You owe federal taxes and you want to pay the IRS directly, online, without mailing a check or guessing whether your money arrived. Maybe you got a notice, maybe you just filed, or maybe you need to make an estimated payment before a deadline.
The good news: the IRS offers several free or low-cost ways to pay online, and the right one depends on how fast you need it to clear and whether you want to sign in. This guide walks through every verified method, fastest and most common first, with the exact buttons and fields you will see.
Before you start, know the exact amount you owe. File your return first, or check your balance by tax year in your IRS Individual Online Account.
Pay Straight From Your Bank Account With IRS Direct Pay
Direct Pay is the quickest free option for most individuals. It is described by the IRS as "Free and secure" with "No sign-in required," so it is ideal when you just need to send a one-time payment.
From irs.gov/payments, open the "Direct Pay with bank account" link, then choose the "Pay individual tax" button. A separate "Pay business tax" button exists for businesses.
- 1.Choose "Make a Payment" on the main Direct Pay page.
- 2.Select your payment details: the "Reason for Payment" (options include Balance due, Estimated tax, Extension, Payment plan/Installment agreement, Amended return, Notices CP2000/CP2501/CP3219A, Proposed tax assessment, Offer in Compromise, and Civil penalty), what to "Apply Payment To," and the "Tax Period" (tax year).
- 3.Choose the payment date. You can pay now or schedule up to 365 days in advance.
- 4.Verify your identity using a prior-year tax return. Enter your name, address, and Social Security Number exactly as they appear on that return, and select a filing status (for example, "Married - Filed Joint Return"). The IRS accepts a return as far back as 5 to 6 years depending on the time of year.
- 5.Enter your bank routing number (ABA, 9 digits) and account number, review, and submit.
You get a confirmation number on screen, and you can have it emailed to you. Keep that number in case you need to modify or cancel; you can also retrieve it later through the "Look Up a Payment" option. You have until two business days before the payment date to cancel or make changes.
Limits: a single Direct Pay payment cannot exceed $9,999,999.99, and you can make up to five payments within any 24-hour period.
Sign In to Your IRS Individual Online Account to Pay or Schedule
If you want to see your balance and history alongside paying, sign in. From the Individual Online Account page, use the "Sign in or create account" link. New users need photo identification ready for identity verification on the sign-in page.
Once signed in, you can view balances owed by tax year, up to 5 years of payment history (including estimated payments), and any pending or scheduled payments. To pay, make a same-day payment or schedule payments up to 365 days in advance from your bank account. You can cancel payments before their scheduled date.
The page also notes you can make a guest payment without logging in, or pay by debit/credit card, as alternatives. Payment plans are managed here too: you can apply for a new plan or view and revise an existing one.
Pay by Debit Card, Credit Card, or Digital Wallet
Choose this when you want to use a card or a wallet like PayPal or Venmo. Processing fees apply, and this option is not for payroll taxes. Reach it from irs.gov/payments via the "Pay by card or digital wallet" link.
Two authorized processors are listed, and no fee portion goes to the IRS:
- Pay1040 (pay1040.com): personal debit card $2.15; credit card 1.75% (minimum $2.50); commercial credit/debit 2.89% (minimum $2.50); cash $1.50. Wallets: Click to Pay and PayPal.
- ACI Payments, Inc. (fed.acipayonline.com): personal debit card $2.10; credit card 1.85% (minimum $2.50); corporate credit/debit 2.95% (minimum $2.50); cash $1.50. Wallets: PayPal, Click to Pay, and Venmo.
Fees are set by the processors and can change, so confirm the current amount before you submit. You can pay online or by phone. There is a cap on how many card payments you can make per period, based on your tax type and payment type. A payment voucher is not required when paying by card, and card processing fees are tax deductible for business taxes.
Enroll In and Pay Through EFTPS
The Electronic Federal Tax Payment System is now primarily for businesses, payroll, and existing enrollees. Important: individual taxpayers can no longer create new EFTPS accounts, and new individuals are directed to use the Online Account instead.
