The main ways to pay federal taxes online
The IRS offers three direct payment methods you can use from your computer or phone without leaving your house. The fastest is IRS Direct Pay, which pulls money straight from your bank account and costs nothing. Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS) is the second option, also free and also bank-account based, but requires you to enroll ahead of time. The third is credit or debit card payment through an approved payment processor, which charges a fee (usually 1.87 to 2.29 percent of what you pay) but lets you earn card rewards if that matters to you.
All three methods let you choose the exact date your payment leaves your account, which is useful if you want to time it with a paycheck or refund. You do not need tax software or an accountant to use any of them—you can pay even if you have not filed your return yet, as long as you know roughly what you owe.
Key Takeaways
- IRS Direct Pay and EFTPS both pull money from your bank account for free, but Direct Pay works immediately while EFTPS requires advance enrollment.
- Credit and debit card payments charge a fee of roughly 2 percent but let you choose which processor handles the transaction.
- You can schedule a payment for any future date up to the tax deadline, so you do not have to pay the moment you set it up.
- State tax payments go through your state's revenue or tax department website, not the IRS, and each state has its own system and fees.
How to use IRS Direct Pay
Go to irs.gov/payments and click the Direct Pay link. You will need your Social Security number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN), date of birth, and filing status. You will also need your bank account and routing number, which you can find on a check or by logging into your bank's website.
Enter the amount you want to pay and the date you want it withdrawn. The IRS accepts payments up to the tax deadline (usually April 15, though it shifts if that date falls on a weekend or holiday). Once you confirm, you get a confirmation number on screen—write it down or take a screenshot. The payment processes the next business day if you schedule it for today, or on the date you chose if you pick a future date.
Direct Pay works for federal income tax, self-employment tax, and estimated quarterly taxes. There is no fee, no account setup required, and no limit on how many times you can use it in a year.
How to use EFTPS
EFTPS is the IRS's older system and requires you to enroll before you can pay. Go to eftps.gov, click "Enroll Now," and provide your Social Security number, date of birth, and mailing address. The IRS mails you a PIN within two weeks, which you will need to log in for the first time.
Once you have your PIN and have logged in, you can schedule payments the same way as Direct Pay: enter the amount, pick the withdrawal date, and confirm. EFTPS also lets you set up recurring payments if you pay estimated taxes every quarter, which saves time if you are self-employed or have income that does not have taxes withheld.
The main reason to use EFTPS instead of Direct Pay is if you prefer the recurring-payment feature or if you are already enrolled and comfortable with it. For a one-time payment, Direct Pay is simpler because you do not wait for a PIN.
Paying by credit or debit card
The IRS does not accept card payments directly. Instead, you pay through one of several approved payment processors: Paypal, Stripe, Authorize.Net, Square, or Global Payments. Each processor charges a fee, and the fee varies slightly—most charge between 1.87 and 2.29 percent of your payment amount.
Go to irs.gov/payments and click the card payment link. You will see all five processors listed with their current fees. Click the one you prefer, enter your card details and payment amount, and choose your payment date. You get a confirmation number from the processor, not the IRS.
Card payments take one to three business days to reach the IRS, so schedule them earlier than you would a bank transfer if you are close to the deadline. The fee is not deductible, but if you earn rewards on your card and the rewards are worth more than the fee, the math can work in your favor.
Paying state taxes online
Each state runs its own tax payment system, and the website and process vary by state. Start by searching "[your state] tax payment online" or going to your state's revenue or tax department website directly. Most states have a link labeled "Pay Taxes" or "Make a Payment" on the homepage.
Most states let you pay by bank transfer (free) or card (with a fee), and many offer the same scheduling options as the IRS—you can pick the date the money leaves your account. Some states charge a flat fee ($2 to $5) while others charge a percentage. A few states do not charge anything for any payment method.
If you owe taxes to multiple states, you will need to visit each state's website separately. There is no central system that handles all states at once.
What to do if you cannot pay in full
If you owe more than you can pay right now, you still have options. You can pay part of what you owe online and set up a payment plan for the rest through the IRS or your state. The IRS offers short-term plans (up to 180 days) for free and long-term plans (longer than 180 days) for a setup fee.
To set up an IRS payment plan, go to irs.gov/payments and look for the payment plan or installment agreement link. You can set up a plan online if you owe less than $50,000 in total tax, penalties, and interest. If you owe more, you will need to contact the IRS by phone or mail.
Paying something now, even if it is not the full amount, stops interest and penalties from growing as quickly. The longer you wait to pay, the more you owe in interest and late fees.
Tracking your payment after you submit it
Save your confirmation number from whichever payment method you used. You can use it to check the status of your payment on the IRS website. Go to irs.gov/payments and click "Where's My Payment?" or "Payment Status." Enter your Social Security number, filing status, and the exact amount you paid.
Bank transfers usually show up in the IRS system within one to three business days. Card payments take a bit longer, usually three to five business days. Once the IRS receives your payment, it appears in your account and reduces what you owe.
If your payment does not show up after the expected time, contact the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 or check your bank to make sure the money actually left your account. Sometimes a payment fails silently if there was a typo in your bank details or if your bank rejected it for fraud protection.
Common mistakes to avoid
Do not assume your payment is complete just because you got a confirmation number. The confirmation means the processor received your request, not that the IRS has received the money. Check the status a few days later to be sure.
Do not use a payment method you are not sure about. If you see a website that looks like the IRS but is not irs.gov, it is a scam. The IRS will never email you asking you to pay, and it will never call you out of the blue demanding immediate payment.
Do not forget to file your tax return even if you pay online. Paying your taxes and filing your return are two separate things. If you owe money, you should file your return and pay at the same time or as close as possible to avoid extra penalties.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I pay my taxes online if I have not filed my return yet?
Yes. You can pay the IRS any amount you think you owe before you file, and the payment will be credited to your account. When you file your return later, the IRS will adjust if you paid too much or too little. However, you still need to file your return by the deadline to avoid filing penalties.
What happens if I schedule a payment for the tax deadline but it does not process in time?
The IRS considers a payment on time if you schedule it before midnight on the deadline, even if the money does not actually leave your account until the next day. Bank transfers and EFTPS are safer for deadline payments than card payments, which take longer to process.
Can I pay my federal and state taxes through the same website?
No. Federal taxes go through the IRS website, and state taxes go through your state's website. You will need to visit both sites separately and make two payments if you owe to both.
Do I have to use my real bank account, or can I use a prepaid card?
Most prepaid cards work for IRS payments as long as they have a routing number and can receive ACH transfers. Check with your card issuer first. Credit cards and debit cards work through the payment processors, but prepaid cards may not be accepted by all of them.
What if I paid online but the IRS says I still owe money?
Check your payment status on the IRS website using your confirmation number. If the payment shows as received, the IRS may be charging you interest and penalties on top of the original amount. If the payment does not show up, contact your bank to confirm the money left your account, then call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 with your confirmation number.