IFTA due dates
IFTA fuel tax returns are due quarterly, on the last day of the month after each quarter: April 30, July 31, October 31 and January 31. When that day is a weekend or legal holiday, the return is due the next business day.
Next IFTA deadline
Monday, November 2, 2026
Q3 2026 return (July–September 2026) · 1 day left
Saturday, October 31 falls on a weekend, so the due date moves to the next business day.
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IFTA filing deadlines for 2026 and 2027
Exact due dates with the weekend rule applied. Q4 returns are due in the following year.
| Quarter | Period | Return due |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 2026 | January–March 2026 | Thursday, April 30, 2026passed |
| Q2 2026 | April–June 2026 | Friday, July 31, 2026passed |
| Q3 2026Next | July–September 2026 | Monday, November 2, 2026moved from Saturday, October 31 |
| Q4 2026 | October–December 2026 | Monday, February 1, 2027moved from Sunday, January 31 |
| Q1 2027 | January–March 2027 | Friday, April 30, 2027 |
| Q2 2027 | April–June 2027 | Monday, August 2, 2027moved from Saturday, July 31 |
| Q3 2027 | July–September 2027 | Monday, November 1, 2027moved from Sunday, October 31 |
| Q4 2027 | October–December 2027 | Monday, January 31, 2028 |
Weekends are applied above. A state holiday in your base jurisdiction can move its date one more business day; your base jurisdiction’s website lists its own calendar.
How the IFTA due date is set
- The reporting periods are the calendar quarters: January 1–March 31, April 1–June 30, July 1–September 30 and October 1–December 31 (Articles of Agreement R254).
- The return and full payment of tax are due on the last day of the month following the end of the quarter (R960.100).
- If that day falls on a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday, the next business day is the due date (R960.100).
- A return is required every quarter you hold an IFTA license, even if the truck didn’t run or burned no taxable fuel (R930.100).
Late filing: penalty and interest
- Penalty: your base jurisdiction may assess $50 or 10% of the delinquent tax, whichever is greater, for not filing, filing late or underpaying (R1220.100). On a late return with little or no tax owed, that means $50.
- Interest: charged on unpaid tax for each jurisdiction from the due date. For US-based fleets the annual rate is 2 percentage points above the IRS underpayment rate (Internal Revenue Code section 6621(a)(2)), reset every January 1, and accrues monthly at 1/12 of that rate. Any part of a month counts as a full month (R1230).
Records to keep for IFTA
Keep IFTA records for four years from the date the return was due or filed, whichever is later (Procedures Manual P510). An IFTA audit is based on these records.
Distance records, for each vehicle and trip
- Trip start and end dates, origin and destination, and the route
- Beginning and ending odometer, hubodometer or ECM readings, and total trip distance
- Distance traveled in each jurisdiction
- Vehicle unit number or VIN
Fuel receipts
- Date of purchase and the seller’s name and address
- Gallons and fuel type
- Price per gallon or total price
- The vehicle the fuel went into, and the purchaser’s name
List as summarized by the Iowa DOT from the IFTA Procedures Manual (P530, P550). An ELD that records miles by state covers most of the distance side.
Before you file
Add up miles and gallons by state for the quarter, then run them through the free IFTA calculator to estimate tax, credits and the net owed per state. The quarter’s diesel rates and surcharges are on the IFTA rates pages. The return itself is filed with your base jurisdiction.
Not tax advice. Verify dates and amounts with your base jurisdiction before filing.
Frequently asked questions
When are IFTA returns due?
IFTA returns are filed quarterly and are due on the last day of the month after the quarter ends: April 30 for Q1 (January–March), July 31 for Q2 (April–June), October 31 for Q3 (July–September) and January 31 of the next year for Q4 (October–December). The tax owed is due with the return.
When is the next IFTA deadline?
The next IFTA return is for Q3 2026 (July–September 2026), due Monday, November 2, 2026: 1 day left.
What if the IFTA due date falls on a weekend or holiday?
Under the IFTA Articles of Agreement (R960.100), if the last day of the month falls on a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday, the next business day is the due date. For example, Q3 2026 would be due Saturday, October 31, so it is due Monday, November 2, 2026. State holidays differ, so check your base jurisdiction if you file on the last day.
What is the penalty for filing IFTA late?
Under R1220.100 of the Articles of Agreement, the base jurisdiction may assess a penalty of $50 or 10% of the delinquent tax, whichever is greater, for not filing, filing late or underpaying. Interest is charged separately on unpaid tax (R1230).
Do I have to file an IFTA return if I didn't drive that quarter?
Yes. R930.100 of the Articles of Agreement says tax returns are required even if no operations were conducted or no taxable fuel was used in the quarter.
How long do I have to keep IFTA records?
Four years from the date the return was due or filed, whichever is later (IFTA Procedures Manual P510, as summarized by state agencies such as the Iowa DOT). Keep fuel receipts and distance records for every qualified vehicle.
Sources
- IFTA Articles of Agreement (iftach.org) — R254 reporting periods, R930 quarterly returns, R960 due date and weekend/holiday rule, R1220 penalty, R1230 interest.
- Iowa DOT, IFTA record keeping requirements — four-year retention (P510), distance and fuel record contents.
- California CDTFA, IFTA filing due dates — an example of a base jurisdiction applying the weekend and state holiday rule.
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