IRS Opens 2026–2027 HVUT Season: Form 2290 Due August 31, 2026

The IRS has released Form 2290 (Rev. July 2026) and its official instructions specifically for the tax period beginning July 1, 2026, and ending June 30, 2027. Carriers must use this new revision — not any prior version — for the current period. The IRS instructions make clear: do not use this revision if you need to file a return for a tax period that began on or before June 30, 2026.

Key mechanics of the 2026–2027 filing:

• Who must file: Any individual, LLC, corporation, or other entity that has a taxable highway motor vehicle registered (or required to be registered) in its name with a taxable gross weight of 55,000 pounds or more.
• Primary deadline: August 31, 2026, for vehicles first used on a public highway in July 2026.
• Pro-rated filings: Vehicles first placed into service after July are taxed on a prorated basis; the return is due by the last day of the month following the month of first use.
• E-file requirement: Electronic filing is mandatory for filers reporting 25 or more vehicles; all other filers are strongly encouraged to e-file to receive a stamped Schedule 1 within minutes of IRS acceptance.
• Suspended vehicles: Vehicles expected to travel 5,000 miles or fewer (7,500 for agricultural vehicles) during the period must still be reported on Form 2290, but no tax is owed.

The IRS has also published updated XML e-file schemas (Form 2290 TY 2026v1.1) for approved software developers and e-file providers for the new tax year.

Ohio motor carriers operating Class 8 trucks, semi-tractors, and other heavy vehicles need to act now:

• August 31 is the hard deadline for any vehicle that turned a wheel on a public highway in July 2026. There is no grace period built into the statute.
• Schedule 1 is your registration key. Ohio's Bureau of Motor Vehicles requires a valid IRS-stamped Schedule 1 as proof of HVUT payment to register or renew registration on heavy vehicles. Carriers without it can face registration delays that ground trucks.
• New vehicles added mid-year must be filed by the last day of the month following first use — not at the start of the next annual cycle.
• Penalties for late filing include a 4.5% monthly addition to the tax amount (up to five months) plus a separate 0.5% monthly penalty for late payment, along with interest — costs that compound quickly on a fleet.