totals.
Make next quarter easier
The hard part is state miles. Rebuilding them from fuel receipts in January is how mistakes happen. BlueCollar Fleet logs miles by state from your phone's GPS as you drive and reads fuel receipts from a photo, so the quarter is mostly done when it ends.
Questions
When is the Q4 IFTA return due?
January 31 for October through December.
Do I file if I didn't drive?
Generally yes. Most jurisdictions require a return every quarter while your license is active, even with zero miles.