IFTA returns are due four times a year, on the last day of the month following each quarter. If that day lands on a weekend or holiday, the deadline moves to the next business day.
We update this post each year when the new dates are set. Last updated: July 2026.
2026 IFTA filing deadlines
| Quarter | Period | Due date |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 2026 | January – March | Thursday, April 30, 2026 |
| Q2 2026 | April – June | Friday, July 31, 2026 |
| Q3 2026 | July – September | Monday, November 2, 2026 (Oct 31 is a Saturday) |
| Q4 2026 | October – December | Monday, February 1, 2027 (Jan 31 is a Sunday) |
Don’t bank on the weekend extension — file by the standard date and the calendar quirks never matter.
You must file even for a zero-mile quarter
Parked the truck all quarter? You still file. An IFTA license requires a return every quarter, including “no operations” returns. Skipping a quarter because you didn’t run is one of the most common ways carriers earn a late-filing penalty by accident.
What a late filing costs
- Late penalty — typically $50 or 10% of the tax due, whichever is greater
- Interest — accrues monthly on unpaid tax, per jurisdiction
- License at risk — repeated late filings can suspend your IFTA license
- IRP fallout — outstanding IFTA balances can block your IRP renewal
One missed quarter is an annoyance. A pattern of them puts your plates in jeopardy.
What you need before you file
Fuel receipts and mileage by jurisdiction for the quarter — that’s the core of it. Our IFTA filing service turns those records into a filed return: we calculate every jurisdiction’s tax and credits, you approve the summary, and we file with Minnesota and handle payment.
Send us your records a couple of weeks before the deadline and the quarter is done. Call (651) 482-1124 or get started here.