If you already qualify, enroll online at eftps.gov or call 800-555-4477 (877-333-8292 for federal agencies; 800-733-4829 TDD; 800-244-4829 Spanish). New enrollments can take up to five business days to process, so EFTPS is not usable for a last-minute deadline.
You can pay income, employment, estimated, and excise federal taxes, and schedule up to 365 days in advance. Online payments are available 24/7, and a voice-response phone line is at 800-555-3453. EFTPS (along with same-day wire) is the IRS-recommended route for payments above the Direct Pay limit.
Pay by Electronic Funds Withdrawal While E-Filing
Electronic Funds Withdrawal is an integrated e-file/e-pay option offered only when you file your federal taxes using tax preparation software or through a tax professional. You authorize a direct debit from your bank account as part of submitting the return.
The IRS does not charge a fee to use EFW, though your financial institution may. To cancel, requests must reach the IRS no later than 11:59 p.m. ET two business days before the scheduled payment date; call IRS e-file Payment Services 24/7 at 888-353-4537, and wait 7 to 10 days after your return was accepted before calling.
Set Up a Payment Plan Online if You Cannot Pay in Full
If the balance is too large to pay at once, apply through the Online Payment Agreement application. Buttons include "Apply/Revise as individual" and "Apply/Revise as individual POA." You must have filed all required returns to qualify.
- Short-term plan: for individuals who owe less than $100,000 in combined tax, penalties, and interest; pay in 180 days or less; $0 setup fee for individuals.
- Long-term plan (installment agreement): for individuals who owe $50,000 or less combined. Setup fee is $22 with Direct Debit or $69 for other methods. Low-income taxpayers have the Direct Debit fee waived; the non-direct-debit fee is $43 and may be reimbursed if certain conditions are met. Revising or reinstating a plan online is a $10 fee (may be reimbursed for low-income filers).
- Pay Now (full payment): $0 fee.
To apply online you need an IRS Online Account (photo ID to create), and for direct-debit plans, your bank routing and account numbers plus the balance from a recent notice or filed return. Setup fees may be higher if you apply by phone, mail, or in person.
Pay on Your Phone With the IRS2Go App
Download the free IRS2Go app from Google Play or the Apple App Store; it is available in English or Spanish. In the app you can pay directly from your bank account for free (Direct Pay), or use a credit card, debit card, or digital wallet like PayPal or Venmo for a fee through an approved processor. You can also sign in to your IRS account to pay, create a payment plan, or check your payment history.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know my Direct Pay payment actually went through?
The confirmation number confirms the attempt to withdraw the payment from your bank, not final settlement. You get credit for the date you selected, but it may take up to two business days to process. If it still shows "Pending" two business days after the scheduled date, the IRS says to check back after three more business days.
Why does Direct Pay say it cannot verify my identity?
Verification fails if your name, address, SSN, or filing status do not exactly match the prior-year return you selected. Try a different prior year; returns roughly 5 to 6 years back are accepted depending on the time of year.
What if I owe more than the Direct Pay limit?
A single Direct Pay payment cannot exceed $9,999,999.99. For larger amounts, the IRS directs you to EFTPS or same-day wire, or you can split it into two or more smaller Direct Pay payments.
Are the card processing fees refundable?
No. Those fees are charged by the third-party processor (Pay1040 or ACI Payments), not the IRS, and are non-refundable. They are only tax deductible for business taxes.
Can I cancel a card or Direct Pay payment after submitting?
For Direct Pay, you need the confirmation number and you only have until two business days before the scheduled date. For an EFW payment made while e-filing, your cancellation must reach the IRS by 11:59 p.m. ET two business days before the scheduled date at 888-353-4537.
I am an individual; why can't I create a new EFTPS account?
EFTPS no longer accepts new individual enrollments. Individuals are routed to the IRS Individual Online Account instead, where you can pay from a bank account and schedule payments.
