Where to pay federal income tax online

The IRS operates a single official system for paying federal income tax online: IRS Direct Pay. This is a free service that lets you send money directly from your bank account to the U.S. Treasury. You do not need to create an account or log in with an IRS username — you pay as a guest, and the IRS sends you a confirmation number on the spot.

You can also pay through the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS), which requires registration but lets you schedule payments in advance. EFTPS is designed for people who pay regularly — you can set up recurring payments or schedule one-time payments weeks ahead. Both systems are free. Credit card and debit card payments are possible through approved payment processors, but those processors charge a fee (usually 1.87 to 2.35 percent of the amount) that you pay separately.

The IRS also accepts payments through your tax software if you filed electronically. TurboTax, H&R Block, and other major platforms let you pay during the filing process or afterward, though again, card payments through these channels carry processor fees.

Key Takeaways

  • IRS Direct Pay is free and requires no registration — you enter your bank details, confirm the amount and date, and receive a confirmation number when ready.
  • EFTPS is free and lets you schedule payments weeks in advance, which is useful if you want to spread payments across the year or know your tax bill before the important date.
  • Credit and debit card payments are available but charge a processor fee of roughly 1.87 to 2.35 percent on top of your tax payment.
  • Payment important date are April 15 for the previous year's taxes, though you can request an extension to October 15 by filing Form 4868.
  • The IRS processes payments submitted before midnight Eastern Time on the important date date as on-time, even if your bank takes days to clear the transfer.

How IRS Direct Pay works step by step

Go to IRS.gov/payments and select "Pay Now" under IRS Direct Pay. You will enter your Social Security Number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number, filing status, and the tax year you are paying for. The system asks for the exact amount you owe — if you are unsure, check your tax return, a notice from the IRS, or a calculation from your tax software.

Next, you provide your bank account number and routing number. The IRS needs this to pull the payment from your account. You then choose the payment date — this can be today or any date up to 120 days in the future. The system confirms everything on screen and gives you a confirmation number. Write this down or take a screenshot. The IRS will deduct the payment on the date you chose, and you will see it as a pending transaction in your bank account within one or two business days.

You do not receive a receipt by mail. The confirmation number is your proof of payment. If you need a record later, you can return to IRS.gov/payments and look up your payment using your Social Security Number and the confirmation number.

Setting up EFTPS for recurring or scheduled payments

EFTPS requires a one-time registration that takes about 10 minutes. Go to EFTPS.gov, select "Enroll Now," and provide your Social Security Number, date of birth, and address. The IRS mails you a Personal Identification Number (PIN) within two weeks. Once you have the PIN, you can log in and make payments.

EFTPS is most useful if you pay estimated taxes quarterly (if you are self-employed or have income not subject to withholding) or if you want to schedule a payment weeks ahead. You can set up a payment, choose the date it should be deducted, and walk away — the system handles it automatically. You can also cancel or change a scheduled payment up to two business days before the deduction date.

Like Direct Pay, EFTPS is free and pulls money directly from your bank account. The main difference is the registration step and the ability to plan ahead. If you only pay once a year, Direct Pay is simpler. If you pay multiple times or want to lock in a payment date now, EFTPS saves you from having to return to the IRS website each time.

Paying by credit or debit card

The IRS does not accept cards directly. Instead, you use a payment processor — a third-party company approved by the IRS to handle card transactions. The three processors are Paypal Credit Card Payments, ACI Payments, and Worldpay. Each charges a fee, typically between 1.87 and 2.35 percent of the amount you pay.

If you owe $5,000 and pay by card with a 2 percent fee, you pay $100 extra. That fee goes to the processor, not the IRS. You can find the current list of processors and their exact fees at IRS.gov/payments under "Payment Processors." You choose the processor, enter your card details on their site (not the IRS site), and the processor sends the payment to the IRS on your behalf.

