Tax Exempt Truckers

Trucking and taxes go hand-in-hand. But trucking companies and owner operators in trucking who have an ICC number or who are leased to a carrier that has an ICC number can save on sales tax in some states.

Some states, like Oregon, Montana and New Hampshire, have no sales tax at all for any retail purchases.

Other states, like Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Pennsylvania, will provide a form to fill out and sign. If a trucking owner operator or the trucking company he is leased to have an ICC number, the owner operator (or trucking company) does not have to pay sales tax in those states for the items bought for their trucks.

Good luck trying to get out of paying sales tax at Wal-Mart, but at the truck stop shop, they’ll know what you’re talking about. Consider that if you are buying a full set of drives you may be paying retail prices in the $3,000 range. At 6% sales tax, you will save $180. That is certainly worth the time to fill out a tax form.

Most retailers in the trucking industry won’t suggest to owner operators that they may be tax exempt. The owner operator will have to ask if the shop or supply store will honor that provision. Tax exemption forms create more paperwork for the retailers, so they tend to keep the uninformed truckers in the dark about it.

An owner operator who wants to save on sales tax would be wise to buy his supplies in one of these states. Whatever state you are in, if you get repairs, maintenance or supplies, always ask if they have a tax exempt form you can fill out. They may or they may not, but it is certainly worth enduring an occasional blank stare in order to double check.

States that should allow tax exempt status in addition to those already mentioned are Kansas, Missouri, and Washington.

To view a version of this article that provides links to the tax exemption forms required by the states, visit Coopsareopen.com