Department of Taxation and Finance MT-903-I Instructions for Form MT-903 (5/16) Highway Use Tax Return Do not report mileage traveled on the toll-paid portion of the New York State See our new highway use tax bulletins at www.tax.ny.gov. The bulletins Thruway, or mileage traveled by buses or other exempt or excluded provide information to help motor carriers operating in New York State vehicles. comply with their highway use tax obligations. Schedule 1 is used to calculate the tax due on all miles traveled in New York State (except those miles traveled on the toll-paid portion of the Who must file Thruway). You must also exclude miles that should be included for tax You must file Form MT-903, Highway Use Tax Return, if you have been calculation on Schedule 2. issued a certificate of registration (certificate) or if you operate a motor vehicle (as defined in Tax Law Article 21) in New York State. Schedule 2 is used to calculate the tax due on the mileage of trucks and tractors that are used almost exclusively in the month to transport: Form MT-903 is filed monthly, annually, or quarterly, based on the amount of • boltwood (short sections of logs, six feet long or less, to be sawed or cut, the previous full calendar year’s total highway use tax liability: that are commonly used for specialized items, as in the case of the Monthly - more than $4,000 wood-turnery industry), Annually - $250 or less (with Tax Department approval) • logs (unshaped timber over six feet long, ready for sawing, and Quarterly - all others, including carriers not subject to tax in the commonly used for making lumber), preceding calendar year • pulpwood (wood for pulp commonly used in making paper), You may request a change of filing status based on your previous year’s • woodchips (small, usually thin, flat pieces of wood cut, struck, or flaked, liability. Submit your request to: NYS Tax Department, Miscellaneous Tax - that are commonly used in making composition board and pulp) and Highway Use, W A Harriman Campus, Albany NY 12227-0863. Be sure to include your taxpayer identification number with your request. • raw, unprocessed milk in bulk. Exclude miles traveled on the toll-paid portion of the Thruway. You may use Final return this schedule only if you have three or fewer trucks or tractors that qualify. If you are permanently discontinuing your business for highway use tax If you have more than three trucks or tractors that qualify, all mileage must purposes and filing a final return, write Final return on the top of the return, be included on Schedule 1. and mail your HUT and/or AFC Certificates of Registration (Form TMT-7 or TMT-7.1) and decals to: NYS Tax Department, HUT Registration Unit, Almost exclusively means 90% or more of a motor vehicle’s monthly W A Harriman Campus, Albany, NY 12227-0863. New York State laden miles, whether operated alone or in combination, are used for one of the purposes described. If you use a motor vehicle for more It is important that you contact us (see Need help?) to make sure there are than 10% of the motor vehicle’s New York State laden miles during any no other delinquencies and/or bills associated with your tax account(s). month for any other purpose, all mileage traveled in New York State (except Filing a final return does not cancel delinquencies or bills. the toll-paid Thruway mileage) must be reported on Schedule 1. The determination must be made on a monthly basis even if you file quarterly or Amended returns annually. For example, if a truck is used almost exclusively for a Schedule 2 If you need to file an amended return, use Form MT-903-MN (see Need use one month, and is used only 50% of the time for a Schedule 2 use the help? ). When completing the return, be sure to enter the correct figures for next month, you would have to include the truck on both schedules if you the period (not the difference between the figures previously reported and were filing quarterly. You would, of course, divide the mileage according to the correct figures). Write Amended on the return and attach an explanation the monthly use. of the changes to the return. Laden miles are those traveled by a vehicle with a load or any part of a load. Change of business information If you only need to report an address change, the fastest and easiest Methods for computing highway use tax way is online. Visit our website (see Need help?) and select the option to When you file your first return for the calendar year, you must choose one of change your address. You can also use Form DTF-96, Report of Address the following methods