The main ways to pay federal income tax online
You can pay federal income tax online through the IRS in three ways: Direct Pay (free, straight from your bank account), Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS) (also free, requires enrollment), or credit or debit card (charges a processing fee of 1.87% to 2.49% depending on the processor). Most people use Direct Pay because it costs nothing and works the same day you set it up.
All three routes connect directly to the IRS. You do not go through a tax software company or third party to complete the payment, even if you filed through one. The IRS processes the payment itself and sends you a confirmation number on the spot.
You will need your Social Security number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN), your filing status, and the exact amount you want to pay. Have your bank account or card information ready. The whole process takes about five minutes.
Key Takeaways
- Direct Pay and EFTPS are both free and let you pay straight from your bank account, while credit or debit card payments charge a fee of roughly 2% of the amount you pay.
- Direct Pay works immediately after you set it up and does not require advance enrollment, making it the fastest option for a one-time payment.
- EFTPS requires you to enroll in advance (which takes one to three business days) but lets you schedule payments weeks ahead and set up recurring payments.
- You get a confirmation number right away, and the IRS confirms receipt within 24 hours; you do not need to mail anything or call to verify.
- If you owe tax on a return you have not filed yet, you can still pay online now and file the return later without penalty for the payment delay.
Direct Pay: fastest if you are paying once
Direct Pay is the IRS's own payment tool and charges no fee. You go to IRS.gov/payments, enter your tax information and bank details, and the payment posts the same day. You do not need to sign up in advance or wait for anything to process first.
The IRS accepts payments up to $100,000 per day through Direct Pay. If you owe more than that, you can make multiple payments on different days, or use EFTPS or a credit card for the remainder. Most people never hit this limit.
You will see your confirmation number immediately after you submit. Write it down or take a screenshot. The IRS sends a second confirmation by email if you provide one. The payment leaves your bank account within one to three business days, depending on your bank.
EFTPS: best if you want to schedule ahead or pay regularly
EFTPS is the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System, also run by the IRS and also free. Unlike Direct Pay, EFTPS requires you to enroll first. Enrollment takes one to three business days, and you do it once at EFTPS.gov. After that, you can schedule payments weeks in advance or set them to repeat on a schedule.
EFTPS is useful if you know you will owe tax on a future date and want to lock in the payment now, or if you are self-employed and want to make quarterly estimated tax payments on a fixed calendar. You can schedule up to 120 days ahead. You can also change or cancel a scheduled payment up to one business day before it is due to post.
Like Direct Pay, you get a confirmation number right away and a second confirmation by email. The payment leaves your account within one to three business days. EFTPS has no daily payment limit, so it works for amounts over $100,000.
Credit or debit card payments: when you need to pay today
If you do not have a bank account or prefer to use a card, you can pay the IRS by credit or debit card online. The IRS does not process card payments directly; instead, it uses approved payment processors. The main ones are PayUSATax, ACI Payments, and Official Payments. Each charges a fee of roughly 1.87% to 2.49% of the amount you pay.
Go to IRS.gov/payments and select the card option. You will be routed to one of these processors. Enter your card details and tax information, and the payment posts the same day. You get a confirmation number from the processor and a separate one from the IRS.
Card payments are useful if you do not have online banking set up, or if you want to earn rewards on the payment (though the fee usually outweighs the reward). They are also the only option if you do not have a U.S. bank account. The fee is not deductible as a tax expense.
What information you need before you start
Gather these details before you log in to any payment system:
- Your Social Security number or ITIN
- Your filing status (single, married filing jointly, married filing separately, head of household, or may have access to widow/widower)
- The exact dollar amount you want to pay, down to the cent
- Your bank account number and routing number (for Direct Pay or EFTPS), or your card number and expiration date (for card payments)
- The tax year the payment is for (usually the current year, but you can pay for prior years too)
If you are paying for a tax return you have not filed yet, you still need to know your filing status and the amount. You can file the return later; the payment does not have to come after the return.
If you are unsure of the exact amount you owe, you can estimate and pay that amount now, then file your return and adjust later if needed. The IRS will not penalize you for paying early.
How to track your payment after you submit it
The IRS sends you a confirmation number the moment you finish. That number is your proof of payment. Write it down or screenshot it.
The payment itself takes one to three business days to leave your bank account, depending on your bank's processing speed. Once it leaves your account, the IRS receives it within 24 hours. You can check the status of your payment on IRS.gov/payments by entering your confirmation number, Social Security number, and filing status. The status page updates once the IRS has received the payment.
If you paid by card, the processor also sends you a confirmation email. Keep that email along with your IRS confirmation number. You will not receive a separate bill or notice from the IRS for a payment you made online; the confirmation is your receipt.
What to do if your payment does not go through
If your payment is rejected, the IRS tells you why immediately. Common reasons are a mismatched Social Security number, an incorrect bank routing number, or insufficient funds in your account. The system does not charge you if the payment fails.
If the rejection is because of a bank error, contact your bank and ask them to confirm your routing number. Then try again through Direct Pay or EFTPS. If the rejection is because of information you entered wrong, go back and correct it.
If you are not sure why the payment failed, call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 (Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. your local time). Have your confirmation number and the reason code from the rejection message ready. The IRS can tell you whether the issue is on their end or yours and what to do next.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I pay tax I owe before I file my return?
Yes. You can pay online now and file your return later. The IRS will not penalize you for paying before filing. When you do file, make sure you report the payment so the IRS credits it to the right tax year and does not send you a bill for the same amount twice.
What if I pay too much by mistake?
The IRS will refund the overpayment or let you apply it to next year's tax bill. When you file your return, report the payment you made. The IRS will calculate whether you overpaid and process the refund or credit automatically. Refunds usually arrive within 21 days if you file electronically.
Do I need to mail a check if I pay online?
No. An online payment is complete by itself. Do not mail a check for the same amount. If you mail a check after paying online, the IRS will receive two payments and you will have overpaid. Stick with one payment method.
Can I pay state income tax the same way?
No. State income tax payments go through your state's tax agency, not the IRS. Most states have their own online payment systems on their tax department websites. Check your state's website for the payment portal and instructions.
Is there a fee to pay federal income tax online?
Direct Pay and EFTPS are free. Credit or debit card payments charge a processing fee of roughly 1.87% to 2.49% of the amount you pay. The fee is set by the payment processor, not the IRS, and varies slightly between processors.