If you run a truck across state lines, the International Fuel Tax Agreement (IFTA) is one of those quarterly chores you can't skip. Miss a filing or get the numbers wrong and you risk penalties, interest, and headaches at renewal time. This guide explains IFTA in plain language for Washington owner-operators.
What IFTA Actually Is
IFTA is an agreement between the 48 contiguous U.S. states and most Canadian provinces that lets you file one fuel-tax report for all the states you drive in, instead of a separate report for each. You report the miles you drove and the fuel you bought in each state, and the system settles up who owes what.
If you have an IFTA license and travel in two or more member jurisdictions with a qualifying vehicle (over 26,000 lbs or three or more axles), you must file every quarter — even if you didn't run that quarter.
The Quarterly Deadlines
IFTA is due four times a year:
- Quarter 1 (Jan-Mar): due April 30
- Quarter 2 (Apr-Jun): due July 31
- Quarter 3 (Jul-Sep): due October 31
- Quarter 4 (Oct-Dec): due January 31
If the due date lands on a weekend or holiday, it moves to the next business day. A late or zero filing still has to be submitted.
What You Need to File
To file an accurate IFTA return you need two things for the quarter:
- Total miles driven in each state or province
- Total fuel gallons purchased in each state or province (keep the receipts)
Your ELD or trip sheets give you the miles; your fuel receipts or fuel-card report give you the gallons. The most common mistakes we see are missing fuel receipts, miles that don't match the ELD, and fuel logged in the wrong state.
How Test Pro Makes It Easy
Most owner-operators dread IFTA because of the paperwork. We take your miles and fuel, calculate the per-state totals, and file the return for you each quarter. If your drivers pay for their own fuel, they can even text us a photo of each receipt and we keep your totals ready all quarter — no shoebox of receipts in April.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I still file IFTA if I didn't drive this quarter? Yes. Once you hold an IFTA license you must file every quarter, even a zero return, or you risk penalties and license suspension.
What happens if I file IFTA late? You typically owe a penalty (often $50 or 10% of the tax due, whichever is greater) plus interest, and repeated late filings can jeopardize your IFTA license at renewal.
Can Test Pro file IFTA for me if I'm not local to Kent? Yes. We file IFTA for owner-operators across Washington and other states. You send us your miles and fuel and we handle the return.
Let Test Pro Handle It
Test Pro LLC is based in Kent, WA and serves owner-operators and motor carriers across Washington and beyond. We can take this off your plate so you stay road-ready and audit-ready. Call us at (206) 518-2097 or book an appointment. Prefer to ask a question first? Contact us here.