EFTPS: A Secure Way for Businesses and Trusts to Pay Federal Taxes Online

Now that Tax Day has passed, you may have just wrapped up a round of federal tax payments for your business or trust. Before the next quarterly due dates creep up, we thought it’d be the perfect time to revisit a tool that makes future payments easier, more organized, and trackable: Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS)

We’ve previously shared information about IRS Direct Pay, the simple and free option for personal and business tax payments. However, if you’re making a large business payment (over $10 million) or submitting a tax payment for a trust, EFTPS is the required system.

EFTPS is a secure, flexible, and entirely free system from the U.S. Department of the Treasury. It supports a full range of tax types, allows you to schedule payments far in advance, and provides detailed payment tracking, making it an essential tool for anyone handling complex or recurring tax obligations.

What Is EFTPS?

EFTPS is an official U.S. Department of the Treasury system that allows entities to pay federal taxes online or by phone for free, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Whether you're paying income tax, payroll tax, estimated tax, or excise tax, EFTPS can handle it all.

Why Use EFTPS?

Here are a few reasons why EFTPS might be the right fit for you:

• Supports Business and Fiduciary Accounts: EFTPS allows entities like corporations, partnerships, LLCs, and trusts to make payments using an EIN.
• Advance Scheduling: You can schedule payments up to 365 days in advance for businesses.
• Full Range of Tax Types: Income, employment (941/940), excise, estimated, and more are all covered.
• Secure Login: Access requires your Taxpayer ID (SSN or EIN), a Personal Identification Number (PIN), and an internet password.
• Payment Tracking: Get instant confirmation and view up to 15 months of payment history.
• Amend or Cancel Payments: You can modify or cancel a scheduled payment up to two business days before the due date.

How to Get Started with EFTPS

Before you can make a payment, you’ll need to enroll — a one-time process that typically takes up to five business days.

Here's how to do it:

Step 1: Enroll

Visit www.eftps.gov and click “Enroll.” You’ll enter identifying information (SSN or EIN), banking details, and contact info.

Once submitted, you’ll receive:

• A PIN in the mail (usually within 5–7 business days)
• Instructions on how to set your internet password

Step 2: Make a Payment

Once enrolled, log into your EFTPS account and follow the prompts to make a payment:

1. Select your tax form (e.g., 941 for payroll, 1041 for estates, 1040 for individuals).
2. Choose your payment type and tax period.
3. Enter your payment amount and banking information.
4. Schedule the payment for any date up to a year in advance.
5. Receive immediate confirmation.

Phone Option

Prefer the phone? You can make payments through the EFTPS voice response system at 800-555-3453, using your TIN, PIN, and payment information.

When Should You Use EFTPS?

• Your payment exceeds $10 million, which must be paid through EFTPS.
• You're paying on behalf of an entity, such as a business, trust, or fiduciary, and you prefer the added control and tracking features EFTPS provides.
• You need to schedule payments well in advance, including recurring or future-dated payments.
• You want the ability to view, track, or modify payments before they process.
• You make frequent or complex tax payments and need a system designed for higher-volume, high-visibility activity.

Just like with IRS Direct Pay, we ask that you send your payment confirmation to us for our records. This ensures your payment is properly recorded and helps us keep your tax filings accurate and up-to-date.

As always, we have an incredible team here who is happy to help you with any questions that may come up. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us with any questions, via email or phone.