Texas IFTA Reporting Requirements

Texas IFTA at a glance

Texas's current diesel fuel tax rate is $0.200/gallon, and the jurisdiction requires electronic filing of quarterly IFTA returns. You file directly with the state agency at the official Texas IFTA portal.

Texas follows the standard IFTA quarterly deadlines: April 30 for Q1, July 31 for Q2, October 31 for Q3, and January 31 for Q4 (filing for the prior calendar quarter). Late filing typically triggers a penalty of the greater of $50 or 10% of net tax liability, plus interest accrued from the original due date.

What to know about IFTA in Texas

Texas's $0.20/gallon diesel tax is one of the lowest rates among IFTA jurisdictions, a deliberate policy decision by a state that funds transportation infrastructure partly through sales taxes and oil and gas severance revenue rather than fuel excise alone. Texas's geography — interstates 10, 20, 30, 35, 40, and 45 — means more interstate freight originates, terminates, or passes through Texas than any other U.S. state.

Filing is handled electronically through the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts at comptroller.texas.gov. New IFTA carriers register through the comptroller's online system and receive their license within 7 to 10 business days; decals are mailed separately. Texas follows the standard quarterly deadlines with online payment options that clear faster than mailed checks.

Texas's low rate often means a quarterly refund rather than a payment — many carriers buying most of their fuel in Texas at retail-tax-included prices end up owed money back. To capture those credits, fuel receipts must show date, location, gallons, and price; bulk fuel purchases require additional documentation showing where and when the fuel was consumed. Auditor focus areas in Texas include cardlock fuel records, bulk-tank dispensing logs, and verification that off-road fuel (oilfield, construction sites) isn't being claimed for highway tax credits.

Who needs a Texas IFTA license?

You need a Texas IFTA license if you operate in Texas and at least one other IFTA jurisdiction with vehicles that are:

• Three or more axles (any weight)
• Over 26,000 lbs. gross or registered weight
• Combined weight over 26,000 lbs.

Your IFTA license and decals are issued by your base jurisdiction — for Texas-based carriers, that means filing with the state revenue or transportation department listed above. All quarterly returns flow through that single base-jurisdiction filing, even when miles were driven across multiple states or provinces.

Who needs to file Texas IFTA taxes?

All license holders must file quarterly IFTA tax returns, even if no miles were traveled.

Note: Licenses remain active until officially closed.

What happens if you file IFTA incorrectly?

What are you risking by submitting an inaccurate IFTA filing? Even small discrepancies in reported miles or fuel can lead to:

• Costly fines and back taxes
• Delays with renewals or suspended accounts
• Failed audits and penalties

Why do errors happen?

• Mileage and fuel data accumulate quickly — it’s tough to catch every issue. Records often go unnoticed until it’s too late.
• Carriers often depend entirely on ELD IFTA reports, thinking they’re complete — but there’s no way to verify them.
• Fuel card reports may exclude cash purchases or missing transactions.

How to manage your IFTA correctly

FleetCollect is built to protect you from these risks and help you get this right. With FleetCollect, you can:

• Organize & lay out your mileage and fuel records in one place
• Audit & identify missing or incomplete records before you file
• Spot discrepancies between what’s reported and what’s actually required
• Generate accurate, ready-to-file tax forms

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the Texas IFTA deadline?

Texas follows the standard IFTA quarterly deadlines: April 30, July 31, October 31, and January 31.

What happens if I miss the Texas IFTA deadline?

A penalty of $50.00 or 10% of the net tax liability (whichever is greater) will be assessed for late filing or late payment.