The International Registration Plan (IRP) requires that you provide a physical address for your established place of business. This means that you own, lease, or rent a physical structure that is designated by a street name or road. Jurisdictions require proof of this before they can set up an IRP account for your operations.
Choosing your base jurisdiction
The base jurisdiction can be any IRP member jurisdiction where:
- The applicant has an established place of business,
- The fleet the applicant seeks to register accrues distance, and
- Records of the fleet are maintained or can be made available.
All three parts must be met for a member jurisdiction to qualify as a base jurisdiction.
“Established place of business” means a physical structure located within the base jurisdiction:
- That is owned or leased by the applicant or registrant, and
- Whose street address must be specified by the applicant or registrant. Submitting a P.O. Box or email/virtual address does not satisfy this requirement
This physical structure must be:
- Open for business, and
- Staffed during regular business hours by at least one person employed by the applicant or registrant on a permanent basis (not an independent contractor) for the purpose of the general management of the trucking-related business (not limited to credentialing, distance and fuel reporting, and answering telephone inquiries).
Records concerning the fleet must be maintained at this physical structure.
Residence option is limited
The IRP offers residence as an alternative to established place of business only for applicants who cannot demonstrate that they meet the established place of business requirement. This option is often used by owner-operators.
If an applicant does not have an established place of business in any jurisdiction, they may designate as their base jurisdiction any IRP member jurisdiction where:
- The applicant can demonstrate residence,
- The fleet accrues distance, and
- Records of the fleet are maintained or can be made available.
To establish residence under this option, an applicant must demonstrate at least three of the following:
- If the applicant is an individual, his or her driver’s license is issued by that jurisdiction.
- If the applicant is a corporation, it is incorporated or registered to conduct business as a foreign corporation in that jurisdiction.
- If the applicant is a corporation, the principal owner is a resident of that jurisdiction.
- The applicant’s federal income tax returns have been filed from an address in that jurisdiction..
- The applicant has paid personal income taxes to that jurisdiction.
- The applicant has paid real estate or personal property taxes to that jurisdiction.
- If the applicant is a corporation, the principal owner is a resident of that jurisdiction.
- The applicant has a vehicle titled in that jurisdiction in its name.
- Other factors clearly evidence the applicant’s legal residence in that jurisdiction.
Remember, to register under IRP you must provide the required documentation to prove “established place of business” or “residence.” Registration will be delayed until adequate documentation is received and approved by IRP administrators.
Let J. J. Keller monitor your authority to ensure your credentials are always up-to-date or call 888.473.4638 for more information.