to compute your tax: Change for Business Tax Accounts, and attach it to your return. To change • gross weight method (straight line option or heaviest weight option), or any other business tax account information (as well as your address), file • unloaded weight method. Form DTF-95, Business Tax Account Update. If you need either form, or any other form, see Need help?. You must use this method in computing your tax for each return filed during the year. You may not change the method selected. The method must be When to file used for all of your vehicles. Form MT-903 is due by the last day of the month following the end of the The method you choose should be based on your particular operations. reporting period. The Tax Department will use the postmark date as the One method may be more economical or convenient for you. filing date for returns and payments. All weights should be reported in pounds. Where to file Note: Referenced Tables 1 through 10 are at the end of these instructions. Mail Form MT-903 to: NYS TAX DEPARTMENT RPC - HUT Gross weight method PO BOX 15166 If you use the gross weight method, you must use it for every truck and ALBANY NY 12212-5166 tractor with a gross weight of more than 18,000 pounds operating on Private delivery services – See Publication 55, Designated Private New York State public highways during the reporting period. (The gross Delivery Services. weight of a tow truck does not include the weight of any disabled vehicle it pulls.) You may use either the straight line option or the heaviest weight option for General instructions any tax period of a calendar year in which you use the gross weight If you have had no activity in New York State for this period, mark an X in method. You must use the same option for all trucks and tractors required to the appropriate box and enter 0 on line 3. Complete the certification box and be included in the return. The election to use the heaviest weight option is follow the mailing instructions above. irrevocable for any tax period in which it has been used. Enter in the appropriate boxes on the front of the return the total taxable miles traveled in New York State for this period by all vehicles, and the total miles (including New York State Thruway miles) traveled in New York State for this period by all vehicles. If highway use tax is due, you must first complete Schedule 1 or Schedule 2, or both, on the back of the form to calculate the amount of tax due. |
Page 2 of 4 MT-903-I (5/16) Straight line option using the gross weight method unladen (enter the unloaded weight of the truck plus the unloaded weight of the heaviest trailer drawn by the truck). Schedule 1 Column M – Enter the total laden non-Thruway miles traveled in Column A – List the current certificate number of each truck and each New York State by each vehicle listed in column J. tractor you operated on New York State public highways during the reporting period. List the motor vehicles in the following order: Column N – Determine the rate for each vehicle based on its gross weight 1. List all tractors with a gross weight of more than 18,000 pounds. Enter in column K using Table 6, Laden non-Thruway miles - Tractors and trucks. the certificate number of a tractor twice if it operates in New York State Column P – Enter the total unladen non-Thruway miles traveled in both with and without a trailer or other attached device. New York State by each vehicle listed in column J. 2. List all trucks with a gross weight, alone or in combination, of more than Column Q – Determine the rate for each vehicle based on its unloaded 18,000 pounds. Enter the certificate number of a truck twice if it operates weight entered in column L using Table 7, Unladen non-Thruway miles - in New York State both with and without a trailer or other attached Tractors (with trailers), or Table 8, Unladen non-Thruway miles - Trucks device, and if its gross weight, both alone and in combination, is more (alone or with trailers) - Tractors (without trailers). than 18,000 pounds. 