Registering for IFTA in Alberta
Everything you need to know to get your BC IFTA license.
If you are a trucking company operating out of Alberta, Canada, you may need to register for an International Fuel Tax Agreement (IFTA) license in the province.
Even if your operations span across multiple other provinces or even down to the United States, as long as your carrier/business is based in British Columbia, you must register under the procedures for Alberta.
Not based in Alberta? Click here and find your province/state to get the relevant IFTA registration guide.
Do you have to register for IFTA in Alberta?
If you were wondering whether or not you’re exempt, know that you must register and file for IFTA if you have:
- Any vehicle with two axles and a gross vehicle weight of over 11,797 kilograms or 26,000 pounds
- A vehicle of any weight but with three or more axles
- A vehicle that exceeds 11,797 kilograms or 26,000 pounds
Now, let’s get into the steps you need to take in order to register for an Alberta IFTA license.
How to register for an IFTA license in Alberta
Step 1:
Complete the IFTA Registration form (AT2054) and print a copy.
Step 2:
Submit your completed IFTA registration form to TRA.
Step 3:
Submit your payment. You can pay with the following methods: Electronic payment, credit card, Interac e-transfer, cash or debit, PayPal, cheque or money order, wire transfer, in person at your financial institute. For more details on how to make payments, click here.
Once your IFTA license application is approved, you will receive the following by mail:
- IFTA license
- IFTA decals (for each truck)
- Information sheet
Here is a useful video by the government of Alberta on how to register for IFTA.
Renewals
You should renew the license every year before December 31st. IFTA credentials expire on December 31 of each calendar year
Cost of the Alberta IFTA license
The registration fees for each carrier are:
- Annual Registration Fee: $15
- Annual Decal Fee: $10 per set of 2 decals per qualified motor vehicle
Getting a TRACS account
In Alberta, you will need a TRACS account to file your IFTA returns and to renew your license.
TRA Client Self-Service (TRACS) is a secure online system for authorized Tax and Revenue Administration (TRA) clients to conveniently conduct business with TRA. You can do the following tasks in TRACS:
- view, download and print a copy of the IFTA licence
- file quarterly IFTA returns
- confirm receipt of submitted returns
- submit documents
- view status of prior assessments, financial details and notices of assessment and reassessment
- access financial information and view account period balances
- apply for annual renewals
- update address and contact information
- delegate account access to other employees or authorized individuals
- make credit card payments
For more details, instructional videos and to log in to your TRACS account, see TRACS information.
Once you have your TRACS account, you’ll be able to follow the next steps.
Filing your quarterly IFTA return
IFTA returns and remittances are required quarterly, and are due on the last day of the month following the end of the calendar quarter reporting period. A return is still required when there is no travel, or when you only travel in Alberta.
You are required to report:
- all fuel put into qualified vehicles, including fuel provided by a third party
- all kilometres travelled by qualified vehicles, including off-road travel and personal use, on the IFTA fuel type schedule
Note: Licensed vehicles with IFTA credentials, including those with farm plates, can use only clear fuel. Using marked fuel is not permitted.
Filing Online
Log in to your TRACS account and select “File a Return”
Submit the return in TRACS and print the confirmation page for your records.
Here is a helpful video by the government of Alberta on how to file IFTA
Filing by paper
Complete these forms:
IFTA Quarterly Tax Return (AT2059)
IFTA Fuel Type Schedule (AT2060)
For more instructions, visit: form completion instructions (AT2061)
Submit your completed IFTA Quarterly Tax Return to TRA.
For both online and paper applications, you will then remit the amount owing. You can pay with the following methods: Electronic payment, credit card, Interac e-transfer, cash or debit, PayPal, cheque or money order, wire transfer, in person at your financial institute. For more details on how to make payments, click here. Interest will be charged on late remittances and will accrue until the balance is paid in full.
Penalties
You will be charged a penalty if you file your return late. The penalty is $50, or 10% of the unpaid taxes, whichever sum is greater. Not only that, it can negatively affect your ability to renew your license.
How to renew your Alberta IFTA license
IFTA Alberta licenses are issued for one year, expiring on December 31st. Be sure to submit your IFTA renewal application before November 30th to avoid processing delays. If you have not received your renewal by the expiry date, Alberta IFTA extends an IFTA sticker grace period to their members, which goes into February of the following year. Even though there is a grace period that extends through February, you will not qualify for the extension if you have not submitted the renewal application on time.
Step 1: Complete the IFTA Renewal Form
- Complete the IFTA Renewal Form in TRACS.
- Note, if you do not have a TRACS account, complete the TRACS Enrolment Request
Step 2: Pay for your renewal and decals
- Visit Making payments for more information.
Once you’ve successfully renewed your IFTA license, you will get new decals for each qualifying motor vehicle in your fleet for the following year.
Alberta IFTA Exemptions
Depending on where you drive or purchase your fuel, you may be exempt from paying the fuel tax. However, while some exemptions apply to both taxes, others apply only to motor fuel tax or to carbon tax.
These include certain private roads, toll roads, or Native American reservations.
If you’re interested in learning about the specifics for Alberta IFTA exemptions, reach out to the experts at Frontline Safety Compliance Services! They help carriers all over North America with their IFTA and FMCSA/NSC compliance processes.
