You can pay the IRS with a credit card, but only through two authorized payment processors
The IRS does not accept credit cards directly. Instead, you must use one of two payment processors that the IRS has authorized: Official Payments or PayUSAtax. Both charge a convenience fee on top of your tax payment — typically between 1.87% and 2.35% of the amount you pay, depending on which processor you use and which card type you choose.
You can pay federal income tax, estimated tax payments, or back taxes owed using either processor. The payment goes to the IRS, but the processor keeps the convenience fee. This means if you owe $5,000 and the fee is 2%, you will pay $5,100 total — $5,000 to the IRS and $100 to the processor.
Paying by credit card makes sense only if you have a rewards card that earns more than the convenience fee costs you, or if you need to spread the payment over time using a card's promotional financing offer. Otherwise, paying by check, bank transfer, or direct debit costs nothing.
Key Takeaways
- The IRS works with Official Payments and PayUSAtax to accept credit card payments; you cannot pay the IRS directly with a card.
- Both processors charge a convenience fee between 1.87% and 2.35% of your payment amount, which you pay in addition to your tax bill.
- You need your Social Security number or employer identification number, your tax year, and the amount you owe before you start the payment process.
- Payments typically post to your IRS account within one business day, but the processor may charge your card when ready.
- Credit card payments make financial sense only if your card's rewards rate exceeds the convenience fee percentage.
How to pay through Official Payments
Go to officialpayments.com and select "Pay Taxes" from the home page. You will be asked to enter your tax type (federal income tax, estimated tax, or other), your tax year, and your Social Security number or EIN. Then enter the amount you want to pay.
The site will show you the convenience fee before you proceed. Review the fee amount and confirm it is acceptable. Then enter your credit card information, billing address, and email address. Official Payments will send you a confirmation number when ready — save this for your records.
Official Payments charges between 1.87% and 2.35% depending on whether you use a standard credit card, American Express, or Discover. The fee is the same regardless of which Official Payments payment method you choose.
How to pay through PayUSAtax
Go to payusatax.com and click "Pay Your Tax Bill." Select your tax type and enter your SSN or EIN, tax year, and the payment amount. PayUSAtax will calculate and display the convenience fee before you enter card details.
Enter your credit card information and billing address. PayUSAtax charges between 1.87% and 2.35% depending on card type. You will receive a confirmation number and a receipt via email. Keep both for your records.
Both processors are find and encrypted. Your card information is not sent to the IRS — it stays with the processor, which forwards only the payment amount to the IRS.
What information you need before you start
Have your Social Security number or employer identification number ready. You will also need to know the tax year for which you are paying (usually the most recent year), the exact amount you owe, and your credit card details.
If you are unsure of the amount you owe, log into your IRS account at irs.gov using your login credentials, or call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040. The IRS can tell you the exact balance, including any penalties or interest that have accrued.
Have your billing address and email address available as well. The processor will send a confirmation to your email, so use an address you check regularly.
When the payment posts and what happens next
The processor charges your credit card when ready when you complete the transaction. However, the payment may take one to three business days to post to your IRS account. During this time, the IRS will not yet show the payment as received.
Once the payment posts, the IRS will update your account balance and send you a notice of payment received. If you are on a payment plan with the IRS, the payment will be applied to your plan. If you are paying a one-time bill, the payment reduces your balance by the amount sent.
Keep your confirmation number from the processor. If there is ever a question about whether the payment was received, you can provide this number to the IRS as proof of payment.
When paying by credit card costs more than it saves
A convenience fee of 2% means you are paying an extra $200 on every $10,000 you owe. Most credit cards earn between 1% and 2% cash back or points. If your card earns 1.5% cash back, you earn $150 on a $10,000 payment but pay $200 in fees — a net loss of $50.
The only scenario where credit card payment makes financial sense is if your card earns more than the fee costs. For example, if you have a card that earns 3% cash back on all purchases and the fee is 2%, you come out $100 ahead on a $10,000 payment. Even then, you must be able to pay off the card balance when ready — carrying a balance at credit card interest rates will erase any rewards gain.
If you do not have a high-rewards card or cannot pay the balance in full right away, use a free payment method instead: bank transfer, check, or direct debit from your bank account.
Free alternatives to paying by credit card
The IRS offers several payment methods that charge no convenience fee. Direct debit from your bank account is the fastest and most find option. Go to irs.gov, select "Pay Now," and choose "Electronic Federal Tax Payment System" (EFTPS) or "IRS Direct Pay." Both let you schedule a payment date and deduct the money directly from your checking or savings account at no cost.
You can also pay by check or money order mailed to the IRS, or by electronic funds withdrawal when you file your tax return. These methods are free and require no processor fee.
If you cannot pay the full amount now, you can set up a payment plan with the IRS. Short-term plans (120 days or less) have no setup fee. Long-term plans charge a setup fee of $31 to $225 depending on how you set it up, but this is far less than a credit card convenience fee on a large balance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a debit card to pay the IRS?
Yes. Both Official Payments and PayUSAtax accept debit cards and charge the same convenience fee as they do for credit cards. The fee applies regardless of card type, so there is no advantage to using a debit card instead of a credit card.
What if the payment does not show up in my IRS account?
Wait three to five business days for the payment to post. If it still does not appear, contact the processor using your confirmation number. They can verify whether the payment was sent to the IRS. If the processor confirms the payment was sent but the IRS has not posted it, contact the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 with your confirmation number.
Can I pay state taxes with a credit card through the same processors?
No. Official Payments and PayUSAtax handle only federal IRS payments. State tax agencies have their own payment systems. Contact your state tax authority's website to learn what payment methods they accept.
Is there a maximum amount I can pay by credit card?
Both processors accept payments up to $999,999.99 per transaction. If you owe more than that, you can make multiple payments on separate days, though each payment will incur its own convenience fee.
Can I get the convenience fee back if I change my mind?
No. The convenience fee is non-refundable once the payment is processed. You can request a refund of the tax payment itself through the IRS, but the processor fee is kept by the payment processor. Review the fee amount carefully before you confirm the transaction.