3. List tractors and trucks with a gross weight of more than 18,000 pounds Heaviest weight option using the gross weight method on which you are paying the tax if certificates were issued to another carrier. Identify this group by writing motor vehicles operated on Schedule 1 certificates of others. Column A – List the current certificate numbers of the trucks and tractors Do not include on the list the following motor vehicles: with the heaviest gross weight and the trucks and tractors with the heaviest unloaded weight that you operated on New York State public highways 1. Motor vehicles whose entire mileage is reported on Schedule 2. during the reporting period. In determining the heaviest gross weight or the 2. Motor vehicles that incurred no tax. Account for them by writing other heaviest unloaded weight, take into account only the trucks, tractors, motor vehicles incurred no tax. trailers, and other attached devices that were operated on New York State 3. Motor vehicles for which the tax will be paid by others. Account for them public highways during the reporting period for which you are reporting and by writing other motor vehicles will be reported by others. paying the taxes. Do not list motor vehicles whose entire mileage should be reported on Schedule 2, and do not include mileage that should be If you are listing a vehicle on both Schedule 1 and Schedule 2, be sure to included in Schedule 2. allocate the mileage to the appropriate schedule, so you will not be taxed twice or taxed at the wrong rate. List certificate numbers in the following order: Column B – Enter the gross weight shown on the certificate for each 1. The truck with the heaviest gross weight (laden). vehicle in column A except: 2. The tractor with the heaviest gross weight (laden). – Enter 0for an unladen tractor that operated alone. 3. The truck with the heaviest unloaded weight, if different from 1. – Enter the gross weight of a truck only, when operated without a trailer. 4. The unladen tractor in combination with the heaviest unloaded weight, if The gross weight of a truck only is the heaviest weight at which the truck different from 2. will be operating on New York State public highways when operated 5. The tractor with the heaviest unloaded weight when operated without without a trailer. trailers. Column C – Enter the unloaded weight shown on the certificate for each 6. The truck-trailer combination with the heaviest gross weight (unloaded vehicle listed in column A, except a truck-trailer combination if both were weight of the truck plus the unloaded weight of the heaviest trailer or unladen (enter the unloaded weight of the truck plus the unloaded weight of combination of trailers drawn by the truck, plus the heaviest load carried the heaviest trailer drawn by the truck). or drawn). Column D – Enter the total laden non-Thruway miles traveled in New York 7. If different from 6, the truck-trailer combination with the heaviest State by each vehicle in column A. Include miles for excluded vehicles when unloaded weight (unloaded weight of the truck plus the unloaded weight used in a non-excluded manner. of the heaviest trailer drawn by the truck). Column E – Determine the rate for each vehicle based on its gross weight Column B – Enter the gross weight of the truck with the heaviest gross in column B using Table 1, Laden non-Thruway miles - Tractors and trucks. weight (laden), the tractor with the heaviest gross weight (laden), and the truck-trailer combination with the heaviest gross weight listed in column A. Column G – Enter the total unladen non-Thruway miles traveled in New York State by each vehicle listed in column A. Column C – Enter the unloaded weight of the truck with the heaviest unloaded weight, the unladen tractor in combination with the heaviest Column H – Determine the rate for each vehicle based on its unloaded unloaded weight, the tractor with the heaviest unloaded weight when weight entered in column C using Table 2, Unladen non-Thruway miles - operated alone, and the truck-trailer combination with the heaviest Tractors (with trailers), or Table 3, Unladen non-Thruway miles - Trucks unloaded weight listed in column A. (alone or with trailers) - Tractors (without trailers). Column D – Enter the total laden non-Thruway miles traveled in New York Schedule 2 State by all vehicles in each category for which you made an entry in column B. Column J – List the current certificate numbers of motor vehicles used almost exclusively in a month covered by this tax return to transport boltwood, Column E – Determine the rate for each category of vehicle based on the logs, pulpwood, wood chips, or bulk raw milk on New York State public gross weight of the vehicle entered in column B using Table 1, Laden highways, but only if you operated three or fewer such vehicles in the month. non-Thruway miles - Tractors and trucks. – If a tractor operates in New York State both with and without a trailer or Column G – Enter the total unladen non-Thruway miles traveled in other attached device, with a gross weight of more than 18,000 pounds, New York State by all vehicles in each category