Yes, you can pay the IRS with a credit card, but it costs money and comes with limits
The IRS accepts credit card payments for federal income taxes, estimated tax payments, and penalties or interest you owe. You cannot pay with a credit card directly to the IRS — instead, you use a third-party payment processor that the IRS has approved. The processor charges a convenience fee (usually 1.87% to 2.35% of your payment), which you pay on top of what you owe the government.
This matters because a 2% fee on a $5,000 tax bill adds $100 to your cost. Before you choose this route, compare it against other ways to pay: a bank transfer costs nothing, a check costs a stamp, and a payment plan lets you spread the cost over time without a fee.
Key Takeaways
- The IRS approves three payment processors — Worldpay, Paymetrics, and Global Payments — and each charges a different convenience fee between 1.87% and 2.35%.
- You can pay through any of the three processors' websites or by phone, and the IRS receives your payment within one business day.
- Credit card payments do not reduce your tax debt faster than other payment methods; the IRS processes them the same way.
- If you cannot pay your full bill now, a payment plan through the IRS costs less than the credit card convenience fee and spreads payments over months or years.
- The convenience fee is not tax-deductible, even though you paid it to settle a tax obligation.
Which payment processors the IRS approves and what they charge
The IRS maintains a list of three approved payment processors on IRS.gov. Each one operates its own payment website and phone line, and each charges a different convenience fee. The fees are not set by the IRS — the processors set them, and they can change. As of now, fees range from 1.87% to 2.35% of your payment amount.
The three processors are Worldpay, Paymetrics, and Global Payments. You can use any of them; the IRS does not prefer one over another. Before you start, visit IRS.gov and search for "pay by credit card" to find the current fee for each processor and their direct links. Comparing the three takes five minutes and can save you money if one processor charges less than the others.
The fee applies to the full amount you pay, including any penalties or interest the IRS added to your bill. If you owe $10,000 and the processor charges 2%, you pay $200 in fees on top of the $10,000 you owe the government.
How to pay through a processor's website or by phone
Each processor has its own website where you can enter your payment details and submit when ready. You will need your Social Security number or employer identification number, your tax year, and the amount you want to pay. The processor asks for your credit card information and confirms the payment within seconds. The IRS receives notice of your payment within one business day.
If you prefer to pay by phone, each processor has a phone line listed on IRS.gov. A representative walks you through the same information and takes your credit card details over the phone. Phone payments take longer to process than online payments, but the result is the same.
Keep your confirmation number from the processor. This is not your IRS receipt — it is proof that the processor accepted your payment. The IRS will send you a separate notice once the payment posts to your account, usually within two weeks.
Why a payment plan might cost you less than the credit card fee
If you cannot pay your full tax bill now, the IRS offers payment plans that let you pay over time with no convenience fee. A short-term plan (120 days or less) costs nothing. A long-term installment agreement costs $31 to $225 depending on how you set it up, but that is a one-time fee, not a percentage of what you owe.
Compare the math: a $5,000 tax bill paid by credit card costs $100 to $118 in processor fees. The same bill on a long-term payment plan costs $31 to $225 one time, then you pay the $5,000 in monthly installments with no additional percentage charge. For most people, the payment plan is cheaper, especially if the bill is large.
You can request a payment plan directly from the IRS through IRS.gov, by phone at 1-800-829-1040, or by mail. The IRS usually approves payment plans within a few days.
What happens to your credit score when you pay by credit card
Paying your tax bill with a credit card does not affect your credit score directly — the IRS does not report to credit bureaus. However, the credit card company reports the charge to your credit report as a regular purchase. If the charge pushes your credit utilization (the percentage of your credit limit you are using) above 30%, your score may drop slightly until you pay down the card.
The bigger risk is that you are borrowing money at credit card interest rates to pay a tax debt. If you carry a balance on the card, you pay both the processor's convenience fee and the card's interest rate on top of your tax bill. This can double or triple your actual cost.
If you use a credit card, pay it off when ready from another source. Do not carry the balance.
When paying by credit card makes sense and when it does not
Paying by credit card makes sense if you have the cash to pay the card off right away and you are earning rewards points that exceed the convenience fee. For example, if your card earns 2% cash back and the processor charges 1.87%, you break even. If your card earns 3% back, you come out slightly ahead. This only works if you pay the card off when ready.
Paying by credit card does not make sense if you will carry a balance, if you do not have cash to pay the card off, or if your card earns less than the processor's fee. It also does not make sense if you have other options: a bank transfer costs nothing, a check costs a stamp, and a payment plan spreads the cost with no percentage fee.
The IRS does not process credit card payments faster than other payment methods. Your payment arrives within one business day no matter how you send it. If you are trying to meet a important date, any method works equally well.
How to find the IRS payment processors and confirm current fees
Go to IRS.gov and search for "pay by credit card" or "payment processors." The IRS maintains a page listing all three approved processors, their websites, phone numbers, and current convenience fees. This page updates when fees change, so check it before you pay to confirm the current cost.
Do not use a search engine to find the processors — scammers create fake payment sites that look like the real ones. Always go through IRS.gov first, then click the official links from there.
If you cannot find the page or the links are broken, call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 and ask for the current list of approved payment processors and their fees. The IRS can also tell you which processor is charging the lowest fee that day.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I deduct the convenience fee on my taxes next year?
No. The convenience fee is not a tax-deductible expense, even though you paid it to settle a tax obligation. The IRS treats it as a personal expense, not a business or investment cost. If you paid the fee, you cannot write it off.
What if I pay by credit card but then get a payment plan?
The credit card payment counts toward your tax debt when ready. If you then set up a payment plan, the plan covers only the remaining balance. You still pay the convenience fee on the credit card payment — it does not go away.
Do I have to pay the full amount at once, or can I make multiple credit card payments?
You can make multiple payments. Each payment incurs its own convenience fee, so making one large payment costs less than making several small ones. Plan your payments to minimize the number of times you use the processor.
What if the processor's website is down when I try to pay?
Call the processor's phone line instead. All three processors accept payments by phone. If both the website and phone line are unavailable, you can mail a check to the IRS or set up a payment plan that does not require when ready payment.
Does paying by credit card change when the IRS considers my bill paid?
No. The IRS considers your bill paid on the date the processor receives your payment, not the date you submit it or the date your credit card company charges you. The processor sends confirmation to the IRS within one business day, so the IRS usually records the payment within one to two business days.