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IFTA Tax Calculator for Owner Operators

Figure quarterly IFTA fuel tax across all US states and Canadian provinces.

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Rates as of Q4 2026 (Oct 1 - Dec 31, 2026), from IFTA, Inc.'s official tax rate matrix. IFTA tax rates change every quarter. These are diesel rates only, pre-filled as a starting point. Always check the rate for your filing quarter against the official IFTA Inc. rate matrix before filing.

Quarter, year, and fuel type label your report for your own records. They do not change the rates: the pre-filled diesel rates are for Q4 2026 (Oct 1 - Dec 31, 2026), and you can edit any of them. Gas/LNG/CNG rate data isn't available yet, so diesel rates are used regardless of fuel type selected.

Jurisdictions

JurisdictionMiles TraveledGallons PurchasedTax Rate ($/gal)

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When are IFTA quarterly returns due?

IFTA carriers file a fuel tax return every quarter. It reports the miles driven and fuel bought in each member state. Tax is owed on the gallons used in each state at that state's rate. You subtract the tax you already paid at the pump there. Returns are due on the last day of the month after the quarter ends. A late return that owes tax usually carries a penalty of the greater of $50 or 10 percent, plus interest. Keep your fuel and mileage records for four years.

  1. Fleet miles per gallon = total miles / total gallons purchased for the quarter.
  2. Gallons used in a state = miles driven there / fleet miles per gallon.
  3. Tax due in a state = gallons used x the state's rate, minus tax already paid on fuel bought there. Add the states together for a net amount owed or a credit.
IFTA return due dates
QuarterMonthsReturn due
Q1January to MarchApril 30
Q2April to JuneJuly 31
Q3July to SeptemberOctober 31
Q4October to DecemberJanuary 31

When a due date falls on a weekend or holiday, it moves to the next business day. File a return for every quarter your license is active, even a zero return if you drove no miles. A few states charge separate road-use taxes that are not part of IFTA: Kentucky, New Mexico, New York and Oregon. Penalty and interest rules differ by jurisdiction, so check your base jurisdiction.

Last reviewed October 2026. Sources: IFTA, Inc.; New Jersey MVC: IFTA quarterly taxes, due dates; Colorado Department of Revenue: IFTA return, late penalty; Iowa DOT: IFTA record keeping requirements; J. J. Keller: motor carrier fuel, highway use and mileage taxes.

Frequently Asked Questions - IFTA Tax Calculator

What is IFTA and who needs it?
The International Fuel Tax Agreement (IFTA) is a cooperative agreement among U.S. states and Canadian provinces that lets a carrier file one fuel-tax return with its base jurisdiction instead of one per state. It generally applies to a qualified motor vehicle used for interstate commerce with a gross weight over 26,000 pounds, or three or more axles.
When are IFTA quarterly returns due?
IFTA returns are due on the last day of the month following the end of the quarter: April 30, July 31, October 31 and January 31. If that date falls on a weekend or holiday, the deadline typically shifts to the next business day, so confirm the exact date with your base jurisdiction each quarter.
How do I track miles for IFTA?
Use your ELD data or a mileage log to record miles driven in each jurisdiction, and keep fuel receipts showing the gallons purchased and the state or province where you bought them. Your ELD should already be capturing jurisdiction crossings, which is the data your quarterly return is built from.
Can I get an IFTA refund?
Yes. If the tax already included in the pump price of fuel you bought in a state exceeds what you actually owed that state based on miles driven there, the difference comes back to you as a credit on your return. This commonly happens when you fuel heavily in a high-tax state but drive more miles in lower-tax states.
How do I calculate IFTA tax owed?
First find your fleet's average miles per gallon for the quarter: total miles divided by total gallons purchased. For each state, divide the miles driven there by that MPG to get gallons used there, then multiply by that state's tax rate. Subtract the tax you already paid at the pump in that state. Add the results across every state for your net amount owed or credit due.
How much does IFTA cost?
There are two parts: a modest annual license and decal fee set by your base jurisdiction, and the fuel tax itself, which is simply the tax you'd owe anyway, reallocated by where you actually drove rather than where you happened to buy fuel. IFTA itself doesn't add new tax; it redistributes tax you already paid at the pump.
What is the penalty for filing IFTA late?
In many jurisdictions it is the greater of $50 or 10 percent of the tax you owe, plus interest. Washington and Colorado state it that way. Interest rates are set by each jurisdiction, and some add other late fees, so check your base jurisdiction. A late return with no tax due can still carry a flat penalty.
How long do I keep IFTA records?
Four years. Iowa and Minnesota both say to keep fuel and distance records for four years from the date the return was due or filed. Fuel receipts should show the date, the seller, the gallons, the fuel type and the truck. A jurisdiction can extend the time during an audit.
Do I file IFTA if my truck did not run?
Yes. If your IFTA license was active for the quarter, your base jurisdiction expects a return even when you drove no miles and bought no fuel. It is called a zero return. Skipping it can bring the same penalties as not filing. Some jurisdictions have a checkbox for no operations.
Are there fuel or mileage taxes besides IFTA?
Yes, in a few states. Kentucky has its own KYU tax for trucks of 60,000 pounds or more. New Mexico has a weight-distance tax for trucks over 26,000 pounds. New York has a highway use tax. Oregon has a weight-mile tax instead of an IFTA diesel rate. These are filed separately from IFTA, and the weight limits come from industry guides, so check each state's rules.
Which quarter is due next, and when?
The quarter that just ended is due on the last day of the following month. The Q3 2026 return is due October 31, 2026, which is a Saturday, and many jurisdictions move a weekend due date to the next business day, Monday, November 2. The calculator shows the due date for the quarter you pick. Confirm it with your base jurisdiction.

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Terms explained in the IFTA Tax Calculator