IFTA Fuel Tax Calculator
Enter miles, fuel purchased, and per‑gallon tax rates by jurisdiction. Get MPG, tax owed vs. paid.
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Free IFTA Calculator by State: Step by Step Guide- Quick Quarterly Fuel Tax
If you run interstate or interprovincial commercial vehicles, the International Fuel Tax Agreement (IFTA) is part of your routine. The challenge isn’t just filing; it’s getting accurate numbers fast. That’s what this free IFTA calculator is designed to do. Enter your miles and fuel purchases by jurisdiction (state or province), add the current tax rate per gallon, and the returns fleet ifta mpg calculator, gallons consumed by jurisdiction, tax owed vs tax paid at the pump, and your net IFTA due or refund.
This guide explains how the calculator works, step-by-step instructions, real examples, common pitfalls, and pro tips. Whether you’re an owner‑operator or managing a small fleet, you’ll be prepared to reconcile a quarter’s worth of trips in minutes.
What is IFTA?
IFTA is a cooperative agreement among U.S. states and Canadian provinces to simplify reporting and paying fuel taxes for carriers operating in multiple jurisdictions. Instead of filing in every ifta fuel tax calculator by state, you file one IFTA return with your base jurisdiction, which reconciles taxes based on where you drove and where you bought fuel.
You owe tax to each jurisdiction based on the fuel you consumed there (miles ÷ MPG × rate). You receive credit for the tax you already paid at the pump in that jurisdiction. Your net IFTA due is the sum of all states’/provinces’ differences.
Who this IFTA calculator is for?
- Owner‑operators who want a quick, accurate estimate before filing
- Small fleets that summarize quarterly trips by jurisdiction
- Back-office teams validating ELD exports or spreadsheet rollups
- Carriers switching from manual spreadsheets to a faster workflow
What you’ll need before you start
- Miles by jurisdiction for the quarter (from ELD, trip sheets, or routing reports)
- Fuel purchases by jurisdiction and unit (gallons or liters)
- The fuel tax rate per jurisdiction (per gallon equivalent) for your fuel type
- Optionally, a known fleet MPG for the period (otherwise, the ifta mpg calculator will compute it)
How the IFTA calculator works?
- Overall MPG
- If you don’t provide a manual MPG, the computes average ifta mpg calculator as:
MPG = Total miles driven ÷ Total gallons purchased - If fuel is in liters, the IFTA calculator auto-converts liters to gallons (1 gal = 3.785411784 L).
- Jurisdiction-level fuel consumption
- For each jurisdiction:
Gallons consumed = Jurisdiction miles ÷ MPG
- Tax owed vs. tax paid
- Tax owed (in jurisdiction) = Gallons consumed × jurisdiction tax rate ($/gal)
- Tax paid (at pump in jurisdiction) = Gallons purchased × jurisdiction tax rate
- Net IFTA due/ifta tax refund calculator
- Net (jurisdiction) = Tax owed − Tax paid
- Sum the net across all jurisdictions to get your quarterly amount due (positive) or refund (negative).
How to use the free IFTA calculator– Step-by-step
Step 1: Select the filing year and quarter
Choose the correct period (e.g., 2025 Q1). Rates update quarterly—always verify the current schedule from your base jurisdiction or official IFTA rate charts.
Step 2: Choose your fuel unit
Pick Gallons or Liters. If you use liters, the calculator converts to gallons behind the scenes.
Step 3: Add jurisdictions (state/province)
For each jurisdiction traveled this quarter, add a row and enter:
- Miles driven in the jurisdiction
- Fuel purchased in the jurisdiction (optional if none)
- Fuel tax rate per gallon (for your fuel type)
Step 4: MPG choice
- Manual MPG: If you track MPG precisely (e.g., 6.50), toggle on “ifta mpg calculator” and enter it.
- Auto MPG: Leave it off and the computes ifta mpg calculator using total miles and gallons.
Step 5: Click Calculate
The Results show:
- Total miles, total gallons, and MPG
- Total tax owed vs total tax paid
- Net IFTA (pay + / refund −)
- A breakdown by jurisdiction with gallons consumed and tax math
Step 6: Validate and export
Compare the output with your shop records, ELD exports, and pump receipts. Update any rates or units. You’re now ready to complete your official IFTA tax refund calculator.
Real‑world examples (with numbers)
Note: Tax rates below are sample values for demonstration; always confirm official rates for your filing quarter and fuel type.