Card payments make sense only if you are earning rewards points that exceed the fee, or if you have no bank account and a card is your only option. For most people, bank transfer through Direct Pay or EFTPS is cheaper.

important date and what happens if you miss them

Federal income tax for the previous year is due April 15. If you cannot pay by then, you have two options: file Form 4868 to request an automatic extension to October 15, or straightforward pay late.

An extension to file does not extend the payment important date — taxes are still due April 15 even if you file the extension. However, the extension gives you until October 15 to file your return. If you owe money, you should pay by April 15 to avoid penalties and interest, even if you have not filed yet.

If you pay after April 15, the IRS charges a failure-to-pay penalty (0.5 percent per month of the unpaid amount) and interest (currently around 8 percent per year, compounded daily). These accrue from April 15 onward. Paying late is expensive, but paying something is better than paying nothing — the penalty is smaller if you pay part of what you owe.

The IRS considers a payment on-time if you submit it before midnight Eastern Time on April 15, even if your bank takes several days to process the transfer. Direct Pay and EFTPS both give you a same-day confirmation, so you have proof the payment was submitted on time.

Tracking your payment and getting a receipt

After you pay through Direct Pay or EFTPS, the IRS sends you a confirmation number on screen. Save this number — it is your receipt. You do not receive a paper receipt in the mail.

To look up a payment later, return to IRS.gov/payments and select "View Payment History." Enter your Social Security Number, filing status, and tax year. The system shows all payments you have made in the past two years, including the date, amount, and confirmation number. This works for payments made through Direct Pay, EFTPS, or any processor.

If you paid through tax software (TurboTax, H&R Block, etc.), that software also keeps a record. Log back in to your account and look for a "Payment History" or "Payments" section. The software shows the confirmation number and the date the payment was submitted.

If a payment does not appear in your history within three business days, contact the IRS at 1-800-829-1040. Have your confirmation number ready.

Paying back taxes and installment agreements

If you owe taxes from a previous year, you can pay through the same systems — Direct Pay, EFTPS, or a processor. When you enter the payment information, specify the tax year the payment is for. The IRS applies the payment to that year's balance.

If you cannot pay the full amount at once, you can set up a payment plan (also called an installment agreement) through the IRS. Short-term plans let you pay within 120 days with no setup fee. Long-term plans spread payments over months or years and charge a setup fee ($31 to $225 depending on how you set it up). You can request a plan online at IRS.gov/payments under "Payment Plans," by phone at 1-800-829-1040, or by mail.

Once a plan is in place, you make monthly payments through Direct Pay, EFTPS, or automatic bank withdrawal. The IRS stops charging penalties once you are on an approved plan, though interest continues to accrue on the unpaid balance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I pay someone else's taxes online?

No. The IRS requires the person whose Social Security Number is on the return to authorize the payment. If you want to pay a family member's taxes, they must set up the payment themselves, or you can give them the money and they can pay. You cannot pay directly on their behalf through Direct Pay or EFTPS.

What if I overpay my taxes?

If you pay more than you owe, the IRS sends you a refund or applies the overpayment to next year's estimated taxes. You can request a refund by mail or have it deposited directly to your bank account. The IRS processes refunds within four to six weeks if you provided direct deposit information, or longer if you requested a check.

Is it safe to enter my bank account number on IRS.gov?

Yes. IRS.gov uses encryption to protect your information, and Direct Pay and EFTPS are official IRS systems. Do not use a third-party website that claims to help you pay taxes — go directly to IRS.gov or EFTPS.gov. Scammers sometimes create fake payment sites that look like the real thing.

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

Direct Pay and EFTPS both process payments within one to two business days. The money leaves your bank account as a pending transaction when ready, but the IRS receives it a day or two later. For important date purposes, the IRS counts the payment as on-time if you submit it before midnight Eastern Time on the important date date, regardless of when your bank clears it.

Can I pay estimated taxes online?

Yes. If you are self-employed or have income not subject to withholding, you owe estimated taxes four times a year. You can pay each quarter through Direct Pay or EFTPS using the same process as regular tax payments. When you enter the payment information, select "Estimated Tax" as the payment type and the quarter you are paying for.