You can pay federal income taxes with a credit card through an authorized payment processor, but you will pay a convenience fee that usually makes it more expensive than other methods.
The IRS does not accept credit cards directly. Instead, it has approved a small number of payment processors — currently Worldpay, Paymetrics, and Official Payments — who handle the transaction and charge you a fee for doing so. The fee is a percentage of the amount you pay, typically between 1.87% and 2.35%, and goes to the processor, not the IRS. If you owe $5,000, expect to pay $94 to $118 extra just to use a card.
You should only use this method if you are earning credit card rewards that exceed the fee cost, or if you genuinely have no other way to pay by the important date. For most people, paying by bank transfer, check, or debit card costs nothing and is faster.
Key Takeaways
- Credit card payments to the IRS go through a third-party processor and carry a convenience fee of roughly 1.87% to 2.35% of the amount paid.
- You can pay federal income taxes through Worldpay, Paymetrics, or Official Payments by visiting their websites directly — not through IRS.gov.
- State income taxes may have their own payment processors and fee structures, which you can find on your state tax authority's website.
- Credit card payments are processed when ready, but the IRS may take several weeks to post the payment to your account.
- If you are carrying a balance on your card, the interest you pay will almost certainly exceed any rewards you earn.
Finding the Authorized Payment Processors for Federal Taxes
Go to IRS.gov and search for "pay by credit card" or navigate to the payment options page. The IRS lists the three approved processors with links to each one. Do not search for a processor independently — scams exist that mimic the real sites and capture your payment information.
Each processor has its own website and fee structure. Worldpay, Paymetrics, and Official Payments all charge slightly different percentages, so if the fee matters to you, check all three before choosing. The difference between 1.87% and 2.35% on a large payment can be $50 or more.
You will need your Social Security number, the amount you owe, and your tax year to complete the payment. Have your credit card ready, but do not enter it until you are on the processor's actual website — never through a link in an email, even if the email appears to come from the IRS.
How the Payment Process Works
Once you select a processor and enter your information, you will see the fee amount displayed before you confirm. This is your final note to back out if the cost seems too high. After you confirm, the processor charges your credit card when ready and gives you a confirmation number.
The processor then sends the payment to the IRS on your behalf. The IRS typically takes two to three weeks to post the payment to your tax account, even though the processor charged your card right away. This delay is normal and does not mean the payment failed.
You should receive a confirmation email from the processor within a few hours. Keep this email and the confirmation number in case you need to track the payment later. If you do not receive a confirmation within 24 hours, contact the processor directly — do not assume the payment went through.
Paying State Income Taxes by Credit Card
State tax agencies do not use the same processors as the IRS. Each state runs its own payment system, and many states do not accept credit cards at all. Check your state tax authority's website to see what payment methods are available.
Some states allow credit card payments through their own portals, while others direct you to a third-party processor specific to that state. A few states charge no fee for credit card payments, but most charge a percentage similar to the federal processors. A handful of states do not accept credit cards under any circumstance and require bank transfer, check, or money order instead.
If your state does accept credit cards, the processor link will be on the state tax authority's website. Use the same caution you would with federal payments — only click links from the official state website, never from an email or search result.
When Credit Card Payment Actually Makes Financial Sense
The only scenario where paying taxes by credit card makes sense is if you earn enough in rewards to cover the fee and then some. If your card offers 2% cash back and the processor charges 2%, you break even. If your card offers 3% cash back and the processor charges 1.87%, you come out ahead by 1.13% — but only if you pay off the card when ready.
If you carry a balance on your credit card, the interest you will pay far exceeds any rewards. Credit card interest rates typically run 18% to 25% annually. Even a small balance will cost you more in interest than you earn in rewards, making the whole strategy lose money.
Calculate the exact numbers before you pay. If you owe $10,000 and your card offers 2% cash back, you earn $200 in rewards. If the processor charges 2%, you pay $200 in fees. You break even, and you have tied up $10,000 on a credit card for weeks while the IRS processes the payment. A bank transfer costs nothing and clears faster.
What Happens After You Pay
The processor gives you a confirmation number when ready, but this is not the same as an IRS receipt. The IRS will send you a separate notice once the payment posts to your account, which can take two to three weeks. Until you see that notice, you should assume the payment is in transit.
If you are paying a balance due on your return, the payment will reduce the amount owed. If you are paying an estimated tax payment, it will be credited toward your next tax bill. Either way, the IRS will send you written confirmation once the posting is complete.
If you need proof of payment before the IRS notice arrives, use your processor confirmation number. You can also contact the IRS directly at 1-800-829-1040 and provide your Social Security number and the payment date — they can tell you whether the payment has been received, though they may not have posted it yet.
Alternatives That Cost Less or Nothing
Bank transfer through IRS Direct Pay costs nothing and takes one to two business days. You authorize the IRS to pull money directly from your checking or savings account, and there is no fee. This is the fastest and cheapest option if you have a bank account.
Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS) is another free option that works similarly to Direct Pay. You enroll once, then schedule payments whenever you need to. Both Direct Pay and EFTPS are available through IRS.gov.
A check or money order sent by mail costs the price of a stamp and takes longer to process, but there is no percentage fee. If you are not in a hurry and want to avoid any processing charges, this is a valid choice. Mail your payment to the IRS address listed on your tax return or on IRS.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will paying taxes by credit card hurt my credit score?
Paying taxes by credit card will increase your credit utilization — the percentage of your available credit you are using — which can temporarily lower your score. If you pay off the balance when ready, the impact is small and temporary. If you carry the balance, the impact is larger and lasts longer. Paying by bank transfer or check avoids this issue entirely.
Can I use a rewards credit card to pay estimated taxes?
Yes, the same processors accept estimated tax payments as well as tax return payments. The fee structure is identical. Calculate whether the rewards exceed the fee before you pay, and remember that you must pay off the card when ready to avoid interest charges that will erase any benefit.
What if the processor charges my card but the IRS says they never received the payment?
Contact the processor first with your confirmation number. They can verify whether the payment was sent to the IRS. If it was sent, ask the processor to provide proof to the IRS. If the processor cannot locate the payment, they are responsible for refunding the charge to your card. This is rare, but it is why you must keep your confirmation number and email.
Do I have to pay the convenience fee, or can I negotiate it?
The fee is set by the processor and is not negotiable. You can choose which processor to use based on their fee, but you cannot reduce the fee itself. The IRS does not set the fee — the processor does — so contacting the IRS will not help.
Can I pay someone else's taxes with my credit card?
No. The payment must be made from the taxpayer's own account or by someone with power of attorney. You cannot pay another person's federal tax bill with your own credit card, even if you have their permission. If you want to help someone pay their taxes, you can give them money and let them make the payment themselves, or you can help them set up a bank transfer or check payment.