for which you made an enter the certificate number of the tractor twice. entry in column C. – If a truck operates in New York State both with and without a trailer Column H – Determine the rate for each category of vehicle based on the or other attached device, and its gross weight, both alone and in unloaded weight entered in column C using Table 2, Unladen non-Thruway combination, is more than 18,000 pounds, enter the certificate number of miles - Tractors (with trailers) or Table 3, Unladen non-Thruway miles - the truck twice. Trucks (alone or with trailers) - Tractors (without trailers). Column K – Enter the gross weight shown on the certificate for each vehicle listed in column J except: Schedule 2 – Enter 0for an unladen tractor that operated alone. Column J – List the current certificate numbers of the trucks and – Enter the gross weight of a truck only, when operated without a trailer. tractors with the heaviest gross weight and the trucks and tractors with the The gross weight of a truck only is the heaviest weight at which the truck heaviest unloaded weight that were used almost exclusively in a month will be operating on New York State public highways when operated covered by this tax return to transport boltwood, logs, pulpwood, wood without a trailer. chips, or bulk raw milk on New York State public highways, but only if you operated three or fewer such vehicles in the month. List the vehicles in the Column L – Enter the unloaded weight shown on the certificate for each same order as for column A. vehicle listed in column J, except a truck-trailer combination if both were |
MT-903-I (5/16) Page 3 of 4 Column K – Enter the gross weight shown on the certificate for each Column P – Enter the total non-Thruway miles traveled in New York State vehicle listed in column J except: by each vehicle listed in column J. – Enter 0for an unladen tractor that operated alone. Column Q – Determine the rate for each vehicle based on its unloaded – Enter the gross weight of a truck only, when operated without a trailer. weight entered in column L using Table 9, Non-Thruway miles - Trucks, or The gross weight of a truck only is the heaviest weight at which the truck Table 10, Non-Thruway miles - Tractors. will be operating on New York State public highways when operated without a trailer. Line instructions Column L – Enter the unloaded weight shown on the certificate for each Line 1a – Enter the amount of total tax from Schedule 1, line 14. vehicle listed in column J, except a truck-trailer combination if both were unladen (enter the unloaded weight of the truck plus the unloaded weight of Line 1b – Enter the amount of total tax from Schedule 2, line 22. the heaviest trailer drawn by the truck). Line 2 – Enter the amount of any prior highway use tax overpayments. Do Column M – Enter the total laden non-Thruway miles traveled in not enter more than the amount on line 1c. You may apply any unused New York State by all vehicles in each category listed in column J. portion of prior highway use tax overpayments against any highway use tax, penalty, or interest that may be due within four years from the date of Column N – Determine the rate for each category of vehicle based on its the overpayment. For a refund of highway use tax overpayments, file gross weight in column K using Table 6, Laden non-Thruway miles - Form DTF-406, Claim for Highway Use Tax (HUT) Refund, separately. Tractors and trucks. Lines 4 and 5 – If you are filing your return late or not paying the full Column P – Enter the total unladen non-Thruway miles traveled in amount due, you owe interest and penalty. Interest rates are adjusted New York State by each category of vehicle listed in column J. quarterly and compounded daily. You can estimate your penalty and interest by visiting our website and selecting Online Services, or you may call and we Column Q – Determine the rate for each category of vehicle based on the will compute the penalty and interest for you (see Need help? below). Enter unloaded weight entered in column L using Table 7, Unladen the penalty amount on line 4 and the interest amount on line 5. non-Thruway miles - Tractors (with trailers), or Table 8, Unladen non-Thruway miles - Trucks (alone or with trailers) - Tractors (without trailers). Certification Unloaded weight method Sign and date the return and enter your official title and telephone number. Only the taxpayer or an authorized agent may sign the return. If you elect the unloaded weight method, you must use it for every truck having an unloaded weight of over 8,000 pounds and