You can pay the IRS with a credit card, but the IRS does not accept it directly — you must use a third-party payment processor, and each one charges a convenience fee

The IRS itself only takes payments by check, electronic bank transfer, or cash at an authorized retail location. If you want to pay with a credit card, you go through one of three IRS-approved payment processors: Worldpay, Paymetrics, or Official Payments. Each processor charges a fee — typically between 1.87% and 2.35% of the amount you pay — and that fee is added to your bill. The IRS does not charge the fee; the processor does.

The main reason to pay by credit card is to earn rewards points or to spread the payment over time if your card offers a promotional rate. The main reason not to is the fee itself. On a $5,000 payment, a 2% fee costs you $100. That fee is not deductible as a tax expense, so you are paying it with after-tax dollars.

Key Takeaways

  • The IRS does not accept credit cards directly; you must use Worldpay, Paymetrics, or Official Payments, and each charges a convenience fee between 1.87% and 2.35%.
  • The fee is added to your tax bill, not paid separately, so you owe both the tax and the fee to the IRS.
  • You can pay federal income tax, estimated tax, or back taxes by credit card through any of the three processors.
  • If you are on a payment plan with the IRS, you can still use a processor, but the fee applies to each payment you make.
  • Paying by credit card does not change your due date or reduce what you owe — it only changes how you send the money.

Which processor to use and how to find their websites

All three processors are authorized by the IRS and all three work the same way: you enter your tax information, the amount you want to pay, and your credit card details. The processor then sends the money to the IRS on your behalf. The differences between them are small and mostly come down to user interface and which one your bank recognizes most easily.

Worldpay operates under the brand name "Pay1040" and handles individual income tax payments. Paymetrics handles both individual and business payments. Official Payments also handles both. You can find all three by going to IRS.gov and searching for "pay by credit card" — the IRS lists all three with direct links. Do not search for them independently; use the IRS links to make sure you are on the real site and not a scam.

Each processor will ask for your Social Security number or employer identification number, the tax year you are paying for, and the amount. Have your tax return or notice in front of you so you can enter the exact amount owed. If you are paying a balance due from a return you filed, the amount is on the notice the IRS sent you or on your return itself.

How the fee works and what it costs

The convenience fee is a percentage of the payment amount, not a flat charge. The exact percentage varies by processor and can change, but it typically falls between 1.87% and 2.35%. You pay the fee when you make the payment — it is not billed separately later. The processor adds it to your payment, so if you pay $5,000 and the fee is 2%, you authorize a charge of $5,100 to your credit card.

The IRS receives the $5,000 and credits it to your account. The $100 fee goes to the processor. From the IRS's perspective, you have paid $5,000 of your tax debt. The fee is your cost for using the processor, not part of your tax bill. This matters because the fee is not deductible on your next tax return — it is a payment method cost, not a tax-related expense.

If you are paying a bill in installments through an IRS payment plan, the fee applies to each payment. If you set up a plan to pay $500 per month for 12 months, and the fee is 2%, you will pay $510 each month ($500 plus $10 fee). Over the year, the fees add up to $120 on top of your $6,000 total tax bill.

When paying by credit card makes sense

Paying by credit card is worth the fee only if you get more value from it than the fee costs. The most common scenario is earning cash back or rewards points. If your credit card gives you 2% cash back and the processor fee is 1.87%, you come out slightly ahead. If your card gives you 1% cash back and the fee is 2.35%, you lose money.

Another scenario is timing. If you do not have the cash now but will have it in 30 days, and your credit card has a 0% promotional period, you can pay the IRS now and pay your card later without interest. You still pay the convenience fee, but you gain time. This only works if you are certain you can pay the card before the promotional rate ends.

A third scenario is if you are trying to meet a minimum spend requirement on a new credit card to earn a sign-up bonus. If the bonus is worth more than the fee, it can make sense. A $500 sign-up bonus on a card with a 2% fee means you break even on a $25,000 payment.

How to pay through each processor step by step

Go to IRS.gov, find the "Pay by Credit Card" section, and click the link for the processor you choose. You will be taken to that processor's website. Enter your personal information: name, address, Social Security number, and the tax year you are paying for. Enter the amount you owe. The processor will show you the fee amount before you authorize the charge.

Review the total (tax amount plus fee) and confirm it is correct. Enter your credit card information. The processor will charge your card when ready. You will receive a confirmation number from the processor — save this. The processor will also send a confirmation email. The IRS typically receives and posts the payment within one to two business days, though it can take longer during tax season.

Do not pay through a processor more than once for the same tax bill unless you are making multiple installment payments. If you accidentally pay twice, contact the IRS to request a refund of the duplicate payment. The refund process takes several weeks.

What happens if you cannot pay the full amount

You do not have to pay your entire tax bill at once. You can pay part of it by credit card and part by another method. For example, you could pay $3,000 by credit card and $2,000 by bank transfer. The fee applies only to the credit card portion.

If you cannot pay the full amount now and do not expect to be able to soon, you can set up a payment plan with the IRS instead of using a credit card processor. The IRS offers short-term plans (120 days or less) with no setup fee and long-term plans (more than 120 days) with a setup fee that varies based on how you set it up. A long-term plan set up online costs $31 to $225 depending on your income. This is often cheaper than paying by credit card if you are paying over several months.

Paying estimated tax and back taxes by credit card

The three processors handle more than just current-year tax bills. You can pay estimated quarterly tax payments by credit card using the same processors. You can also pay back taxes from prior years. The process is identical: go to the processor's website, enter the tax year and amount, and authorize the charge.

If you owe back taxes and the IRS has already sent you a bill or notice, use the amount shown on that notice. If you are unsure of the exact amount, contact the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 before you pay. Paying the wrong amount can create confusion and delay the posting of your payment.

Self-employed people and business owners can also use the processors to pay business estimated tax. The process is the same, but you will need your employer identification number instead of a Social Security number.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does paying by credit card change when my payment is due?

No. Your payment is due on the date the IRS set, whether you pay by check, bank transfer, or credit card. Paying by credit card does not extend your important date or reduce the penalties and interest that accrue if you pay late. The only thing that changes is the method you use to send the money.

Can I dispute the charge with my credit card company if the IRS says I did not owe the money?

You can dispute it, but the credit card company will likely side with the processor because the charge went through as authorized. If you believe you overpaid the IRS, contact the IRS directly to request a refund. The IRS will issue the refund to you, not back to your credit card, and it takes several weeks.

What if I pay by credit card and then the IRS sends me a refund?

The IRS will send your refund by check or direct deposit to your bank account, not back to your credit card. You will still owe the credit card company for the full charge (including the fee), even though the IRS is sending you money back. This is why it is important to pay only what you actually owe.

Is there a limit to how much I can pay by credit card?

The processors do not publish a single limit, but most can handle payments of $100,000 or more. If you are paying a very large amount, contact the processor directly before you attempt the payment to confirm they can process it.

Can I set up automatic credit card payments to the IRS?

No. Each payment must be made separately through the processor's website. You cannot set up recurring automatic charges. If you want automatic payments, you must use the IRS's Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS) or set up a payment plan, both of which work with bank accounts, not credit cards.