Updated Notice: Waiver of IFTA Credentialing Requirements for Certain Motor Carriers

Issued: May 6, 2020

Executive Orders 2020-33, 2020-67 and 2020-68 declared a state of emergency in Michigan and a state of disaster across Michigan, and/or continued or expanded on previously declared states of emergency or disaster, related to the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).  Efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19 have disrupted state business operations including the Department’s ability to process licensing applications, issue decals, and authorize trip permits under the Motor Carrier Fuel Tax Act, 1980 PA 119, (“MCFTA”) and/or the International Fuel Tax Agreement (“IFTA”).  COVID-19 has also disrupted the ability of out-of-state motor carriers to obtain proper IFTA credentials from their home jurisdictions which are needed to comply with Michigan law when driving in Michigan.  To ensure that these COVID-19 related disruptions do not impede the timely delivery of urgently needed resources and personnel to Michigan during this crisis, Governor Whitmer issued Executive Order 2020-40.  Because Executive Order 2020-40 was set to expire at 11:59 p.m. on May 5, 2020, Governor Whitmer issued Executive Order 2020-73 (“Order”) extending the relief to motor carriers previously authorized by Executive Order 2020-40 and rescinding that prior order.

The Order temporarily suspends the licensing and decal requirements under section 5 of the MCFTA, MCL 207.215, and the trip permit requirements under section 7 of the MCFTA, MCL 207.217, for certain motor carriers.  In addition, the Order temporarily suspends any other credentialing requirements administered by the Department under the IFTA for certain motor carriers.  Enforcement of these credentialing requirements under the MCFTA and/or IFTA are also suspended, as are fines, penalties, or criminal sanctions for violations of these credentialing requirements, for certain motor carriers while operating in Michigan.     

Under the Order, the suspension of the credentialing requirements (and enforcement of those requirements) only applies to those motor carriers providing “critical assistance related to the COVID-19 pandemic” (as defined in section 5 of the Order) in Michigan during the effective date of the Order through June 2, 2020 at 11:59 p.m.  The Order does not suspend, restrict, or waive any other Michigan laws, regulations, or requirements applicable to motor carriers (including any requirements relating to the reporting, payment, or remittance of, or recordkeeping for, taxes imposed or arising under the MCFTA and/or the IFTA) or any laws, regulations, or requirements of other IFTA jurisdictions.

In recognition of the Order, the Department waives the credentialing requirements (licenses, decals, and trip permits) under the MCFTA and/or IFTA, and suspends enforcement of those requirements, for motor carriers covered by the Order beginning May 5, 2020 at  6:15 p.m. through June 2, 2020 at 11:59 p.m.

This waiver does not apply to, suspend, or otherwise affect a motor carrier’s responsibility for reporting, paying, remitting (or recordkeeping requirements for) taxes imposed or arising under the MCFTA and/or IFTA.  This waiver does not imply or grant an exception to any state laws, regulations, or requirements other than as may be provided by the Order.  The waiver does not apply to, suspend, restrict, or waive any laws, regulations, or other requirements of other IFTA jurisdictions.  

Executive Order 2020-73 is available at:

https://www.michigan.gov/coronavirus/0,9753,7-406-98178_98455-521682--,00.html.

FAQs concerning the Order and Executive Order No. 2020-73 are available at:  https://www.michigan.gov/coronavirus/0,9753,7-406-98178_98455-528138--,00.html.

Questions regarding this Notice may be directed to the Department’s Special Taxes Division – IFTA Unit at 517-636-4580 or IFTA_Licensing@michigan.gov.