IRS Direct Pay

IRS Direct Pay – The easiest way to pay IRS taxes

During a calendar year, millions of Americans expect to make some kinds of payments to the IRS. Back in the day, writing a check was pretty much the only way to make an IRS payment. Nowadays, there are many options available to taxpayers. One of them is IRS Direct Pay.

What is IRS direct pay?

IRS Direct Pay is a web-based system available on the IRS website. It is a free IRS service that lets you make tax payments online directly from your checking or savings account to the IRS (Internal Revenue Service). This system simplifies the tax payment process where taxpayers with a computer with access to the internet can conveniently use it from anywhere.

How do you access IRS direct pay?

To access IRS Direct Pay page, you need to go to the IRS website. Once on the website, locate for the button labelled “Make a Payment” and click on it. On the next page, choose “Pay now with Direct Pay”. You’ll be redirected to a new page where one of the buttons is: Make a Payment. Once you click on the button, you are ready to start making your IRS payment online.

System availability

To accomodate all taxpayers, Direct Pay is available during the following hours:

  • Monday to Saturday: Midnight to 11:45 p.m. ET
  • Sunday: 7 a.m. to 11:45 p.m. ET

Other outages may occur, and they’ll let you know whether Direct Pay is available before you start your session. Please note that Direct Pay availability has no bearing on your due date, so plan ahead to ensure timely payment.

What type of tax payments can you make?

Here is a list of tax payments that taxpayers can make:

  • Original and amended individual tax return balance due
  • Installment agreement (Payment plan)
  • Payment accompanying an extension request
  • IRS estimated tax payment
  • IRS Notice CP2000, CP2501, and CP3219A
  • Proposed Tax Assessment
  • Civil penalty
  • Offshore voluntary disclosure and streamlined filing compliance

Using IRS direct pay, you cannot make more than two payments within a 24-hour period, and each payment must be less than $10 million.

IRS direct pay

How to make an IRS tax payment?

There are five easy steps that taxpayers need to complete to make an online IRS payment:

1. Provide the tax information – That includes the type of return the taxpayers are making the payment for (Installment Agreement, Tax Return, Estimated Payment, etc.) and the tax year of the payment.

2.  Verify your Identity – To verify your identity, you need to provide information from your 1040 filing history. The details can be from one of the 1040 tax returns filed during the previous six years. 

3. Enter payment information – Include the payment amount, the payment date (up to 30 days in advance), and the US bank account routing and account number.

4. Review and sign – The taxpayer will be allowed to review all previously entered information and verify its accuracy by electronically signing the payment agreement.

5. Confirmation – The taxpayer will receive a confirmation when the request is successfully processed. We strongly recommend that the taxpayer print the confirmation page or record the confirmation number for their records. You also have an option to request an email confirmation of your tax payment.

What’s next after you make an IRS payment?

If you have initiated an IRS payment through this electronic federal tax payment system, you can use the IRS direct pay lookup feature to view the payment details and status. You can modify or cancel your payment until 11:45 P.M. ET, two business days before the scheduled payment date. 

Do you still need help to make your IRS tax payments? Contact us, and one of our qualified tax professionals will gladly assist you. You can also pay by phone at 1-800-555-3453 or try to call the IRS for more information on the process.