The IRS accepts payments through five main channels: their official website at IRS.gov, phone, mail, in-person at a local IRS office, or through a tax professional
The fastest and most direct route is IRS Direct Pay on IRS.gov, which lets you transfer money straight from your bank account with no fee. You can schedule the payment for a specific date up to 120 days ahead. The second option is the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS), also free, which works similarly but requires advance registration. Both methods confirm your payment immediately and give you a confirmation number.
If you prefer not to use a computer, you can pay by phone through the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 or through a third-party payment processor (which charges a fee, typically $2 to $4). You can also mail a check or money order to the IRS address listed on your tax notice, though mail takes 7 to 14 days to arrive and clear. In-person payment at an IRS office is possible but rarely necessary—most offices are by appointment only and handle complex cases, not routine payments.
Key Takeaways
- IRS Direct Pay and EFTPS are both free and let you pay from your bank account on a date you choose, with confirmation in minutes.
- Phone and credit card payments through a third-party processor charge a fee of $2 to $4 and are processed within one business day.
- Mailed checks take 7 to 14 days to reach the IRS and must include your tax ID and the tax year on the check itself.
- Payments made after the tax deadline (usually April 15) begin accruing interest and penalties immediately, even if you have a payment plan.
- If you cannot pay in full, you can set up a payment plan through IRS.gov or by phone, which spreads the debt over months or years.
Paying through IRS Direct Pay or EFTPS
Both of these methods pull money directly from your checking or savings account. To use IRS Direct Pay, go to IRS.gov, select "Payments," and choose Direct Pay. You will enter your Social Security number or Employer Identification Number, the tax year, the amount, and your bank account details. The system confirms the payment immediately and assigns a confirmation number. You can schedule the payment up to 120 days in advance, which is useful if you want to time it with a paycheck or bonus.
EFTPS works the same way but requires you to register first, which takes about a week. Once registered, you can log in and schedule payments whenever you need to. Both methods are free and show up in your bank account as a debit within one to two business days. Neither method charges a fee, and both give you a record you can download or print immediately.
Paying by phone, credit card, or debit card
If you call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040, you can pay over the phone using your bank account information. The IRS does not charge a fee for this, but the call itself may take 15 to 20 minutes. You will receive a confirmation number at the end of the call.
If you want to pay with a credit card or debit card, you must use a third-party payment processor approved by the IRS. The main processors are Paypal Credit Card Payments, Worldpay, and Authorize.net. Each charges a convenience fee, typically $2 to $4 per transaction, which is added to your payment. The payment posts to your IRS account within one business day. You can find the current list of approved processors on IRS.gov under "Payment Options."
Mailing a check or money order
Write the check or money order to "United States Treasury." On the memo line, write your Social Security number, the tax year, and the form type (for example, "2024 Form 1040"). Mail it to the address shown on your tax notice or bill. Do not mail to the main IRS office in Washington—use the address on your specific notice, which routes to the right processing center.
Mailed payments take 7 to 14 days to arrive and another few days to post to your account. If your payment is due on April 15 and you mail it on April 14, it will likely be late because the postmark date, not the arrival date, determines whether you are on time. If you are cutting it close, use Direct Pay or EFTPS instead. Always keep a copy of the cancelled check or your bank statement as proof of payment.
Setting up a payment plan if you cannot pay in full
If you owe more than you can pay right now, the IRS offers short-term payment plans (120 days or fewer) and long-term installment agreements (longer than 120 days). Short-term plans have no setup fee. Long-term plans charge a setup fee of $31 to $225, depending on how you set them up and your income level.
You can set up a plan online through IRS.gov by entering your tax ID, the amount owed, and your preferred monthly payment. The IRS will tell you what monthly payment is needed to clear the debt within your chosen timeframe. Once approved, you make monthly payments on the due date shown in your agreement. Interest and penalties continue to accrue on the unpaid balance, but the plan stops the IRS from taking collection action like wage garnishment or bank levy.
What happens if your payment is late
If your payment does not arrive by the tax deadline (usually April 15 for income tax), the IRS charges failure-to-pay penalties and interest on the unpaid amount. The penalty is 0.5% of the unpaid tax per month, up to 25% total. Interest accrues daily at a rate set by the IRS each quarter—it was 8% annually as of 2024, but this changes. Both the penalty and interest are added to what you owe.
If you are more than 60 days late, the IRS may also charge a failure-to-file penalty if you did not file your return on time. The IRS does not forgive these penalties automatically, but you can request reasonable cause relief if you had a genuine hardship—illness, death in the family, or a natural disaster, for example. You must request this relief in writing and provide documentation. The IRS grants it in some cases but not all.
Disputing a payment or getting a refund if you overpaid
If you believe you paid the wrong amount or paid twice by accident, contact the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 with your confirmation number. The IRS can look up the payment in their system and tell you exactly when it posted and for how much. If you overpaid, the IRS will either refund the excess or apply it to next year's tax bill, depending on what you request.
Refunds for overpayment typically take 4 to 6 weeks if you request a refund check, or 2 to 3 weeks if you ask for the money to be applied to a future tax year. Keep your confirmation number and any bank statements showing the payment—these are your proof if there is ever a dispute about whether the payment was received.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I pay the IRS with a payment app like Venmo or Cash App?
No. The IRS does not accept payments through peer-to-peer payment apps. You must use IRS Direct Pay, EFTPS, an approved third-party processor, phone, mail, or an in-person office. Using an app to send money to someone claiming to collect taxes is a common scam.
What if I pay but the IRS says they never received it?
This is rare but can happen with mailed checks. If you mailed a check and the IRS claims non-receipt, provide your bank statement or cancelled check showing the payment left your account. The IRS can then trace it. If you used Direct Pay or EFTPS, you have a confirmation number—give that to the IRS and they can verify it in their system within minutes.
Do I have to pay penalties and interest if I set up a payment plan?
Yes. A payment plan stops the IRS from taking collection action, but interest and penalties continue to accrue on the unpaid balance. You are paying off the original tax plus whatever penalties and interest have accumulated. The sooner you pay, the less interest you owe.
Can I change my payment date after I schedule it?
Yes, if you used Direct Pay or EFTPS and the payment has not yet posted to your account. Log back in and cancel the original payment, then schedule a new one for the date you want. If the payment has already posted, you cannot cancel it—you would need to contact the IRS to discuss a refund or credit.
What if I cannot afford to pay even with a payment plan?
Contact the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 and ask about an Offer in Compromise or Currently Not Collectible status. An Offer in Compromise lets you settle for less than you owe if you can show genuine financial hardship. Currently Not Collectible status pauses collection efforts while you are unable to pay, though interest and penalties still accrue. Both require documentation of your income and expenses.