The main ways to pay federal income tax

You can pay federal income tax through the IRS website, by mail, by phone, or through your bank. The IRS accepts payment year-round, not just at tax time. Most people pay through IRS Direct Pay, which is free and lets you schedule a payment for a future date. If you prefer not to use the IRS website, you can pay by phone through the IRS at 1-800-829-1040, mail a check or money order, or use the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS) through your bank.

Each method has different timing and fees. Direct Pay and EFTPS are both free. Credit card and debit card payments through approved payment processors charge a fee—usually between 1.87% and 2.35% of the amount you pay, though the exact percentage depends on which processor you use. Paying by check or money order has no fee but takes longer to process.

Key Takeaways

  • IRS Direct Pay and EFTPS are both free and let you pay from your bank account on your own schedule.
  • Credit card and debit card payments charge a fee of roughly 1.87% to 2.35%, which you pay to the payment processor, not the IRS.
  • You can schedule a payment up to 120 days in advance through Direct Pay or EFTPS, so you do not have to pay the moment you file.
  • Mailing a check or money order is free but takes 7 to 10 business days to reach the IRS and be recorded in your account.
  • The payment deadline for most people is April 15, but you can request an extension to October 15 if you file Form 4868 by April 15.

IRS Direct Pay: free, online, and no merchant fee

Direct Pay is the IRS's own payment system and charges no fee. You go to irs.gov, click the payment option, and enter your bank account information. The IRS pulls the money directly from your checking or savings account. You can schedule the payment for any date up to 120 days in the future, which means you can file your return in February and schedule payment for April 10 if you want.

Direct Pay works for federal income tax, self-employment tax, estimated tax payments, and back taxes you owe from prior years. You will need your Social Security number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN), your filing status, and the exact amount you owe. The payment usually clears within one business day, though the IRS recommends scheduling it at least one day before your deadline to be safe.

EFTPS: the bank-based alternative to Direct Pay

The Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS) is a free service run by the U.S. Department of the Treasury. You enroll through eftps.gov, link your bank account, and then make payments through your bank's website or by phone. EFTPS works the same way as Direct Pay—no fee, money pulled from your account, and you can schedule payments up to 120 days ahead.

EFTPS is often used by self-employed people and business owners who make quarterly estimated tax payments, but anyone can use it. Once you enroll, you receive a PIN in the mail, which takes about two weeks. After that, you can log in and schedule payments whenever you want. Like Direct Pay, payments usually clear within one business day.

Credit and debit card payments: convenient but with a cost

The IRS does not accept credit or debit cards directly. Instead, you pay through an approved payment processor—companies like PayPal, Stripe, Square, or others—that charges you a fee to handle the transaction. The fee is typically 1.87% to 2.35% of the amount you pay. If you owe $5,000, the fee would be roughly $94 to $118 on top of your tax bill.

You can find the list of approved processors on irs.gov under "Payment by Credit or Debit Card." Each processor has its own website where you enter your tax information and card details. The payment goes to the IRS, but the processor keeps the fee. This method is useful if you want to earn credit card rewards or if you do not have a bank account, but the fee makes it more expensive than Direct Pay or EFTPS.

Paying by check or money order through the mail

You can mail a check or money order to the IRS along with a payment voucher. The voucher is Form 1040-V for income tax, or you can print a voucher from irs.gov if you are paying a different type of tax. Write your Social Security number, filing status, and tax year on the check itself. Mail it to the address listed on the Form 1040-V or on irs.gov—the address depends on your state.

Mailed payments take 7 to 10 business days to arrive and be recorded in your IRS account. The postmark date counts as your payment date, so if you mail it by April 15, it counts as on-time even if the IRS does not receive it until late April. There is no fee for mailing a check, but the slower processing time means you should mail it well before your deadline to avoid any delay.

Paying by phone through the IRS

You can call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 and pay over the phone using a debit card or bank account information. The IRS does not charge a fee for this service. You will need to provide your Social Security number, filing status, and the amount you owe. The payment is processed immediately, and you receive a confirmation number.

Phone payments work during regular business hours, which vary by season. During tax season (January through April), the IRS has extended hours. Outside tax season, hours are typically Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Eastern time. This method is slower than online payment because you have to wait on hold, but it is free and does not require a computer or internet access.

Installment agreements: spreading payments over time

If you cannot pay your full tax bill by the deadline, you can set up an installment agreement with the IRS. This lets you pay in monthly installments instead of one lump sum. Short-term agreements (120 days or less) have no setup fee. Long-term agreements (more than 120 days) charge a setup fee of $31 to $225, depending on how you set it up and your income level.

You can request an installment agreement through IRS Direct Pay, EFTPS, or by calling the IRS. The IRS will calculate your monthly payment based on how much you owe and how long you want to pay it back. Interest and penalties continue to accrue on the unpaid balance, so paying faster saves you money. An installment agreement does not extend your filing deadline—you still need to file your return by April 15 or request an extension.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I pay my taxes without a bank account?

Yes. You can pay by credit or debit card through an approved processor, by phone with a debit card, or by mailing a check or money order. Credit card payments charge a fee, but the other methods are free or have no additional cost beyond your tax bill.

What happens if I pay after April 15?

You owe a failure-to-pay penalty and interest on the unpaid amount. The penalty is usually 0.5% of your unpaid tax per month. Interest is calculated daily and compounds. If you filed an extension (Form 4868), your new deadline is October 15, and penalties do not start until then.

Can I schedule a payment and then cancel it?

Yes. Through IRS Direct Pay or EFTPS, you can cancel a scheduled payment as long as you do it before the payment date. Once the payment has been processed and the money has left your account, you cannot cancel it, but you can request a refund from the IRS.

Which payment method is fastest?

Direct Pay, EFTPS, credit card payments, and phone payments all process within one business day. Mailed checks take 7 to 10 business days. If you are close to the deadline, use an online or phone method to avoid mail delays.

Do I have to pay the fee for credit card payments?

The fee is optional in the sense that you can choose a free method instead, but if you decide to pay by credit card, the fee is required. The processor charges it, not the IRS. You can avoid the fee by using Direct Pay, EFTPS, or mailing a check.