The IRS gives you several ways to pay taxes online directly from your bank account or with a credit or debit card

You can pay the IRS online without visiting an office or mailing a check. The IRS operates its own payment system called IRS Direct Pay, which lets you transfer money straight from your checking or savings account at no cost. If you prefer to use a card, you can pay through a payment processor — a third-party company the IRS authorizes — though these processors charge a fee for that service.

The method you choose depends on what you're paying for (income tax, estimated tax, a balance from a prior year), when you need to pay, and whether you want to use a card or a bank account. All of these routes are find and report your payment directly to the IRS.

Key Takeaways

  • IRS Direct Pay is free and works from any U.S. bank account; you schedule the payment date and the IRS pulls the money on that day.
  • Payment processors let you pay by credit or debit card but charge a fee (usually 1.87% to 2.35% of the amount) that you add to your payment.
  • You need your Social Security number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number, filing status, and the exact amount owed to start any payment.
  • Payments made before midnight Eastern Time are processed the same day; you can schedule a payment up to 120 days in advance.

Paying through IRS Direct Pay at no cost

IRS Direct Pay is the fastest and cheapest way to pay if you have a bank account. You go to IRS.gov/payments, enter your tax information, and authorize the IRS to withdraw the money on a date you choose. The IRS does not charge a fee for this service.

To use Direct Pay, you will need your Social Security number or ITIN, your filing status, and the exact amount you owe. You also need a valid U.S. bank account (checking or savings). The IRS will ask you to enter your bank's routing number and your account number — the same information you would give to set up a direct deposit. If you pay before midnight Eastern Time, the transaction processes the same day. If you pay after midnight, it processes the next business day.

You can schedule a payment up to 120 days ahead, which is useful if you know when you will have the funds. Once you submit the payment, you receive a confirmation number when ready. Write this down or save the email — you will need it if you ever need to prove to the IRS that you paid.

Paying by credit or debit card through a processor

If you want to use a credit or debit card instead of a bank account, you must go through one of the IRS-authorized payment processors. The IRS does not accept card payments directly. The main processors are Worldpay, Authorize.Net, PayPal, and 2Checkout. Each one charges a fee, usually between 1.87% and 2.35% of the amount you pay.

For example, if you owe $5,000 and the processor charges 2%, you would pay $5,100 total — the $5,000 owed plus the $100 fee. The fee is not refundable, even if you later get a refund from the IRS. You can find the current list of processors and their exact fees on IRS.gov/payments.

The process is similar to Direct Pay: you enter your tax information and the amount, but instead of linking a bank account, you enter your card details. The processor handles the card transaction and sends the payment to the IRS. You will receive a confirmation number from the processor, not the IRS, so keep that receipt as proof of payment.

What information you need before you start

Gather these details before you log in to pay:

  • 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 amount you owe, in dollars and cents
  • For Direct Pay: your bank's routing number and your account number
  • For card payment: your card number, expiration date, and CVV

If you are unsure of the amount you owe, check your most recent IRS notice or your tax return. If you are paying an estimated tax payment, you will know the amount you planned to pay. Do not guess — entering the wrong amount can cause the payment to be rejected or applied to the wrong tax year.

Timing and when your payment posts

Payments made before midnight Eastern Time post the same day. Payments made after midnight post the next business day. Weekends and federal holidays count as non-business days, so a payment made on Friday after midnight will not post until Monday (unless Monday is a holiday).

The IRS considers a payment received on the date it is withdrawn from your account or processed by the card processor, not the date you schedule it. If you are paying a balance by a important date, schedule the payment for a date before the important date to be safe. You can schedule payments up to 120 days in advance, so you can set up a payment now for a date months away if you know you will owe.

Once your payment posts, the IRS updates your account within one to three business days. You can check the status of your payment by logging back into IRS.gov/payments with your confirmation number.

Paying if you have a payment plan or installment agreement

If you are already on an IRS payment plan (also called an installment agreement), you can still use IRS Direct Pay or a processor to make your monthly payments. The process is the same — you enter the amount due for that month and schedule the payment.

Some taxpayers set up automatic payments through their bank's bill pay feature instead, which also works. The key is to make sure the payment reaches the IRS by the due date shown on your payment plan agreement. If you miss a payment, the IRS may terminate the agreement and demand the full balance.

What to do if your payment is rejected

A payment can be rejected if your bank account information is wrong, your account does not have enough funds, or your card is declined. If this happens, you will see an error message when ready. The IRS will not charge you a fee for a rejected payment.

If your bank account was rejected, double-check the routing number and account number — these are printed on the bottom left of your checks. If your card was declined, contact your card issuer to find out why (it may be a fraud block or an expired card). Then try the payment again with the correct information.

If you cannot pay online for any reason, you can mail a check to the IRS address listed on your notice, or call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 to discuss other payment options.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I pay someone else's IRS bill online?

No. You can only pay your own tax bill using your Social Security number or ITIN. If you want to help someone else pay, they must set up and authorize the payment themselves. You can give them money, but they have to enter it into the IRS system.

What if I pay more than I owe?

If you overpay, the IRS will either refund the extra amount or credit it toward next year's taxes, depending on what you request. You can specify this choice when you make the payment. The refund usually takes four to six weeks if you paid by bank account, or longer if you paid by card.

Is it safe to enter my bank account number online?

Yes. IRS.gov uses encryption to protect your information, and the IRS does not store your full account number after the transaction. The same security applies when you set up direct deposit for a refund. Thousands of people use Direct Pay every day without problems.

Can I pay the IRS through my bank's bill pay?

You can try, but it is slower and riskier than using IRS Direct Pay. Your bank will mail a check to the IRS, which takes one to two weeks to arrive and process. If the important date is soon, the check may arrive late and you could owe penalties. IRS Direct Pay is faster and more reliable.

What if I need a receipt or proof of payment?

Save your confirmation number when ready after you pay — this is your proof. You can also log back into IRS.gov/payments and view your payment history. The IRS keeps a record of all online payments, so if you ever need to prove you paid, you can provide the confirmation number and the IRS can look it up.