IRS Direct Pay: How to Easily Pay Your Taxes Online for Free

We have many clients who make extension payments, tax payments, and estimated payments by writing checks and sending them to the IRS via mail. But did you know there is a much easier way?

The IRS now allows you to pay your taxes online through their website for free. Just like many other convenient platforms in today’s world, it’s as easy as clicking a button. No more checks, no more mailboxes, and no more messy online registrations and logins. IRS Direct Pay is a simple, secure, and free way to pay your taxes online directly from your checking or savings account.

Please note that if you choose to use this feature, accuracy is essential. If you don't code your payment appropriately, you could incur significant penalties or interest. Read through the steps below as we walk you through the detailed payment process, and if you have any questions along the way, be sure to reach out to your tax professional for guidance.

How To Use IRS Direct Pay

Watch our short tutorial for step-by-step instructions on how to use this simple feature.

Make A Payment Feature

Once you have navigated to the IRS Direct Pay website, simply click on the Make a Payment button.

Step 1: Select the appropriate reason for payment from the provided drop-down menu. Some reasons provided include tax return or notice, extension, estimated tax, proposed tax assessment, amended return, and more. If you're unsure how to code your payment, more information about the payment types can be found by clicking the help icon (?). Payments that are coded incorrectly will then be misapplied and may result in penalties and interest fees, so accuracy is essential.

Step 2: Choose the form type that you are paying from the Apply Payment To drop-down. Depending on the reason you chose for your payment, the Apply Payment To drop-down will populate with the appropriate forms (i.e. 1040/1120 for tax returns, 4868 for individual extensions, etc). Again, if you're unsure where the payment should be applied, click the help icon (?) for more information.

Step 3: Pick the tax period for your payment and press continue. You will then be asked to confirm the choices you made in the first three steps. Make sure that everything looks correct before proceeding.

Payments that are coded incorrectly in steps 1-3 will be misapplied. The IRS cannot always make corrections to erroneous payments which could result in penalties and interest, so accuracy is essential. If you have questions about the reason, form, or year, please contact a member of your MGA team to ensure the correct information is entered.

Step 4: Next, you will be asked for information to verify your identity. Fill in all the required form fields indicated by the asterisks to do this.

Step 5: Simply enter the amount you wish to pay, the bank account information the money should be drawn from, and your email address. Please be aware you will not be able to make more than one payment within a 24 hour period. You will also receive an email confirmation to the email address you provided if you checked the box accepting notifications on the form. This will allow you to keep track of your payment easily.

QUICK TIP: In today’s world of email fraud, please note you will only receive emails from IRS Direct Pay if you signed up for them. If you did not agree to email notifications when filling out the form, please practice caution with any suspicious looking emails claiming to be from the IRS.

Once you make a payment, you will receive instant confirmation so you can have peace of mind that your payment was successfully received. The confirmation should then be printed and a copy forwarded to your team at MGA for our records.

Look Up Payment Feature

If you want to check the status of a payment you made through IRS Direct Pay, you can click on the Look Up Payment button. This feature will allow you to track any online payment that you have made in the past as long as you have your confirmation number handy.

Simply enter the payment confirmation number along with your social security number and receive up-to-date details on the processing of your payment.

This feature also allows you to modify or cancel a scheduled payment, if needed, up until two business days before the payment is due. You can view your payment history via this feature as well.

Making Your Complex Tax Payments Simple

Welcome to the age of convenience with IRS Direct Pay. As your trusted advisors, we are always looking for simple solutions to your complex problems. From big issues like tax planning to small matters like making your tax payments, we are here to provide a helping hand with any complex problems you may be facing.

If you choose to use this great feature offered by the IRS, please be sure to send us your confirmation afterward that shows all the payment details for our records. 

Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns while using IRS Direct Pay.\

Or if you are looking for additional tax services, let's talk!