Kentucky Weight-Distance Tax
2.85 cents a mile, flat, on every mile you run in Kentucky at a combined licensed weight over 59,999 lb - 60,000 lb and up (KRS 138.660). It's the KYU weight-distance tax, separate from IFTA, IRP, and your federal 2290. Get a KYU number online (issued on the spot), then file quarterly by the last day of the next month. File even a zero-mile quarter or eat penalties, interest, and a $500 revocation fee.
How the Kentucky weight-distance tax works
2.85 cents a mile, flat, on every mile you run in Kentucky at a combined licensed weight over 59,999 lb - 60,000 lb and up (KRS 138.660). It's the KYU weight-distance tax, separate from IFTA, IRP, and your federal 2290. Get a KYU number online (issued on the spot), then file quarterly by the last day of the next month. File even a zero-mile quarter or eat penalties, interest, and a $500 revocation fee.
What you have to do before you drive
- Applies at: Combined licensed weight greater than 59,999 lb (60,000 lb and up). Applies to interstate and intrastate carriers, loaded or empty; farm-licensed vehicles are exempt.
- Rate: Flat 2.85 cents per mile ($0.0285), the same rate at any weight over the threshold - not graduated by weight.
- Register: KYU number/license. Apply online through the Kentucky Motor Carrier Portal (set up a Kentucky ID Gateway account first); the number is issued immediately on completion. A mailed paper application (Form TC 95-1) takes 10-14 business days.
- Filing: Quarterly through KYU E-File, due the last day of the month after each quarter (Apr 30 / Jul 31 / Oct 31 / Jan 31). Online-only since Q4 2024 - credit card or ACH, no paper checks. You must file even a zero-mile quarter or face penalty, interest, and a $500 revocation fee.
Running without it
No dollar penalty schedule, but the enforcement bites: run without a KYU license and you're cited at a scale house; miss a quarterly return and you owe penalty plus interest; skip a required zero-mile filing and Kentucky adds a $500 license-revocation fee.
Kentucky Weight-Distance Tax FAQ
Does Kentucky have a weight-distance tax?
How do I register for the Kentucky weight-distance tax?
What is the Kentucky weight-distance tax rate?
Reference information for planning, not legal advice. Traffic laws change and this can be out of date, so always confirm the current statute and obey posted signs before you rely on it. Last reviewed July 2026. Source: https://drive.ky.gov/Motor-Carriers/Pages/KYU.aspx. See our Terms & Disclaimer.
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