IFTA Quarterly Return

Definition

The IFTA quarterly return is the consolidated tax return every IFTA licensee files with the base jurisdiction four times a year, due the last day of the month following the quarter close (April 30, July 31, October 31, January 31). The return reports total miles run per jurisdiction and total fuel purchased per jurisdiction; the base jurisdiction computes net tax owed or refund due using each jurisdiction's rate matrix and apportions payments to the other jurisdictions. Late-filed returns trigger penalty and interest under IFTA §R1230, and chronic late filing can lead to license revocation. Most carriers file electronically through the base jurisdiction's e-services portal or via TPA-integrated software like KeepTruckin, Samsara, or a dedicated IFTA filing service.