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Pay Taxes by Credit or Debit Card

Features and Benefits of Paying via Credit or Debit Card:

  • It's convenient - taxpayers can e-file or paper- file early and make a payment by credit or debit card later, to delay out-of-pocket expenses. Payments can be made by phone, Internet or when e-filing.

  • It's safe and secure - standard, commercial card networks are used. The IRS does not receive or store card numbers.

  • These electronic tax payment options are available through service providers.

  • There is a fee charged by service providers. Fees are based on the amount of the payment and may vary by service provider (see table below).

  • Payment information will not be disclosed for any reason other than processing the transaction authorized by the taxpayer.

  • A confirmation number is provided at the end of the phone or Internet transaction.

  • The "United States Treasury Tax Payment" is included on the card statement as further proof of payment. The convenience fee will be included on the statement as a "Tax Payment Convenience Fee" (or similar transaction).

  • If enrolled in such a program, taxpayers may earn miles, points, rewards or money back from the credit card issuer.
List of IRS e-pay service providers and fees

Service
Provider

Telephone

(English and Spanish)

Website

Convenience
Fees

(Credit Card Option)

Convenience
Fees

(ATM/Debit Card Option)1

Customer
Service
Number

WorldPay US, Inc.

1-888-9-PAY-TAXtm

(1-888-972-9829)


payUSAtax.com

1.89%3

$3.492

1-888-877-0450 (live operator) 

1-877-517-4881(automated,  24/7)

1-855-9-PAY-TAXtm

(1-855-972-9829)

ValueTaxPayment.com

2.29%3

$3.49

 1-888-877-0450 (live operator) 

1-877-517-4881(automated,  24/7)  

Official Payments Corporation

1-888-UPAY-TAXtm

(1-888-872-9829)

officialpayments.com/fed

2.35%3

$3.95

1-877-754-4413

Link2Gov Corporation

1-888-PAY1040tm

(1-888-729-1040)


PAY1040.com

Businesstaxpayment.com


2.35%3

$3.89

1-888-658-5465

1 Contact the service provider for a list of approved ATM/Debit cards, and for additional information.
2 Flat fee per transaction. 
3 Contact the service provider to receive up-to-date information regarding fees.  The minimum convenience fee is $3.89 for WorldPay and L2G, and $3.95 for OPC.

List of integrated IRS e-file and e-pay service providers and fees


Service
Provider

Integrated
e-file
and
e-pay

Website

Convenience Fees
(% of tax payment)

Customer
Service
Number

Official  
Payments
Corporation

TurboTax

officialpayments.com/turbotax

2.49%1

1-866-954-8426

File Your Taxes

File Your Taxes

FileYourTaxes.com

3.93%2

1-805-644-9398

 WorldPay US, Inc.

Drake

 

fileonline.1040.com

 

2.35%1

1-888-877-0450
(live operator)

1 Contact the contracted service provider for up-to-date information regarding fees.  The minimum convenience fee is $3.95 for OPC, and $3.89 for WorldPay.
2 Contact the registered service provider for up-to-date information regarding fees.  The minimum convenience fee is $1.25.

  • Generally, taxpayers can make a payment through the above-named service providers using an American Express® Card, Discover® Card, MasterCard® or Visa® card.  Taxpayers can visit the service provider's web site for payment method options.

  • To make a payment of $100,000 or greater through the Link2Gov Corporation, taxpayers should call Link2Gov at 1-888-729-1040.

  • To make a payment of  $100,000 or greater through the Official Payments Corporation (OPC), taxpayers should call OPC's Special Services Unit at 1-888-889-7228.

  • To make a payment of $500,000 or greater through WorldPay US, Inc., taxpayers should call WorldPay at 1-888-877-0450.

  • For more information, or to make a payment, taxpayers should contact the service providers.

  • Individual e-file Partners for Electronic Payment provides a description of the service providers' products and special offers.

Accepted Tax Payments via Credit or Debit Card:

 FORMS

 PAYMENT TYPE

 MAX PAYMENTS

 INDIVIDUAL  

Form 1040 series

Current Tax due (CY)

CY Notice

Prior Year

Advanced Payment of a Determined Deficiency

Installment Agreement

2 per year

2 per year

2 per year

2 per year

2 per month

 Form 1040-ES

Estimated Tax 

2 per quarter

    Form 1040-X

Amended

2 per year

 Form 4868

Extension to File

2 per year

Form 5329

Current Tax due

2 per year

Trust Fund Recovery Penalty

Prior Year

Installment Agreement

2 per quarter

2 per month

 BUSINESS  

Form 940 series

Current Tax due

Prior Year

Installment Agreement

Amended or Adjusted

2 per year

2 per year

2 per month

2 per year

Form 941 series

Current Tax due

Prior Year

Installment Agreement

Amended or Adjusted

2 per quarter

2 per quarter

2 per month

2 per quarter

Form 943 series

Current Tax due

Prior Year

Installment Agreement

Amended or Adjusted

2 per year

2 per year

2 per month

2 per year

Form 944 series

Current Tax due

Prior Year

Amended or Adjusted

2 per year

2 per year

2 per year

Form 945 series

Current Tax due

Prior Year

Installment Agreement

Amended or Adjusted

2 per year

2 per year

2 per month

2 per year

Form 1041 series

Current Tax due

Prior Year

2 per year

2 per year

Form 1065 series

Current Tax due

Prior Year

2 per year

2 per year

For more information, refer to the related links at the end of this article.


