Payment options

Every way to pay the IRS, in one place. Pick the option that fits your situation.

Both

Direct Pay

Withdraws straight from your bank account. No fee, and no enrollment required.

Fee None · up to 5 payments per day, roughly $10M max

Learn more ↗

Both

Card / digital wallet

Processed instantly, and usable even without a US bank account.

Fee ~1.75–1.85% credit, ~$2–2.50 flat debit (varies by processor) · not for payroll tax deposits

Learn more ↗

Individual

IRS Online Account

Fee None · covers most common tax items

Learn more ↗

Business

EFTPS

The Treasury's free system, well suited to recurring payments and payroll tax deposits.

Fee None · individual enrollment is closed (no new sign-ups since 10/17/2025; existing users have limited time left). Businesses can still enroll

Learn more ↗

Both

Check / money order

Made out to "U.S. Treasury" and mailed with a Form 1040-V voucher.

Fee None (postage aside) · single payments of $100M+ not accepted

Learn more ↗

Both

Same-day wire

Sent through your bank — the only method that guarantees same-day posting.

Fee Your bank's wire fee · rejected if received after 5pm ET

Learn more ↗

If you live abroad

Taxpayers overseas without a US bank account generally have two options.

① Pay by card — the simplest route. Processors like Pay1040 and ACI Payments let you pay directly with no US account needed.

② International wire (Foreign Electronic Payment) — fill out the Same-Day Taxpayer Worksheet and wire from your foreign bank to the IRS's receiving routing number 091036164 . The IRS itself notes wire fees can be steep, and suggests considering a card payment first.

Full instructions are on the Foreign Electronic Payments page ↗.

Which option fits your situation

Individual, one-off payment, want to avoid fees Direct Pay

Living abroad, no US bank account Card payment or international wire

Business, recurring payments or payroll deposits EFTPS

Deadline is today, large amount, need guaranteed same-day credit Same-day wire

Want card rewards and can absorb the fee Card / digital wallet

Can't pay the full amount at once See payment plan below

Can't pay in full?

If you're an individual owing $50,000 or less (tax, interest, and penalties combined), or a business owing $25,000 or less in payroll tax, and you're current on filings, you can set up an installment agreement in minutes through the Online Payment Agreement tool. A setup fee applies, with a reduced rate for lower-income taxpayers. Interest and penalties keep accruing on the unpaid balance, so it's worth applying sooner rather than later.

Set up a payment plan ↗

Frequently asked questions

It varies by processor, but credit cards typically run 1.75–1.85% and debit cards a flat $2–2.50. That fee goes entirely to the payment processor — the IRS doesn't keep any of it.

Since October 17, 2025, individuals can no longer create new EFTPS accounts. Existing individual users can keep using it for now, but that access is being phased out entirely later in 2026. Anyone starting fresh should use Direct Pay or an IRS Online Account instead. Businesses can still enroll in EFTPS as usual.

Yes, through a participating retail partner, though daily limits and a small fee apply. Never mail cash.

Federal tax deposits can't be paid by card or cash. Use EFTPS, your Business Tax Account, or the business version of Direct Pay.

Payment options, fees, and limits change often — EFTPS in particular is being reshaped by an ongoing federal push toward electronic payments. Always confirm current details at irs.gov/payments.