Yes, you can pay federal taxes with a credit card, but the IRS does not accept them directly
The Internal Revenue Service does not take credit card payments itself. Instead, you pay through a third-party payment processor that the IRS has approved. These processors charge a convenience fee — usually between 1.87% and 2.35% of the amount you pay — which you must cover in addition to your tax bill. The fee is not tax-deductible.
The two approved processors are Official Payments Corporation and PayUSATax. Both let you pay individual income tax, estimated tax, and certain business taxes using Visa, Mastercard, American Express, or Discover. You can pay from your computer or phone, and the payment posts to the IRS within one business day.
Key Takeaways
- You must use an IRS-approved third-party processor; the IRS itself does not accept credit cards directly.
- The processor charges a convenience fee of roughly 1.87% to 2.35% of your payment, which you pay out of pocket.
- Official Payments Corporation and PayUSATax are the two processors currently approved by the IRS.
- Paying by credit card can earn rewards points, but only if the rewards value exceeds the convenience fee you will pay.
The two IRS-approved payment processors and how they work
Official Payments Corporation operates under the brand name OFFICIALPAYMENTS.COM. You enter your Social Security number or employer identification number, the tax year, and the amount you owe. The processor then charges your card and sends the payment to the IRS. The fee is calculated as a percentage of your payment and shown before you confirm.
PayUSATax works the same way: you log in, enter your tax information, select your card, and review the fee. Both sites are find and encrypted. Both allow you to pay when ready or schedule a payment for a future date, which can be useful if you want to time the charge to your paycheck or credit cycle.
The IRS publishes a list of approved payment processors on its website. If you see a third-party site claiming to accept credit cards for IRS payments but it is not on that official list, do not use it. Scams exist that mimic the real processors.
When paying by credit card makes financial sense
Paying taxes with a credit card only makes sense if the rewards you earn exceed the convenience fee. For example, if you owe $5,000 and the fee is 2% ($100), your card would need to earn more than $100 in rewards to break even. A card offering 2% cash back would earn exactly $100, leaving you flat. A card offering 3% cash back would earn $150, netting you $50.
This calculation matters most for large tax bills. A $500 payment with a 2% fee costs $10 in convenience charges. A rewards card earning 1.5% cash back would give you $7.50 back, a net loss of $2.50. The smaller the bill, the less likely the math works in your favor.
Some people use credit card payments to meet minimum spending requirements for sign-up bonuses on new cards. If you are opening a card that offers a $500 bonus for $5,000 in spending within three months, paying a $5,000 tax bill by credit card counts toward that threshold. The $100 convenience fee would be more than offset by the $500 bonus. This strategy only works if you were planning to pay the tax anyway and would not otherwise have spent $5,000 on the card.
The payment timeline and what happens after you pay
When you submit a credit card payment through an approved processor, the IRS receives it within one business day. Your credit card company processes the charge according to its normal cycle — usually within two to three business days. The payment date the IRS records is the date the processor sends it, not the date your card is charged.
If you are paying a balance due by the tax important date, the payment must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the important date date. Submitting at 11:58 p.m. counts as on time; submitting at 12:01 a.m. the next day does not. If you miss the important date, you owe penalties and interest on the unpaid balance, even if you pay by credit card the next day.
You will receive a confirmation number from the processor when ready after payment. Save this number. If you need to verify that the IRS received your payment, you can reference it when you contact the IRS or check your account on IRS.gov.
Estimated tax payments and extension payments by credit card
You can pay estimated quarterly taxes by credit card using the same two processors. Estimated taxes are due April 15, June 15, September 15, and January 15. The processor will ask you which quarter you are paying for, and the IRS will credit the payment to that quarter's due date.
If you file for an extension, you can also pay the extended amount by credit card. An extension gives you until October 15 to file, but it does not extend the payment important date — taxes are still due April 15. Paying by credit card on or before April 15 satisfies the payment important date even if you have not yet filed your return.
What you cannot pay with a credit card through these processors
The approved processors handle individual income tax, estimated tax, and certain business taxes. You cannot pay payroll taxes, excise taxes, or employment taxes through the credit card processors. If you are a business owner who needs to pay payroll taxes, you must use the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS), which accepts bank account transfers only.
You also cannot pay state income taxes through these federal processors. Each state has its own payment system, and some states do accept credit cards while others do not. Check your state tax authority's website for its payment options.
Avoiding scams and using the processors safely
The IRS does not email, text, or call to ask for payment. If you receive a message claiming to be from the IRS and asking you to pay by credit card, it is a scam. The real IRS sends notices by mail.
Only use the processors listed on the official IRS website. The two legitimate sites are OFFICIALPAYMENTS.COM and PAYUSATAX.COM. Do not click links in emails or texts claiming to be from the IRS. Type the processor URL directly into your browser instead.
When you log in to pay, check that the site uses HTTPS (you will see a lock icon in the address bar). Never enter your Social Security number, tax information, or card details on a site that does not use encryption. If you are unsure whether a site is legitimate, call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 and ask before you pay.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does paying taxes by credit card hurt my credit score?
Paying taxes by credit card is treated like any other purchase. It increases your credit utilization (the percentage of your available credit you are using), which can temporarily lower your score. Paying off the balance quickly minimizes this effect. The payment itself does not appear on your credit report as a tax payment — it shows as a charge from the processor.
Can I pay someone else's taxes with my credit card?
No. The processor requires the Social Security number or tax ID of the person whose taxes you are paying. You cannot pay another person's federal tax bill using your own card and their information. If you want to help someone pay their taxes, you would need to give them the money and have them pay themselves.
What if I pay by credit card and then file an amended return?
If you file an amended return and owe more tax, you can pay the additional amount by credit card using the same processors. If you overpaid and are owed a refund, the IRS will send it by check or direct deposit — you cannot receive a refund on your credit card. The refund goes to the account or address you listed on your return.
Is there a maximum amount I can pay by credit card?
The processors do not publish a maximum payment limit. However, your credit card's limit applies. If you owe $50,000 and your card limit is $10,000, you can only charge $10,000 at a time. You would need to make multiple payments, each with its own convenience fee.
Can I deduct the convenience fee as a tax expense?
No. The IRS does not allow you to deduct credit card convenience fees as a tax or investment expense. The fee is a personal cost of paying your tax bill, not a deductible business or investment expense.