Mail your Form 720-V payment to the IRS address that matches your state
Form 720-V is the payment voucher you send with a check or money order when you pay federal excise taxes. The IRS has different mailing addresses depending on where you live, so using the wrong address delays your payment and can trigger notices about late filing.
The correct address appears on the Form 720-V itself — in the box labeled "Make check payable to: United States Treasury." Below that box, you'll see "Mail to:" followed by an address. That address is the one you use. Do not use a different IRS address you find online, because the payment processing centers are separate from the main IRS offices.
If you've already filled out your form and don't see a mailing address printed on it, or if your form is older, the IRS website lists all current payment addresses by state on the Form 720 instructions page. You can also call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 to confirm the address before you mail.
Key Takeaways
- The mailing address for your Form 720-V payment is printed on the form itself in the "Mail to:" section — use that address, not a general IRS office address.
- Different states have different payment processing centers, so the address depends on where you live or where your business is located.
- Mail your check or money order with the completed Form 720-V together in the same envelope.
- The IRS Form 720 instructions page lists all current mailing addresses by state if your form doesn't show one.
- Mailing takes time, so send your payment at least two weeks before the due date to avoid late-payment penalties.
What information goes on the Form 720-V itself
Form 720-V is a single page with just a few lines to fill in. At the top, you enter your name, address, and employer identification number (EIN) — the same information that appears on your Form 720 tax return. Below that are lines for the tax period (the quarter you're paying for) and the amount you're paying.
The form also has a section where you write the type of tax you're paying — for example, "Excise Tax" or the specific category like "Fuel Excise Tax." This helps the IRS route your payment to the correct account. If you're unsure which category applies to your business, check the instructions that came with your Form 720 or call the IRS.
Make sure the amount on your Form 720-V matches the amount on your Form 720 return. If they don't match, the IRS will send you a notice asking for clarification, which delays crediting the payment to your account.
How to prepare your payment for mailing
Write your check or money order payable to "United States Treasury" — not to the IRS, not to a specific office, and not to any person's name. Include your EIN on the check itself, in the memo line. This step is crucial because it tells the bank and the IRS which account the payment belongs to.
Place the completed Form 720-V and your check in a standard business envelope. Do not fold the form or the check. Include nothing else in the envelope — no cover letter, no extra documents, no payment stubs. The payment center processes thousands of envelopes daily, and extra items slow down the sorting.
Use first-class mail or a tracked service like certified mail. Certified mail costs a few dollars more but gives you a receipt and a tracking number, which protects you if the payment goes missing. Keep the receipt until you see the payment posted to your account, which usually takes four to six weeks after the IRS receives it.
Timing: when to mail so your payment arrives on time
The IRS considers a payment on time if it's postmarked by the due date, not if it arrives at the processing center by the due date. This means you can mail your payment a few days before the important date and still be considered timely. However, mail delivery times vary — some areas take three to five business days, others take longer.
To be safe, mail your payment at least two weeks before the due date. If you're mailing close to the important date and worried about delays, use certified mail so you have proof of the postmark date. If the due date falls on a weekend or holiday, the important date automatically moves to the next business day, but don't rely on this — mail early instead.
If you realize you won't make the important date, you can still mail the payment after the due date. You'll owe a late-payment penalty and interest, but the penalty is smaller if you pay within a few days of the important date than if you wait weeks. The IRS will calculate the exact amount owed when they process your return.
What happens after you mail your payment
Once the payment center receives your envelope, they open it, scan the Form 720-V, and deposit your check. This process takes one to two weeks. After that, the payment is posted to your account, which you can see in IRS online services if you have an account set up. The entire process — from mailing to posting — usually takes four to six weeks.
If you don't see your payment posted after six weeks, log into IRS online services or call 1-800-829-1040 to check the status. Have your check number and the amount ready when you call. If the payment is lost in the mail, the IRS can help you stop payment on the original check and issue a new one.
Alternatives to mailing a check
If you prefer not to mail a physical check, the IRS offers electronic payment options. The most common is the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS), which lets you schedule a payment from your bank account directly to the IRS. You set up an account online, and the payment posts within one to two business days instead of four to six weeks.
Credit card and debit card payments are also available through third-party processors approved by the IRS. These processors charge a fee (usually 2 to 3 percent of the payment amount), but you get when ready confirmation and faster posting. Check the IRS website for the current list of approved processors.
If you use an electronic payment method, you do not mail Form 720-V. Instead, you enter the payment information online, and the system generates a confirmation number. Keep that confirmation number for your records in case you need to prove the payment was made.
Common mistakes that delay your payment
The most common error is using the wrong mailing address — either an address from an old form, a general IRS office address, or an address for a different type of tax form. This sends your payment to the wrong processing center, and it takes weeks for it to be rerouted. Always use the address printed on your current Form 720-V.
Another frequent mistake is writing the check to the wrong payee. Checks made out to "IRS" or "Internal Revenue Service" have to be returned or reprocessed, delaying credit to your account. The check must say "United States Treasury."
A third issue is forgetting to include your EIN on the check. Without it, the IRS can't match the payment to your account and will send you a notice asking you to clarify which tax return the payment is for. Including your EIN in the memo line takes five seconds and prevents this problem entirely.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I mail my Form 720-V payment to a local IRS office instead of the address on the form?
No. Local IRS offices don't process payments. If you mail to a local office, your payment will be forwarded to the correct processing center, which adds two to three weeks to the process. Always use the address printed on Form 720-V itself.
What if I mail my payment but then realize I made a mistake on the Form 720-V?
Contact the IRS before the payment arrives if possible. Call 1-800-829-1040 and explain the error. If the payment has already been posted, you can file an amended Form 720 to correct the mistake. The IRS will adjust your account accordingly.
Do I need to send Form 720-V if I'm paying electronically?
No. Electronic payments don't require Form 720-V. You enter all the information online, and the system generates a confirmation. Keep the confirmation number instead of a paper form.
How long does it take for the IRS to post my mailed payment to my account?
Typically four to six weeks from the time you mail it. This includes one to two weeks for mail delivery, one to two weeks for processing at the payment center, and one to two weeks for posting to your account. Electronic payments post within one to two business days.
What should I do if my check gets lost in the mail?
Wait six weeks after mailing. If the payment hasn't posted by then, call 1-800-829-1040 with your check number and amount. The IRS can trace it and help you stop payment on the original check so you can send a new one.