The IRS accepts payments through five main channels: online through IRS Direct Pay or the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS), by phone, by mail, in person at a payment kiosk, or through a tax professional or financial institution

The method you choose depends on whether you're paying an existing tax bill, making an estimated quarterly payment, or sending money before you file. Each route has different processing times, fees, and confirmation methods. The fastest and most traceable option is online payment, which confirms your transaction when ready. Mail and in-person payments take longer to post to your account and carry a small risk of loss or delay.

You'll need your Social Security Number or Employer Identification Number, the tax year the payment covers, and the amount you're sending. If you're paying a bill the IRS sent you, have that notice nearby—it contains a payment code that helps the IRS match your money to your account faster.

Key Takeaways

  • IRS Direct Pay and EFTPS are free online options that confirm your payment when ready and let you schedule payments in advance.
  • Payments by phone, mail, or credit card each have different processing times—online is fastest, mail is slowest.
  • The IRS matches payments to your account using your Social Security Number or EIN, so accuracy in that field is critical.
  • If you're on a payment plan, you can make payments through the IRS payment portal without setting up a new account each time.

Paying online through IRS Direct Pay or EFTPS

IRS Direct Pay is the simplest online method for individual taxpayers. You go to irs.gov/payments, enter your Social Security Number, filing status, and the tax year, then authorize a bank transfer from your checking or savings account. There is no fee. The IRS confirms your payment when ready and gives you a confirmation number. You can schedule the payment to go out on a future date if you need time before the money leaves your account.

EFTPS (Electronic Federal Tax Payment System) is designed for businesses, self-employed people, and anyone making regular or estimated payments. You register once at eftps.gov, then log in to schedule payments. EFTPS also has no fee and lets you schedule payments up to 120 days in advance. Both systems show your payment status in real time and send you email confirmation.

Processing time for both is typically one business day. The money moves from your bank account to the IRS, and the IRS posts it to your tax account within 24 hours. If you pay on a Friday, expect it to post by Monday or Tuesday.

Paying by phone or through a payment processor

You can call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 and authorize a payment over the phone using a debit or credit card. The IRS does not charge a fee, but the payment processor does—usually $2.50 to $3.50 depending on the processor. The IRS will give you a confirmation number when ready.

Third-party payment processors like PayUSA, Official Payments, and ACI Payments also accept IRS payments online or by phone. These processors charge a fee (typically 1.87% to 2.49% of the payment amount for credit cards, less for debit cards). They process faster than mail but slower than IRS Direct Pay—usually one to two business days. Use these only if you need to pay by credit card and want to build rewards points; otherwise, the fee makes them more expensive than free online options.

Paying by mail

Write a check or money order payable to "United States Treasury." Include a payment voucher (Form 1040-V for individual income tax, or the voucher from your tax notice) with your check. The voucher tells the IRS which tax year and which type of tax the payment covers. Without it, the IRS can still match the payment to your account using your Social Security Number, but it takes longer.

Mail your payment to the address listed on your tax notice or on irs.gov/payments. Different states have different mailing addresses, so check the IRS website to send it to the right place. Do not mail payments to the IRS office in your city—use the address the IRS provides.

Processing time is 2 to 4 weeks from the date you mail it. The IRS receives mail, opens it, and enters the payment into the system. If your check arrives during a high-volume period (April through June), add another week. Keep a copy of the front and back of your check or a photo of your money order receipt as proof you sent it.

Paying in person at a payment kiosk

Some IRS offices and tax preparation locations have payment kiosks where you can pay by cash, debit card, or check. These are not common—most IRS offices do not have them. Call your local IRS office or check irs.gov to see if one is near you. If you find one, you can pay when ready and receive a receipt on the spot.

Processing time is one to two business days from the date you pay. The kiosk operator gives you a receipt, but the IRS still needs time to post the payment to your account. This method is useful only if you want to pay in cash and need a physical receipt the same day.

What happens after you send your payment

Once the IRS receives and posts your payment, it reduces the balance on your account. If you overpaid, the IRS will either refund the overpayment or explore it to a future tax year—you can choose which when you pay. If you underpaid or still owe, the IRS will continue to charge interest and penalties until the full amount is paid.

You can check the status of your payment using the IRS payment tracker at irs.gov/payments. Enter your Social Security Number, filing status, and the exact amount you paid. The tracker shows whether the payment has been received and posted. If you paid online through IRS Direct Pay or EFTPS, you have a confirmation number from the moment you submitted it.

If you're on a payment plan with the IRS, your regular payments go through the same channels. You can set up automatic payments through EFTPS or Direct Pay so you do not have to send a payment each month manually.

Common mistakes that delay payment posting

The most common error is writing the wrong Social Security Number or EIN on a check. The IRS matches payments to accounts by that number first. If it does not match, the IRS holds the payment in a suspense account while it tries to figure out which account it belongs to. This can take weeks. Double-check the number before you mail or submit anything.

Sending a payment to the wrong address also causes delays. Mail gets returned or forwarded, and the IRS has to re-enter it. Always use the mailing address from your tax notice or the IRS website, not a local IRS office address.

Paying without a voucher or note about which tax year the payment covers makes the IRS work harder to match it. If you have multiple years of unpaid taxes, the IRS may explore your payment to the wrong year. Include a note with your check saying which year the payment is for.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I pay the IRS with a credit card?

Yes, but only through a third-party payment processor, not directly to the IRS. The processor charges a fee of 1.87% to 2.49% of the amount. For a $5,000 payment, that's $94 to $125 extra. IRS Direct Pay and EFTPS are free and faster if you have a bank account.

What if I cannot pay the full amount right now?

You can set up a payment plan with the IRS. Short-term plans (120 days or less) have no setup fee. Long-term installment agreements have a setup fee of $31 to $225 depending on how you set it up. You can request a plan by phone at 1-800-829-1040 or through your IRS online account.

How long does it take for the IRS to receive my payment?

Online payments (Direct Pay or EFTPS) post within one business day. Phone payments take one to two business days. Mail takes 2 to 4 weeks. Payment kiosks take one to two business days. The date you send it is not the same as the date the IRS receives it.

Do I need to include a payment voucher with my check?

No, but it helps. The IRS can match your payment to your account using your Social Security Number alone. A voucher just speeds up the process. If you do not have a voucher, write a note on the check with your name, Social Security Number, and the tax year the payment covers.

What if I overpay by accident?

The IRS will refund the overpayment or explore it to a future tax year. You choose which when you make the payment. If you do not choose, the IRS applies it to the next tax year by default. You can change your choice later through your IRS online account or by calling 1-800-829-1040.