If you find yourself owing taxes this year, it's important to know your tax payment options to meet the tax deadline to avoid interest and penalties.
Use your credit or debit card to pay federal taxes online through our authorized third-party provider, convenience fees apply.
Find out how the coronavirus impacts options to pay your taxes when you file with us online or with our software.
Pay Taxes NowFrom plastic to direct debits to online tax payments, there are a variety of ways to pay taxes should you owe the IRS this year.
Save time traveling to the post office and worrying about unnecessary late fees by paying your federal taxes online with a credit or debit card -- it's fast and convenient. When you have your taxes prepared with H&R Block, you can pay your federal taxes through our authorized third-party provider with any Mastercard®, Visa®, American Express® or Discover® credit or debit card with low convenience fees. A convenience fee of 2.49% (minimum $2.50) will be charged for this service.
If you've already filed your tax return (Form 1040 and many other form types) and want to make an online tax payment, visit our authorized third-party provider, Pay1040.
The IRS enables taxpayers with SSN's (no ITIN's) an additional method to pay series 1040 taxes directly from their savings or checking account. No prior enrollment is required, but taxpayer identity is verified from information on the prior year tax return. There is no fee for this service – see IRS Direct Pay for more information.
If you'd prefer taking the traditional route, paying your taxes with a personal check or money order is the way to go. Just be sure to write 2019 Form 1040, your daytime phone number, and your social security number in the memo field and make your check payable to the United States Treasury. Include a payment voucher with your tax payment. If you need more info on where to pay taxes, head to the IRS website, and look in the "Pay" section.
Can't pay in full by the due date? Don’t worry -- the IRS may allow you to pay in installments. This method of payment must be approved by the IRS. Following approval, the IRS agrees to let you make monthly payments for your debt instead of paying in full. In return, you agree to make timely monthly payments and pay all future tax liabilities. This means you must plan to have adequate future withholding or estimated tax payments so that future tax liabilities are paid in full when you file your returns. If your balance due is not more than $50,000, you can apply online for a payment agreement instead of filing Form 9465.
The IRS virtually guarantees to let you use an installment agreement if you meet the following conditions:
Interest, late payment penalties and a processing fee apply. Here are the fees for setting up an installment agreement:
You may qualify for a short-term agreement if your balance is $100,000 or less. There are no set up fees for those who qualify for a short-term agreement (120 days or less).
To limit the amount of penalties and interest, it's a good idea to pay as much of your tax bill as possible with your return. The IRS recommends considering other less costly alternatives, such as a bank loan, before considering an installment agreement.
When you apply online, there are three payment options available:
When deciding which payment method works best for you, remember to carefully consider the interest rates and other costs of the tax payment options. Interest and penalties do not stop with an installment agreement/payment plan. Save money and minimize the interest and penalties you will be charged by paying the full amount you owe, as quickly as possible. Under an IRS installment agreement, in addition to the processing fees, you are charged interest at the current rate (adjusted quarterly) plus a late penalty of 0.5% (0.25% for taxpayers who filed returns on time).
For more information about IRS payment options, visit IRS Payments. If you think you'll have a balance due this year, knowing your options will save you money, time, and stress.