Does my hotshot or box truck need IFTA?
IFTA applies to a qualified motor vehicle that runs in two or more member states or provinces. Per the IFTA definition, that is a vehicle that:
- has two axles and a gross or registered weight over 26,000 lb, or
- has three or more axles regardless of weight, or
- is used in combination (truck + trailer) with a combined weight over 26,000 lb.
Many hotshot setups (a pickup pulling a gooseneck) go over 26,000 lb combined, so they need IFTA when they run interstate. A two-axle box truck rated 26,000 lb or less that does not pull a trailer usually does not.
Quarterly estimate
Enter the miles you drove and the tax-paid gallons you bought in each state. Enter each state's rate for the quarter from the official IFTA tax rate matrix, because rates change every quarter. The calculator finds your average MPG and estimates what you owe or get back.
The fourth-quarter 2026 return is due February 1, 2027. This is an estimate; your base state's return is what counts.