Credit or Debit Card Convenience Fees

  • Taxpayers will be informed of the convenience fee amount before the payment is authorized. This fee is in addition to any charges, such as interest, that may be assessed by the credit card issuer. Taxpayers must agree to the terms and conditions of the payment including acceptance of the convenience fee before the transaction is completed.

  • The Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997 authorizes the Treasury to accept these payments for federal taxes but prohibits the IRS from paying a fee or consideration to service providers for processing these transactions.

  • In order to provide taxpayers this option, IRS has entered into non-monetary contracts and agreements with service providers.

  • The service providers act in the capacity of merchants and are necessary intermediaries in transaction processing. The service providers validate card numbers and expiration dates, obtain authorization from the card issuers and issue confirmation numbers to taxpayers at the end of the payment transaction. The service providers forward tax payment information to the IRS for posting to taxpayer accounts.

  • The IRS does not receive or charge any fees for card payments. Additionally, the IRS cannot pay or reimburse any convenience fee to taxpayers. Convenience fees are charged by the service providers.  The fee is a deductible business and individual expense.  For an individual expense, taxpayers may deduct the fee as a miscellaneous itemized deduction subject to the 2% limit on Form 1040, Schedule A (see Publication 529).

How to Make a Payment

  • The integrated e-file and e-pay credit card option is available through a number of tax preparation software products and tax professionals. For additional information about e-filing and paying all at once (including convenience fees and accepted credit cards), taxpayers can refer to tax preparation software or a tax professional.

  • When paying through tax preparation software, users will be prompted to enter the necessary credit card information.

  • Pay by phone and Internet options are available through service providers.

  • When paying by phone, a recorded script will prompt taxpayers through the call.

  • When paying by Internet, taxpayers will be prompted to complete the necessary entry fields.

The following information is needed in order to complete a card payment:

Item

Instructions

Primary SSN (Individual payments) This is the social security number of the first person listed on IRS tax package, tax return or form.

Secondary SSN

(optional field)

This is the social security number of the second person listed on the IRS tax package, tax return or form.
EIN (Business payments) This is the employer identification number listed on the IRS tax package, tax return or form.
Card Number The account number can be up to 16 digits.
Expiration Date Enter the four digit month/year of the expiration date (for example, June 2013 would be entered 06 and 13, respectively).
Address (Internet only) Enter full home address.
Address Info (phone only)

If instructed, enter the cardholder’s street address number or zip code.  This should match the address at which the  card statement is received by the cardholder.  For example, if the address is:

123 Main Street
Maple Town, AA 45678

Enter 123 or 45678, as appropriate.

Amount of Tax Payment Enter the exact amount that you would like to pay including dollars and cents.
E-mail Address (Internet only, optional field) Enter an e-mail address in order to receive an e-mail receipt of the payment transaction.
Taxpayer's Daytime Telephone Number Enter a telephone number where you can be reached Monday through Friday between the hours of 7:00 am and 5:30 pm. This number will only be used to contact you if there is a problem with your payment information.

Facts You Need to Know:

  • Payments must be made electronically through tax preparation software, a tax professional or a card payment service provider via phone or Internet.

  • Cards should not be forwarded to the IRS with the return or form.

  • Account numbers should not be written on the return or form.

  • The payment date will be the date the charge is authorized.

  • Taxpayers can make partial payments by phone or Internet if the tax preparation software being used allows this.

  • Multiple payments cannot be made through tax preparation software.

  • Taxpayers who e-file and e-pay should re-file rejected returns promptly in order to ensure timely payment.  Otherwise, the payment may have to be re-authorized through the card issuer.

  • Federal tax deposits cannot be made using the credit or debit card payment option.  

  • The IRS does not issue an immediate release of a Federal Tax Lien when a credit or debit card payment is made to full pay the tax liability.  Please refer to Publication 1468 for the recommended payment option when an immediate release is necessary.

Cancellations, Errors and Questions:

  • Generally, payments cannot be cancelled.

  • Taxpayers can call the card issuer or service provider's customer service number to report problems such as unauthorized charges or concerns regarding payment errors.

  • Taxpayers can contact the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 to report problems concerning the amount of tax owed or any other matter concerning the tax return.

  • Taxpayers can also write to the IRS office where the return would be mailed regarding income tax payment concerns. The impacted taxpayer's SSN or EIN, payment tax year, and payment method should be included.

  • In the event the service provider fails to forward the tax payment to the Treasury, the taxpayer will be responsible for the tax payment and for any penalties and interest.

  • Voluntary or estimated payments such as Form 4868 and Form 1040-ES payments that result in an overpayment will be resolved through normal administrative procedures.

  • In most instances, the Treasury will refund an overpayment to taxpayers once the return is received and processed. An overpayment may be used to settle or offset an existing debt on the taxpayer's account.


Additional information is provided in the articles below:

Electronic Funds Withdrawal and Credit or Debit Card Payment Options for Businesses

Pay Taxes by Electronic Funds Withdrawal

Electronic Funds Withdrawal and Credit or Debit Card Payment Options for Individuals

Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS)

Download IRS Forms and Instructions

Electronic Payment Options Home Page

Page Last Reviewed or Updated: 2012-08-12