FAQ

The International Fuel Tax Agreement is a deal among 48 U.S. states and Canadian provinces: instead of filing fuel tax returns in every state you drive through, you file one quarterly return with your base state, which redistributes the money. If you operate a qualified motor vehicle (26,001+ lbs GVW, or 3+ axles) across state lines, you generally must file — every quarter, even if you didn't drive (a zero return is still required).

Add up total miles and total gallons for the quarter to get your fleet MPG. Divide each state's miles by that MPG to estimate fuel burned there. Multiply by each state's tax rate to get tax due, subtract the tax you already paid at the pump in that state, and the remainder is what you owe or get credited. That's exactly the math this calculator runs — every line is shown so you can check it against your own paperwork.

From the official IFTA, Inc. Tax Rate Matrix published quarterly at iftach.org. Each quarter's table shows its version and effective date right in the app and on every exported report. Diesel (special fuel) base rates for U.S. jurisdictions are what we load; see the next question for what's not included.

State surcharge programs reported separately from the base rate (for example Kentucky's and Virginia's surcharges), weight-distance taxes (Oregon's weight-mile tax, New Mexico's weight-distance tax), and Canadian provinces (planned for a later release). If a state you ran is excluded, the app tells you explicitly rather than guessing. Oregon in particular requires its own separate weight-mile account regardless of this tool.

That's exactly who it's built for. Pre-2000 rigs, driveaway operations and short-haul exemptions mean plenty of owner-operators still keep a paper mileage log. Enter your per-state miles directly (one row per state per quarter, or as many rows as you like — they add up), or transcribe the log to the CSV template once and import it.

No. The calculator runs entirely in your browser and saves your working entries only to this device (browser local storage). There's no account system and no database on our side. Use Reset to wipe everything instantly, and export your report before clearing your browser data.

MPG comes from total miles ÷ total gallons. If you fuel up irregularly or ran on-tank across quarters, the auto number can skew. Type your known MPG into the override field and the whole calculation uses it — the app flags that it was overridden and asks you to double-check.

No — and be suspicious of any cheap tool that claims it "handles" filing. IFTA/MILE produces the per-state numbers and a clean printable summary. You (or your accountant) transfer them to your base state's quarterly return, by paper or portal. Estimates only; verify rates before filing.

States charge penalties and interest on late or incorrect returns — commonly $50+ plus 10%+ of the tax due, with interest accruing monthly. Repeated problems invite audits and can put your IFTA license (and plates) at risk. Deadlines are the last day of the month following each quarter: Jan 31, Apr 30, Jul 31, Oct 31.

Pro is $12.99 per filing quarter or $39/year. It's a one-time payment through our payment provider — no auto-renewal, no card stored by us. Free tier covers up to 20 entries per log with the full calculation engine, so you know exactly what you're getting before you pay. If Pro isn't right for you, email harrow.zhao@gmail.com within 7 days of purchase for a full refund — no questions asked (processed via our payment provider, usually back on your card in 5–10 business days).

Honesty about data beats quiet errors. While the site is in pre-launch testing, the loaded rate table hasn't been through its final check against the official quarterly download, and the banner says so. Before filing season the table is marked VERIFIED and the banner disappears. Every exported report carries the rate-table version either way.