every tractor having If anyone other than an employee, owner, partner, or officer of the business an unloaded weight of over 4,000 pounds operating on New York State is paid to prepare the return, see Paid preparer's responsibilities below. public highways during the reporting period. Refer to General instructions for completing Schedules 1 and 2 . Paid preparer’s responsibilities – Under the law, all paid preparers must sign and complete the paid preparer section of the form. Paid preparers may be subject to civil and/or criminal sanctions if they fail to complete this Schedule 1 section in full. Column A – List the current certificate number of each truck and tractor you operated on New York State public highways during the reporting period in When completing this section, enter your New York tax preparer registration the following order: identification number (NYTPRIN) if you are required to have one. If you are not required to have a NYTPRIN, enter in the NYTPRIN excl. code box 1. Trucks for which you hold certificates. one of the specified 2-digit codes listed below that indicates why you are 2. Tractors for which you hold certificates. exempt from the registration requirement. You must enter a NYTPRIN or an 3. Trucks or tractors on which you are paying the tax if certificates were exclusion code. Also, you must enter your federal preparer tax identification issued to another carrier. Identify this group by writing motor vehicles number (PTIN) if you have one; if not, you must enter your social security operated on certificates of others. number. Do not include on the list the following motor vehicles: 1. Motor vehicles whose entire mileage is reported on Schedule 2. Code Exemption type Code Exemption type 2. Motor vehicles that incurred no tax. Account for them by writing other 01 Attorney 02 Employee of attorney motor vehicles incurred no tax. 03 CPA 04 Employee of CPA 3. Motor vehicles for which the tax will be paid by others. Account for them 05 PA (Public Accountant) 06 Employee of PA by writing other motor vehicles will be reported by others. If you are listing a vehicle on both Schedule 1 and Schedule 2 be sure to 07 Enrolled agent 08 Employee of enrolled agent allocate the mileage to the appropriate schedule so you will not be taxed 09 Volunteer tax preparer 10 Employee of business twice or taxed at the wrong rate. preparing that business’ Column B – Leave blank. return Column C – Enter the unloaded weight shown on the certificate for each vehicle listed in column A. See our website for more information about the tax preparer registration requirements. Columns D through F – Leave blank. Column G – Enter the total non-Thruway miles traveled in New York State Fuel use tax (Tax Law Article 21-A) by each vehicle listed in column A. If you are licensed under the International Fuel Tax Agreement (IFTA), you Column H – Determine the rate for each vehicle based on its unloaded must pay the New York fuel use tax on your IFTA report filed with your base weight entered in column C using Table 4, Non-Thruway miles - Trucks, or jurisdiction. If you are not required to be licensed under IFTA, and you Table 5, Non-Thruway miles - Tractors. operate on New York State public highways (including the Thruway) qualified motor vehicles that consume fuel purchased in New York on which the New York taxes have not been paid, you must file Form MT-903-FUT, Schedule 2 Fuel Use Tax Return, to report and pay your fuel use tax obligation. Column J – List the current certificate numbers of trucks and tractors used almost exclusively in a month covered by this tax return to transport boltwood, logs, pulpwood, wood chips, or bulk raw milk on New York State Corporate carriers public highways, if you operated three or fewer such vehicles in the month. A corporation in the trucking industry may be subject to franchise tax under List the vehicles in the same order as for column A. Tax Law Article 9 or 9-A. Column K – Leave blank. Column L – Enter the unloaded weight shown on the certificate for each vehicle listed in column J. Columns M through O – Leave blank. |
