Pay the IRS Online

You can easily pay the IRS online either with a credit card (there is a fee) or directly from your bank account (no fee).

There are separate processes, which are outlined here.

Go to https://www.irs.gov/payments where you can select whether you want to use a card or have the IRS debit your bank account. Make a selection from the list on the left:

• For debiting your bank account:

  1. Select "pay individual tax," then "make a payment"
  2. If you are paying your tax bill, select
     1. reason: "balance due"
     2. apply payment: "Income tax form 1040"
     3. tax period: "2024" (unless it is an earlier year)
  3. If you are paying estimated taxes for 2025, select
     1. reason: "estimated tax"
     2. apply payment: "1040ES..."
     3. and the tax period is automatically "2025"
  4. Hit "continue" and you will be asked to verify your identity by giving your filing status for a recent year, along with your name, Social Security number, birth date, and address.
  5. After entering those, hit "continue" and you will be asked for the payment amount, date, and bank / account info. You can ask for an email confirmation notice.
  6. Hit "continue" and follow the remaining instructions.
     
     

• To use a card:

  1. Under the column for "Pay 1040" (where the fees are given) select "make a payment"
  2. On the next page select "Pay personal taxes"
  3. On the next page select Tax Category: "Personal"
  4. If you are paying your tax bill, select
     1. Tax Form: "1040 series"
     2. Tax Form options: "Current tax Return year - 2024" or "Prior year...."
     3. If it is a prior year, select which one
  5. If you are paying estimated taxes, select
     1. "1040-ES estimated tax"
     2. For "1040-ES..." it will just give you options for 2025
  6. enter payment amount
  7. On the next page enter your name, address, phone number. If the return is "married filing jointly" enter your spouse's social security number.
  8. On the next page enter your card info.
  9. Hit "next" and follow the remaining instructions.