How To: Make a Federal Tax Payment

There are a few times when you will need to make a federal tax payment. The most common payments are made when your tax return is filed (balance due) or if you are making quarterly estimated tax payments. We will walk you through the steps of making that payment to the IRS.

Balance Due -tax due when tax return is filed:

*The tax is due on the filing due date (4/15). Even if you extend your tax tax return, your payment is still due on 4/15. If you don’t pay your tax by 4/15, interest and penalty are charged on the unpaid balance.

“But what if I don’t know what I’ll owe?!” – That is a great question, this is why the tax preparer will send you recommendations for an “extension” payment. The recommended extension payment is an educated guess as to what you might owe when the return is filed.

Quarterly Estimated Tax Payments:

Generally, a tax professional will make a recommenation to pay quarterly estimated taxes to avoid underpayment penalties for the next year. The quarterly estimated tax due dates are as follows:

• April 15 (the same date as the filing due date)
• June 15
• Sept 15
• Jan 15

HOW TO- Steps to make an online federal tax payment

*Before you begin the payment process, please have a prior years tax return for verification purposes.*

• Go to the IRS website : https://www.irs.gov
• Click on “Make a Payment”
• From here you will be given the option to pay with Direct Pay (bank account) or with Card/Digital Wallet. *A processing fee is charged when you use a credit card
• After you choose your option, “make payment”
• Now, you will choose your “reason for payment”
  • *Balance Due is for the current year you are filing.
  • *Estimated Tax is for paying estimated tax payments.
• “Apply Payment to”
  • Balance due–> income tax 1040
  • Estimated tax –> 1040ES (for 1040, 1040A, 1040EZ)
• “Tax Period for Payment”
  • Balance due –> select the year
  • Estimated tax –> *this should default to the current year
• “Continue”
• Now, you will need to verify your identity with information from a prior filed tax return
  • Choose prior tax year (not the one you are trying to pay)
  • Filing Status
  • First Name, Last Name, Address
  • Accept the Privacy & paperwork reduction act
  • Continue
• Now, follow the prompts to enter – *With credit cards, you will need to choose the processing fee first, and then enter your card info.
• Amount of payment
  • Date you’d like the payment to be debited
  • Routing and Account info (for direct pay with bank acct
  • Confirm & Review
  • When complete, print a copy of the payment confirmation and keep for your records.

For your Information:

• Did you know that you can make your estimated tax payments with the IRS2Go App?  Learn More
• Information for setting up an IRS account:
• IRS.gov online account
  • ID.me help guide

*IRS is partnering with ID me to create and verify your IRS online account. The process contains multiple steps. You will need about 25 mins, a computer, your phone, and your driver’s license to set this up.