Page 4 of 4 MT-903-I (5/16) Tax rate tables for highway use tax Tax rate tables for highway use tax Schedule 1 Schedule 2 If gross weight method was marked, use Tables 1, 2, and 3. If If gross weight method was marked, use Tables 6, 7, and 8. If unloaded weight method was marked, use Tables 4 and 5. unloaded weight method was marked, use Tables 9 and 10. Gross weight method Gross weight method Table 1 Table 2 Table 6 Table 7 Laden non-Thruway miles Unladen non-Thruway miles Laden non-Thruway miles Unladen non-Thruway miles Tractors and trucks Tractors (with trailers) Tractors and trucks Tractors (with trailers) Weight Rate Weight Rate Weight Rate Weight Rate 18,001 to 20,000 $0.0084 7,001 to 8,500 $0.0084 18,001 to 20,000 $0.006 7,001 to 8,500 $0.006 20,001 to 22,000 0.0098 8,501 to 10,000 0.0098 20,001 to 22,000 0.007 8,501 to 10,000 0.007 22,001 to 24,000 0.0112 10,001 to 12,000 0.0112 22,001 to 24,000 0.008 10,001 to 12,000 0.008 24,001 to 26,000 0.0126 12,001 to 14,000 0.0126 24,001 to 26,000 0.009 12,001 to 14,000 0.009 26,001 to 28,000 0.0133 14,001 to 16,000 0.0133 26,001 to 28,000 0.0095 14,001 to 16,000 0.0095 28,001 to 30,000 0.0140 16,001 to 18,000 0.0140 28,001 to 30,000 0.010 16,001 to 18,000 0.010 30,001 to 32,000 0.0147 18,001 and over add $0.0007 30,001 to 32,000 0.0105 18,001 and over add $0.0005 32,001 to 34,000 0.0154 per ton and fraction thereof 32,001 to 34,000 0.011 per ton and fraction thereof 34,001 to 36,000 0.0161 34,001 to 36,000 0.0115 36,001 to 38,000 0.0168 36,001 to 38,000 0.012 38,001 to 40,000 0.0175 38,001 to 40,000 0.0125 40,001 to 42,000 0.0182 Table 3 40,001 to 42,000 0.013 Table 8 42,001 to 44,000 0.0196 Unladen non-Thruway miles 42,001 to 44,000 0.014 Unladen non-Thruway miles 44,001 to 46,000 0.0210 Trucks (alone or with trailers) 44,001 to 46,000 0.015 Trucks (alone or with trailers) 46,001 to 48,000 0.0224 Tractors (without trailers) 46,001 to 48,000 0.016 Tractors (without trailers) 48,001 to 50,000 0.0238 48,001 to 50,000 0.017 50,001 to 52,000 0.0252 Weight Rate 50,001 to 52,000 0.018 Weight Rate 52,001 to 54,000 0.0266 18,001 to 20,000 $0.0084 52,001 to 54,000 0.019 18,001 to 20,000 $0.006 54,001 to 56,000 0.0280 20,001 to 22,000 0.0098 54,001 to 56,000 0.020 20,001 to 22,000 0.007 56,001 to 58,000 0.0294 22,001 to 24,000 0.0112 56,001 to 58,000 0.021 22,001 to 24,000 0.008 58,001 to 60,000 0.0308 24,001 to 26,000 0.0126 58,001 to 60,000 0.022 24,001 to 26,000 0.009 60,001 to 62,000 0.0322 26,001 to 28,000 0.0133 60,001 to 62,000 0.023 26,001 to 28,000 0.0095 62,001 to 64,000 0.0336 28,001 to 30,000 0.0140 62,001 to 64,000 0.024 28,001 to 30,000 0.010 64,001 to 66,000 0.0357 30,001 and over add $0.0007 64,001 to 66,000 0.0255 30,001 and over add $0.0005 66,001 to 68,000 0.0378 per ton and fraction thereof 66,001 to 68,000 0.027 per ton and fraction thereof 68,001 to 70,000 0.0399 68,001 to 70,000 0.0285 70,001 to 72,000 0.0420 70,001 to 72,000 0.030 72,001 to 74,000 0.0455 72,001 to 74,000 0.0325 74,001 to 76,000 0.0490 74,001 to 76,000 0.035 76,001 to 78,000 0.0518 76,001 to 78,000 0.037 78,001 to 80,000 0.0546 78,001 to 80,000 0.039 80,001 and over add $0.0028 80,001 and over add $0.002 per ton and fraction thereof per ton and fraction thereof Unloaded weight method Unloaded weight method Table 4 Table 5 Table 9 Table 10 Non-Thruway miles Non-Thruway miles Non-Thruway miles Non-Thruway miles Trucks Tractors Trucks Tractors Weight Rate Weight Rate Weight Rate Weight Rate 8,001 to 9,000 $0.0056 4,001 to 5,500 $0.0084 8,001 to 9,000 $0.004 4,001 to 5,500 $0.006 9,001 to 10,000 0.0070 5,501 to 7,000 0.0140 9,001 to 10,000 0.005 5,501 to 7,000 0.010 10,001 to 11,000 0.0098 7,001 to 8,500 0.0196 10,001 to 11,000 0.007 7,001 to 8,500 0.014 11,001 to 12,000 0.0112 8,501 to 10,000 0.0252 11,001 to 12,000 0.008 8,501 to 10,000 0.018 12,001 to 13,000 0.0126 10,001 to 12,000 0.0350 12,001 to 13,000 0.009 10,001 to 12,000 0.025 13,001 to 14,000 0.0140 12,001 and over 0.0462 13,001 to 14,000 0.010 12,001 and over 0.033 14,001 to 15,000 0.0154 14,001 to 15,000 0.011 15,001 to 17,500 0.0168 15,001 to 17,500 0.012 17,501 to 20,000 0.0196 17,501 to 20,000 0.014 20,001 to 22,500 0.0252 20,001 to 22,500 0.018 22,501 to 25,000 0.0308 22,501 to 25,000 0.022 25,001 and over 0.0378 25,001 and over 0.027 Privacy notification – New York State Law requires all government Need help? agencies that maintain a system of records to provide notification of the legal authority for any request, the principal purpose(s) for which the Visit our website at www.tax.ny.gov information is to be collected, and where it will be maintained. To view this (for information, forms, and online services) information, visit our website, or, if you do not have Internet access, call and request Publication 54, Privacy Notification. See Need help? for the Web Miscellaneous Tax Information Center: (518) 457-5735 address and telephone number. To order forms and publications: (518) 457-5431 Text Telephone (TTY) Hotline (for persons with hearing and speech disabilities using a TTY): (518) 485-5082 |