The IRS offers three main ways to pay online directly from your bank account

You can pay federal income tax, estimated tax, or back taxes through the IRS website without leaving your house or waiting in line. The IRS Direct Pay system lets you enter your bank account details and schedule a payment for a specific date. The Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS) is a separate platform that does the same thing but requires advance registration. A third option is to pay through a third-party processor — companies like PayPal, Stripe, or Square — which the IRS has authorized to accept tax payments, though these processors charge a fee that the IRS does not.

All three routes are free through the IRS itself, arrive at the IRS within one to two business days, and let you choose your payment date in advance. The main difference is how much setup you do before you pay: Direct Pay requires no registration at all, EFTPS requires you to register a few days ahead, and third-party processors are fastest if you already use them for other payments.

Key Takeaways

  • IRS Direct Pay requires no registration and lets you pay when ready from any bank account, though you must know your tax ID and the exact amount owed.
  • EFTPS requires you to register in advance (usually takes two to three business days) but is the best option if you make regular estimated tax payments.
  • Third-party processors like PayPal and Stripe charge a fee (typically 1.87% to 2.49% of the payment) but work when ready if you already have an account with them.
  • All online payments reach the IRS within one to two business days, so you can schedule payment for the day before your important date without risk.
  • You will receive a confirmation number when ready after payment; save it as proof in case the IRS ever questions whether you paid on time.

Using IRS Direct Pay with no registration

IRS Direct Pay is the fastest route if you are paying once or paying an unexpected bill. Go to irs.gov/payments and select "IRS Direct Pay" from the payment options. You will need your Social Security Number or Employer Identification Number, your filing status (single, married filing jointly, etc.), your date of birth, and the exact amount you are paying.

Enter your bank account number and routing number — the same information you would give to set up a direct deposit. The IRS will ask you to choose a payment date; you can pay today or schedule it for any date up to 120 days in the future. After you confirm, the IRS displays a confirmation number on screen. Write it down or take a screenshot. The payment leaves your account on the date you chose and arrives at the IRS within one to two business days.

Direct Pay works for income tax, estimated tax, and back taxes from prior years. It does not work if you are paying through a tax professional or if you filed a joint return but only one spouse is making the payment — in those cases, EFTPS is more flexible.

Registering for EFTPS if you pay regularly

EFTPS is the IRS's dedicated payment platform and is worth the setup time if you make quarterly estimated tax payments or manage payroll taxes for a business. Registration takes a few minutes but does not complete when ready: the IRS mails you a Personal Identification Number (PIN) within two to three business days, and you cannot make a payment until you receive it and set up your account.

To register, go to eftps.gov and select "Enroll Now." You will provide your Social Security Number or EIN, your business name (if applicable), your address, and a phone number. The IRS will ask you to create a username and password. After you submit, the IRS mails your PIN to the address on file. Once you receive it, log back into EFTPS, enter your PIN, and your account is active.

After set up, EFTPS works the same way as Direct Pay: enter the amount, choose your payment date, and receive a confirmation number. The advantage is that EFTPS remembers your bank account and tax information, so repeat payments take 30 seconds instead of five minutes. EFTPS also lets you schedule payments months in advance and cancel them if your circumstances change.

Paying through a third-party processor

If you already use PayPal, Stripe, Square, or another payment processor for business, you can pay the IRS through that same account. The processor charges a fee — typically between 1.87% and 2.49% of the payment amount — which you pay in addition to the tax owed. For example, a $5,000 payment might cost $94 to $125 in processor fees.

The advantage is speed: if your account is already set up and verified, you can complete payment in under a minute. The disadvantage is cost. Third-party processors make sense only if you are in a genuine time crunch (your important date is tomorrow and you have not registered for EFTPS yet) or if you are already paying the processor a monthly fee for other reasons and the marginal cost is small.

To find the current list of authorized processors, go to irs.gov/payments and look for "Payment Processors." Each processor has its own fee structure and may have different limits on payment size or frequency. Check the processor's terms before you pay.

What happens after you submit payment online

You receive a confirmation number when ready after you submit. This number is your proof that you paid. Write it down, take a screenshot, or save the confirmation email. If the IRS ever contacts you about whether you paid on time, this number is what you show them.

The payment leaves your bank account on the date you scheduled. It arrives at the IRS within one to two business days. If you scheduled payment for the day before your important date, it will arrive on time; the IRS counts a payment as on-time if it leaves your bank by the important date, not if it arrives at the IRS by the important date.

After the payment arrives, the IRS applies it to your account. If you paid more than you owed, the IRS will either refund the overpayment or let you explore it to next year's tax bill — you can choose which when you file your return. If you paid less than you owed, the IRS will send you a bill for the difference plus interest and penalties.

Choosing between Direct Pay, EFTPS, and a processor

Use IRS Direct Pay if you are paying once, paying an unexpected bill, or do not want to register in advance. It takes five minutes and costs nothing.

Use EFTPS if you make regular payments (quarterly estimated tax, payroll taxes, or multiple payments per year). The registration takes a few days, but after that, each payment takes 30 seconds and you can schedule months ahead.

Use a third-party processor only if your important date is tomorrow and you have not registered for EFTPS yet, or if you already use the processor for other payments and the fee is negligible. Otherwise, the cost outweighs the convenience.

Common problems and what to do

Your payment was rejected because your bank account information was wrong. Go back to the payment site, double-check your account number and routing number, and try again. If you are not sure of your routing number, call your bank or look it up on your bank's website — it is usually printed on the bottom left of your checks.

You scheduled a payment but now need to cancel it. If you used Direct Pay, you cannot cancel after you submit — the payment will go through on the date you chose. If you used EFTPS, log in and select "Cancel a Scheduled Payment" before the payment date. If you used a third-party processor, contact the processor directly.

You paid but the IRS says you did not. This is rare but can happen if there was a delay in the banking system. Check your bank statement to confirm the payment left your account. If it did, contact the IRS with your confirmation number and the date the payment left your bank. The IRS can trace it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I pay the IRS with a credit card online?

No, the IRS does not accept credit cards directly. You can only pay with a bank account (checking or savings) or through a third-party processor that accepts credit cards — but the processor will charge you a fee of 1.87% to 2.49% on top of your tax bill. Most people find it cheaper to pay from their bank account instead.

What if I do not know how much I owe?

Log into your IRS account at irs.gov/account to see your balance. If you have not filed yet and are paying estimated tax, you will need to calculate the amount yourself or ask a tax professional. Do not guess — if you underpay, you will owe interest and penalties on the shortfall.

Is it safe to give the IRS my bank account number online?

Yes. The IRS website uses the same encryption that banks use, and the IRS does not store your full account number after the payment is complete. The risk of fraud through irs.gov is extremely low. The real risk is typing the IRS website address wrong and landing on a fake site — always type irs.gov directly into your browser, never click a link in an email.

How long does it take to get a refund if I overpaid?

If you choose to receive a refund instead of explore the overpayment to next year, the IRS typically mails it within four to six weeks. If you choose to explore it to next year's bill, it happens automatically when you file your return.

Can I pay someone else's taxes online?

No. You can only pay your own taxes or, if you are a business owner or tax professional, taxes for your business or clients. If you want to help someone else pay, they must log in and make the payment themselves, or they must give you power of attorney to act on their behalf — which requires IRS forms and is not a quick process.