Texas
Texas IFTA license and quarterly filing
Updated
Texas-based carriers with a qualified truck that runs in two or more IFTA jurisdictions get their IFTA license from the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts. The Comptroller charges nothing for the license or the decals. A fuel tax return is due every quarter, even for quarters with no miles.
At a glance
- Who issues it
- Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts
- License and decals
- $0 from the Comptroller
- Returns due
- April 30, July 31, October 31 and January 31
- Decals
- Two per qualified truck, every year
IFTA lets you report fuel tax for every member jurisdiction on one return filed with your base jurisdiction. For a truck based in Texas, that's the Texas Comptroller. Your base is where the truck is registered, where it runs some of its miles and where you keep its records.
Who needs a Texas IFTA license
You need one when a Texas-based truck runs in two or more IFTA jurisdictions and qualifies by weight or axles:
| Truck | Qualifies when |
|---|---|
| Two axles | Gross or registered weight over 26,000 pounds |
| Three or more axles | Any weight |
| Combination | Gross or registered weight over 26,000 pounds |
Axles are counted on the power unit, so trailer axles don't count toward the three. Recreational vehicles used only for pleasure are left out. If you only cross a state line now and then, a trip permit can stand in for the license.
| Your truck | Texas IFTA license |
|---|---|
| Box truck, two axles, 26,000 lb or less | Not required |
| Box truck, two axles, over 26,000 lb, running interstate | Required |
| Hotshot pickup and trailer, combination over 26,000 lb, running interstate | Required |
| Tractor with three axles, running interstate | Required at any weight |
| Any truck that stays in Texas | Not required |
How to apply
Apply with the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts through its Webfile system, using Form AP-178. The Comptroller issues the license and decals at no charge. Fuel tax is a separate bill that you settle on each return.
Each qualified truck gets a license and two decals, so a truck you add later needs its own pair. Keep a copy or image of the license in the truck and display the decals on the outside of the truck, on its sides.
The license runs through December 31, and decals are issued for each year. A display grace period in January and February gives you time to put on new decals. It doesn't extend any quarterly return.
Ready for Loads isn't affiliated with the Texas Comptroller, so you apply and file directly with the Comptroller.
Quarterly returns and due dates
| Quarter | Months | Return and payment due |
|---|---|---|
| First | January to March | April 30 |
| Second | April to June | July 31 |
| Third | July to September | October 31 |
| Fourth | October to December | January 31 of the next year |
Due dates that land on a weekend or legal holiday move to the next business day. The next three come up below.
- October 31, 2026: the third-quarter return. It's a Saturday, so the deadline moves to the next business day.
- December 31, 2026: your 2026 license and decals run out. Renew for 2027 before then.
- January 31, 2027: the fourth-quarter return. It's a Sunday, so the deadline moves to the next business day.
Once you're licensed, file every quarter, even if the truck sat or never left Texas that quarter.
How the return settles your fuel tax
Diesel prices at the pump already include fuel tax. The return squares the tax you paid at the pump against the miles you ran in each state, and you settle only the difference. Keep miles by state and every fuel receipt for each truck from the first load.
Gulf Coast diesel averaged $5.809 a gallon, taxes included, in the week of October 12, 2026. That EIA series covers Texas along with Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and New Mexico.
IFTA and your apportioned plates
IFTA and IRP are separate registrations. Apportioned plates come from TxDMV through TxFLEET, and the Texas IRP page covers who needs them. The IFTA guide covers the agreement outside Texas.
Put fuel in your budget. The cost estimator prices fuel from your miles and the latest Gulf Coast diesel figure, next to the Texas IFTA license and your insurance quote. Plates and registration aren't in it, so add those from your own quotes. Cost estimator
Frequently asked questions
Does Texas charge for an IFTA license?
No. The Texas Comptroller charges nothing for the IFTA license or the decals. Fuel tax is a separate bill that you settle on each quarterly return.
When are Texas IFTA returns due?
Returns and payment are due April 30, July 31, October 31 and January 31. A due date that lands on a weekend or legal holiday moves to the next business day.
Do I file an IFTA return if my truck didn't run?
Yes. Once you're licensed, file every quarter, even if the truck sat or never left Texas that quarter.
Does a hotshot need IFTA in Texas?
A hotshot pickup and trailer needs a Texas IFTA license when the combination is over 26,000 pounds and runs interstate. Trailer axles don't count toward the three-axle test.