IFTA Renewal Season Is Here: File Now to Avoid Delays

Don’t let your 2027 International Fuel Tax Agreement (IFTA) credentials become a year-end scramble. Submit your renewal application to your base jurisdiction before the end of 2026 to obtain your new fuel tax license and decals.

Processing and delivery times vary by jurisdiction. Some carriers receive decals in a matter of days, while others wait as long as a month. Applying early gives you time to address delays before they affect operations.

Also, don’t mistake the 2-month display grace period for an extension of the filing deadline. The grace period covers only the display of renewed credentials; the renewal application must still be filed on time.

Understand your options during the display grace period

Carriers renewing their IFTA license and decals have a 2-month grace period (January and February) to display the renewal IFTA license and decals.

To operate in IFTA jurisdictions during the first 2 months of 2027, carriers must display one of the following:

• A valid 2027 IFTA license and two IFTA decals issued by an IFTA member jurisdiction,
• A valid 2026 IFTA license and two IFTA decals from an IFTA member jurisdiction (if a renewal application has been filed for 2027), or
• A valid trip permit from the IFTA jurisdiction in which they're operating.

Renew early, display early

Carriers renewing credentials may operate with the IFTA decals and license 2 months prior to the effective date shown on the credentials. For example, the renewed license and decals effective January 1, 2027, can be displayed beginning November 1, 2026.

Note that those carriers must still file a fourth quarter fuel tax return for 2026.

Renew your IFTA credentials or consider trip permits?

If your trucks no longer operate outside of your base state, or do so less frequently, using fuel trip permits might be an option to consider.

To make this decision, you’ll need to weigh the cost of purchasing temporary permits against the resources needed to keep up with the recordkeeping requirements of permanent credentials. For carriers that operate in other jurisdictions more than five times per year, full participation under IFTA (the license and decals) is often the best option.