Example 1: Three-state quarter with auto MPG
Jurisdictions and entries:
- CA: 1,200 miles; 180 gal purchased; rate $0.60/gal
- AZ: 800 miles; 90 gal purchased; rate $0.26/gal
- NM: 500 miles; 50 gal purchased; rate $0.30/gal
Totals
- Total miles = 1,200 + 800 + 500 = 2,500 mi
- Total gallons purchased = 180 + 90 + 50 = 320 gal
- Auto MPG = 2,500 ÷ 320 = 7.8125 mpg
Consumption and tax by jurisdiction
CA:
- Gallons consumed = 1,200 ÷ 7.8125 = 153.60 gal
- Tax owed = 153.60 × 0.60 = $92.16
- Tax paid = 180 × 0.60 = $108.00
- Net (CA) = $92.16 − 108.00=−108.00=−15.84 (credit)
AZ:
- Gallons consumed = 800 ÷ 7.8125 = 102.40 gal
- Tax owed = 102.40 × 0.26 = $26.62
- Tax paid = 90 × 0.26 = $23.40
- Net (AZ) = $26.62 − $23.40 = $3.22 (due)
NM:
- Gallons consumed = 500 ÷ 7.8125 = 64.00 gal
- Tax owed = 64 × 0.30 = $19.20
- Tax paid = 50 × 0.30 = $15.00
- Net (NM) = $19.20 − $15.00 = $4.20 (due)
Net IFTA
- Total owed = $92.16 + $26.62 + $19.20 = $137.98
- Total paid = $108.00 + $23.40 + $15.00 = $146.40
- Net IFTA = $137.98 − 146.40=−146.40=−8.42 (refund)
Example 2: Two-state quarter using manual MPG
Settings:
- Manual MPG = 6.50
- Jurisdictions and entries (sample rates):
- TX: 1,800 miles; 280 gal purchased; rate $0.20/gal
- OK: 700 miles; 0 gal purchased; rate $0.19/gal
Totals
- Total miles = 2,500
- Total gallons purchased = 280 (but MPG is manual)
Consumption and tax
TX:
- Gallons consumed = 1,800 ÷ 6.50 = 276.92 gal
- Tax owed = 276.92 × 0.20 = $55.38
- Tax paid = 280 × 0.20 = $56.00
- Net (TX) = $55.38 − 56.00=−56.00=−0.62 (credit)
OK:
- Gallons consumed = 700 ÷ 6.50 = 107.69 gal
- Tax owed = 107.69 × 0.19 = $20.46
- Tax paid = 0
- Net (OK) = $20.46 (due)
Net IFTA
- Net = −$0.62 + $20.46 = $19.84 due
Example 3: Mixing liters and gallons (auto gallon conversion)
Jurisdictions and entries (sample rates):
- ON: 900 miles; 200 liters purchased; rate (per gallon equivalent) $X.XX/gal
- MI: 700 miles; 60 gal purchased; rate $Y.YY/gal
Conversion
- ON gallons purchased = 200 L ÷ 3.785411784 = 52.83 gal
- Now proceed exactly like Examples 1–2. The calculator handles the conversion automatically.
Pro tips to speed up accurate IFTA estimates
- Always use $/gal equivalent for rates
Even for CNG/LNG, ensure you have a per-gallon equivalent (DGE/GGE) for the jurisdiction so the math aligns. - Separate reefer fuel
Fuel used for refrigeration units (reefer) is typically non‑IFTA; keep those receipts separate. - Don’t mix vehicles unless you intend to
This calculator is commonly used per vehicle. For fleet-wide MPG, be consistent and document your method. - Validate miles
ELD trip data, odometer readings, and routing logs should match your jurisdiction mileage totals. - Track units carefully
If you buy in liters and gallons, the calculator converts liters to gallons—but you still need accurate counts. - Confirm quarterly rate changes
Rates update each quarter and can change mid-year. Pull official rate tables from your base jurisdiction or the IFTA repository.
Common mistakes (and how to avoid them)
- Using total gallons instead of jurisdiction gallons for “tax paid”
The “tax paid at pump” is always jurisdiction‑specific (where you bought the fuel). - Forgetting to include a jurisdiction with miles but no purchases
You still owe tax there based on gallons consumed. - Mislabeling units
If you enter liters but mark them as gallons, your MPG and tax will be off. Use the proper unit selector. - Mixing house and road fuel
Off‑road fuel (e.g., reefer or yard equipment) doesn’t belong in IFTA fuel tax calculator by state. - Outdated rates
Out-of-date fuel tax rates are the #1 cause of bad estimates. Verify rates for the filing quarterly ifta calculator 2025.
IFTA deadlines and compliance basics (quick refresher)
Due dates (generally): Last day of the month after quarter end
- Q1 (Jan–Mar) due Apr 30
- Q2 (Apr–Jun) due Jul 31
- Q3 (Jul–Sep) due Oct 31
- Q4 (Oct–Dec) due Jan 31
- You file with your base jurisdiction (your IFTA license and decals are issued there).
Keep records for audit:
- Trip sheets or ELD data showing miles by jurisdiction and dates
- Fuel receipts with date, location, gallons/liters, and price/tax
- Odometer readings and routing details per trip/day
- Penalties and interest can apply for late filing or payment—submit on time.
FAQ/Frequently Asked Questions
Rates change quarterly; certain jurisdictions have unique rules (credits, surcharges, exemptions). Use this calculator for estimates and verification, and always confirm current rates and filing instructions with your base jurisdiction.
Open the free IFTA calculator now and estimate your quarterly net due/refund (ifta tax refund calculator) in minutes. If you want CSV import/export, automated rate loading by quarter, or a print‑ready summary for your records, reach out and I’ll add it to your version.
You can explore Similar Calculator like this Free Incorporation Tax Calculator 2025- for US, India.
