IFTA deadline
IFTA Q3 2026 due date: Monday 2 November 2026.
Not 31 October. That is a Saturday this year, so the return and the payment are due the next business day, Monday 2 November 2026.
The rule says the last day of the month after the quarter. 31 Oct 2026 is a Saturday, so it moves to Monday 2 Nov (IFTA rule R960). Counting to 11:59 PM Eastern; your base state may close its portal earlier. Send us your logs by Wed 28 Oct.
Why 2 November and not 31 October
The IFTA Articles of Agreement say the quarterly return is due on the last day of the month after the quarter ends. For July to September that is 31 October. Rule R960 adds that when the due date falls on a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday, the next business day becomes the due date. 31 October 2026 is a Saturday, so Monday 2 November 2026 is the date. Source: IFTA Articles of Agreement, R960.
A return is late when it is not filed, or the tax is not paid, by that day. Your base state may close its online portal earlier in the day than 11:59 PM, so file before the last evening.
What the Q3 2026 return covers
| Item | Q3 2026 |
|---|---|
| Period | 1 July to 30 September 2026 |
| Normal due date | 31 October 2026 (Saturday) |
| Actual due date | Monday 2 November 2026 |
| Rates to use | Official IFTA matrix, 3Q2026 (diesel rates by state) |
| Next return (Q4 2026) | Monday 1 February 2027 (31 January is a Sunday) |
What to have ready before you file
- Trip logs for every truck: date, route, and miles in each state. An ELD export, a spreadsheet or photos of paper logs all work.
- Fuel receipts for every gallon bought, with the state and the gallons. Fuel card statements count.
- Total miles and taxable miles per state. Toll miles and off-road miles have their own rules in some states.
- Your fleet miles per gallon: total miles divided by total gallons.
- Your base state's IFTA login, and last quarter's return for a sanity check.
Short on time?
FuelTax Friend adds it all up for you: send your logs and receipts, and within 2 business days you get a state-by-state worksheet (Excel) and a one-page summary at the official 3Q2026 rates. $39 a quarter, per business, 1 to 5 trucks. Send your logs by Wednesday 28 October to have the worksheet back before the deadline. See a sample.
When is the Q3 2026 IFTA return due?
Monday 2 November 2026. The normal date is 31 October, the last day of the month after the quarter, but 31 October 2026 is a Saturday, so IFTA rule R960 moves it to the next business day.
What quarter does the Q3 2026 return cover?
1 July to 30 September 2026. Every mile driven and every gallon bought in that window, in every IFTA state and province.
What do I need to file?
Total miles and taxable miles per state, gallons bought per state with receipts, and your fleet miles per gallon. Your base state's portal asks for those numbers and works out the tax at the 3Q2026 rates.
Do I have to file if I had no miles?
Yes. An IFTA licence means a return every quarter, including a zero return. Check your base state's portal for how to file a zero return.
Does FuelTax Friend file for me?
No. We add up your logs into a state-by-state worksheet for $39 a quarter. You check it and file your own return with your base state. We are not tax preparers and this page is not tax advice.
FuelTax Friend is not a tax preparer and does not file or pay anything for you. Dates come from the IFTA Articles of Agreement linked above; check your base state's instructions too. Not tax advice.