# IFTA Indiana: Licence Fee, Decals and Quarterly Returns

IFTA Indiana filing runs through the Department of Revenue: a $25 licence application fee, decals at no extra charge and a return due every quarter.

Source: https://www.highpointgps.com/resources/ifta-indiana-filing-guide
By Israel Margulies, CEO & Founder, published 2026-08-14, updated 2026-10-13

## Who Administers IFTA in Indiana?

IFTA in Indiana is administered by the Indiana Department of Revenue's Motor Carrier Services division for carriers based in the state. You register, file quarterly returns, renew and order decals through Indiana's online Fuel Tax System at motorcarrier.dor.in.gov.

## What Does an Indiana IFTA Licence Cost?

Indiana sets up its costs differently from most jurisdictions in this series. You pay a $25 application fee for the IFTA licence itself, and once the licence is approved the decals come at no additional charge. Georgia does the reverse, charging nothing for the licence but $3 per set of decals, and Pennsylvania charges $12 per vehicle each year with no separate licence fee.

Carriers with an established Indiana IFTA account can also request 30-day temporary decal permits through the Fuel Tax System. That helps when a newly added vehicle has to run before its permanent decals arrive.

![Diagram of the four steps that build an IFTA quarterly return: distance by jurisdiction, fuel bought by jurisdiction, fleet average MPG, and the net tax owed or credited](https://www.highpointgps.com/images/figures/ifta-quarterly-return.webp)

*How one IFTA return is built: the ELD supplies the distance by jurisdiction, fuel receipts supply the gallons, and the two together give the net tax per jurisdiction.*

## How Do Filing and Recordkeeping Work in Indiana?

Like every IFTA jurisdiction, Indiana requires a quarterly return even for a quarter in which you did not operate. Put that on your compliance checklist, because it is an easy filing to skip if you assume an idle quarter needs no paperwork. Beyond that, the filing calendar and the four-year recordkeeping standard follow the IFTA Procedures Manual that every member jurisdiction shares.

If your fleet runs the Midwest corridor through Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky and Michigan (each covered in this series), GPS-verified records of every jurisdiction crossing let you reconcile quarterly mileage by pulling a report instead of rebuilding it by hand.

## Why Indiana's Location Matters More Than Its Fees

For most carriers, Indiana's cheap licensing (a flat $25 with free decals) matters less than where the state sits: several of the busiest north-south and east-west interstate freight routes in the country cross there. A fleet that never bases a truck in Indiana can still build up significant Indiana-taxed mileage by routing through it regularly, which is why accurate jurisdiction tracking matters in states a carrier doesn't call home.

## IFTA Indiana at a Glance

The essentials for an Indiana-based carrier in one place. The fees are those in effect at the time of writing, so confirm them in the Fuel Tax System before each renewal.

| Item | Indiana |
| --- | --- |
| Administering agency | Indiana Department of Revenue, Motor Carrier Services |
| Portal | Fuel Tax System (motorcarrier.dor.in.gov) |
| Licence fee | $25 application fee |
| Decal fee | None once the licence is approved |
| Temporary decals | 30-day permit for an established account, ordered in the Fuel Tax System |
| Return due dates | April 30, July 31, October 31, January 31 |
| Zero-activity quarter | Return still required |
| Record retention | Four years |

## FAQ

### Which agency administers IFTA in Indiana?

The Indiana Department of Revenue's Motor Carrier Services division administers IFTA for carriers based in Indiana. Registration, quarterly returns, renewals and decal orders all go through the state's online Fuel Tax System at motorcarrier.dor.in.gov, so you deal with one office and one portal.

### Does Indiana charge for IFTA decals?

No. Indiana charges a $25 fee for the licence application itself, and decals are issued at no additional charge once the licence is approved. Carriers with an established account can also order 30-day temporary decal permits in the Fuel Tax System for a new vehicle that has to run before its permanent decals arrive.

### Does Indiana require a return in a quarter with no fuel use?

Yes. As in every IFTA jurisdiction, you must file a quarterly return even if you used no fuel and drove no miles during that quarter. Carriers miss this filing when they assume an idle quarter needs no paperwork, so put the zero return on your compliance checklist.

### When are IFTA returns due for an Indiana carrier?

Returns are due quarterly, on the last day of the month after each quarter ends: April 30, July 31, October 31 and January 31. You still owe a return for a quarter with no travel, and the calendar matches the shared IFTA Procedures Manual.

### What records must be kept for IFTA?

Keep distance by jurisdiction for every trip, from the ELD or GPS, and fuel receipts showing the date, seller, fuel type, quantity and vehicle. Hold both for four years from the due date or filing date, whichever is later, so an auditor asking for distance figures gets them from a report.

## Sources

- [Indiana Department of Revenue: Fuel Tax](https://www.in.gov/dor/motor-carrier-services/fuel-tax)