Oregon weight-mile tax, account, bond and monthly returns without the surprises
Oregon taxes heavy trucks by the mile instead of by the gallon, on a monthly return with a rate table that climbs with declared weight. $149 to open the account, $49 per monthly return. The state's bond and tax are separate.
26,000 lb and up, instead of fuel tax
Oregon does not collect diesel tax from heavy trucks. The weight-mile tax is how the state gets paid, which is why the rate per mile is several times New Mexico's or Kentucky's.
Monthly, by declared weight
The return is due the last day of the month after the miles. The rate comes from a table keyed to the weight you declare per vehicle, from under 10 cents to over 25 cents per mile.
Bond or deposit to start
New accounts post a bond or cash deposit sized to the fleet. Oregon lifts the requirement after a stretch of on-time filing. We arrange it with the application.
Setup and monthly returns
Oregon price list
| Service | Our fee | Billing |
|---|---|---|
| Oregon weight-mile setup | $149 | one-time |
| Oregon monthly weight-mile return | $49 | per month |
| Trip or fuel permit, any state | $49 | one-time |
The bond or deposit is paid to a surety or to the state, and the weight-mile tax is paid to the Oregon Department of Transportation with each return. Neither is included in any Profirm fee.
How it works
- Application and bond
We file the account application with the Oregon Department of Transportation, declare a weight for each vehicle, and arrange the bond or deposit the state requires from a new carrier.
- Weight receipt per vehicle
Oregon issues a Weight Receipt and Tax Identifier for each unit. A copy rides in the cab, and the declared weight on it is the one the return uses.
- Monthly returns
Each month you send Oregon miles by vehicle. We apply the rate table for the declared weight, you approve the tax, and we file before the last day of the following month. We apply for quarterly filing once your history allows it.
Why Oregon is the state to get right
| State | Threshold | Rate basis | Frequency | Security |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oregon | 26,000 lb and up | Table by declared weight, up to over 25 cents per mile | Monthly | Bond or deposit for new accounts |
| New Mexico | Over 26,000 lb | Table by declared weight, a little over 4 cents at the top | Quarterly | None |
| Kentucky | 59,999 lb and up | 0.0285 USD per mile, flat | Quarterly | None until revoked |
| New York | Over 18,000 lb | Table by gross or unloaded weight, roughly 5 cents at the top | Quarterly for most | None |
An 80,000 lb tractor-trailer running the 308 miles of I-5 from the California line to the Columbia River owes Oregon more in weight-mile tax for that one crossing than it owes Kentucky for a month of I-75. A wrong declared weight, a missed month or a lapsed bond costs accordingly. This is the account we recommend never doing from the cab.
Get the account open before the first load
Online requests open soon. Call or email us and we answer the same business day.
Declare what you actually run
The rate is set by the weight you declare, not by what the truck weighs on a given day. A tractor that pulls a loaded 80,000 lb combination south and an empty trailer north still pays the 80,000 lb rate on every mile unless you declare a second, lighter configuration and report the empty miles against it. Oregon allows multiple declared weights per vehicle for exactly this reason, and the ports of entry compare the declared weight with what they see on the scale.
Declaring too low is a violation at the scale and an assessment at audit. Declaring too high is money left on the table every month. We set the configurations from your actual lanes and trailers and adjust them when the equipment changes.
Canadian carriers see Oregon on the Vancouver to California produce lane and on I-84 out of Idaho. British Columbia plates do not exempt the truck, and neither does IFTA. We open the account with the rest of your US registrations, bond included.
What we need to open the account
- USDOT number and legal name
- Plate, VIN, year, make and axle count for each vehicle 26,000 lb and up
- Declared combined weight per unit, plus a second configuration if it runs lighter
- Commodity, in case the flat monthly fee applies
- An estimate of Oregon miles per month for the bond amount
Frequently asked questions
Who pays the Oregon weight-mile tax?
Any carrier operating a vehicle with a combined weight of 26,000 lb or more on Oregon public roads, wherever the truck is plated. It replaces the fuel tax for heavy trucks: Oregon does not collect diesel tax from vehicles over 26,000 lb, so the IFTA return sends nothing to Oregon and the weight-mile return sends everything. A truck under 26,000 lb pays fuel tax at the pump instead and needs no account.
How is the tax calculated?
Oregon miles multiplied by a rate from a table keyed to the declared combined weight, in 2,000 lb steps from 26,001 lb to 80,000 lb. The rate runs from under 10 cents per mile at the bottom of the table to over 25 cents per mile at 80,000 lb, which makes Oregon by far the most expensive weight-distance state per mile. Vehicles over 80,000 lb use a second table keyed to the number of axles. You declare the weight per vehicle and can declare more than one configuration for a unit that runs at different weights.
Why is the return monthly?
Because Oregon collects a lot of revenue through this tax and wants it promptly. New accounts file monthly, on the last day of the month after the miles are run. Carriers with a clean filing history can apply to file quarterly. Some haulers of logs, sand and gravel, and wood chips can elect a flat monthly fee per vehicle instead of reporting miles. A return is due for every period, including a zero return.
What is the bond for new carriers?
Oregon requires a highway use tax bond or a cash deposit from new accounts as security for the tax. The amount is set by the state based on the number of vehicles on the account. Oregon releases the requirement after a period of on-time filing and payment. The bond comes from a surety and is a cost separate from any Profirm fee; we arrange it with the application so the account opens without a second round of paperwork.
How much does the setup cost?
Profirm charges $149 to open the account, declare the weights and obtain the Oregon Weight Receipt and Tax Identifier for each vehicle, and $49 per monthly return. Oregon's bond or deposit and the tax on the miles are paid to the state and are not included.
Is there a temporary option?
Yes. Oregon issues a temporary pass covering one vehicle for a single entry, with the weight-mile tax prepaid on the estimated miles. It suits a truck that visits Oregon a few times a year and avoids the bond and the monthly filing. Carriers on the I-5 lane from California to Washington or on I-84 from Idaho cross Oregon often enough that the permanent account is the cheaper route. See trip permits.
What happens if I file late or not at all?
Oregon assesses penalty and interest on the late tax and can suspend the account, which shows at the ports of entry on I-5 and I-84 and at the scales. A suspended carrier must clear the balance and may face a higher bond to reinstate. Operating over 26,000 lb with no account and no temporary pass is a citation at the first scale.
What records support the return?
Oregon miles by vehicle, by trip, with dates, origin, destination, route and odometer readings, and the declared weight configuration used for each trip. ELD data works if it is exported and stored. Oregon audits against the same trip records used for IFTA and IRP, so all three have to agree. Keep records four years.
Running I-5 or I-84 through Oregon?
Send us the vehicle list and your lanes. We open the account, arrange the bond, declare the right weights and put the monthly return on our calendar.