Send federal tax payments to the IRS through one of four routes

The IRS does not accept tax payments by mail to a single address. Instead, you choose a method based on how you want to pay: online, by phone, by mail to a lockbox, or through your bank. The method you pick determines where your money goes and how fast the IRS records it.

Most people pay online through IRS Direct Pay or the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS), which are free and post to your account within one business day. If you mail a check, it goes to one of several IRS lockbox addresses depending on your state. If you pay by phone or through a tax software company, the payment processor handles routing to the IRS on your behalf.

Key Takeaways

  • IRS Direct Pay and EFTPS are free online methods that record your payment within one business day and require no software purchase.
  • Mailed checks go to a state-specific lockbox address, not an IRS office, and take two to three weeks to post to your account.
  • Payments made through tax software or a payment processor may charge a fee and route through a third party before reaching the IRS.
  • Phone payments through the IRS automated system or a tax professional charge a fee and require your Social Security number and tax information on hand.
  • The payment method you choose does not affect your tax filing deadline or penalty calculations — only the date the IRS receives the money matters.

Pay online free through IRS Direct Pay or EFTPS

IRS Direct Pay is the simplest free option for one-time payments. You go to irs.gov/payments, enter your Social Security number or employer identification number, tax year, and the amount you want to pay, and schedule a payment date up to 120 days in advance. The IRS pulls the money directly from your bank account on that date. You receive a confirmation number immediately and can check the payment status online within one business day.

EFTPS is the older system, designed for businesses and people who make regular payments. You enroll once at eftps.gov, then log in to schedule payments whenever you need to. Enrollment takes one to two business days. Both systems are free and post payments to your IRS account by the next business day.

You need your bank account and routing number for either method. If you do not know your routing number, your bank's website or a check will show it. Direct Pay and EFTPS work for federal income tax, self-employment tax, estimated tax payments, and back taxes.

Mail a check to your state's IRS lockbox

If you pay by mail, your check goes to a lockbox address that depends on your state, not to an IRS office. The IRS publishes the full list on irs.gov/payments under "Where to File" for your state. Do not mail a check to an IRS office address — it will be forwarded and delay posting by weeks.

Write your Social Security number, tax year, and form number (1040, 1040-ES, or 941, for example) on the check itself. Include a payment voucher if you have one — for individual income tax, use Form 1040-V, which you can print from irs.gov. Enclose both the check and voucher in an envelope and mail to the lockbox address for your state.

Mailed payments take two to three weeks to post to your IRS account after the lockbox receives them. The postmark date is what matters for the tax deadline, not the date the IRS receives it. If you mail a payment by April 15 and it arrives in May, you are still on time as long as the postmark shows April 15 or earlier.

Pay by phone through the IRS or a tax professional

The IRS operates an automated phone payment system at 1-800-555-4477 that accepts payments 24 hours a day. You enter your Social Security number, tax information, and bank account details using your phone keypad. The system charges a fee — currently around $2.50 per transaction — which is deducted from your bank account along with the tax payment.

Tax professionals, enrolled agents, and tax software companies also accept phone payments on your behalf. These third-party processors charge higher fees, typically $3 to $15 depending on the provider. The processor routes your payment to the IRS, and you receive a confirmation number from them. The payment posts to your IRS account within one to two business days.

Phone payments work if you do not have internet access or prefer not to enter banking information online. You need your Social Security number, tax year, and bank account information ready before you call.

Pay through tax software or a payment processor

Most tax software companies (TurboTax, H&R Block, TaxAct, and others) let you pay your tax bill directly from their platform. The software calculates what you owe, and you choose to pay by debit card, credit card, or bank transfer. Credit card and debit card payments go through a payment processor and carry a fee of 1.87% to 2.35% of the payment amount. Bank transfers are usually free or cost $1 to $3.

When you pay through software, the processor receives your payment first, then routes it to the IRS. This adds one to two business days to posting time compared to paying directly through IRS Direct Pay. You receive a confirmation number from the software company and can track the payment through your account.

The advantage is convenience if you are already using the software to file. The disadvantage is the fee for card payments. If you are paying a large amount, the fee can be substantial — a $5,000 payment by credit card costs $93 to $117 in fees alone.

State tax payments go to your state revenue department, not the IRS

State income tax payments do not go to the IRS. Each state has its own payment system and lockbox addresses. Most states accept online payments through their revenue department website, and many accept payments through the same tax software you use for federal taxes.

To find your state's payment method, search "[your state] income tax payment" or visit your state revenue department's website directly. State payment deadlines match the federal deadline (April 15 for most people), but some states have different rules for mailed payments and postmark dates. Check your state's rules before mailing.

If you owe both federal and state taxes, you must make two separate payments to two different places. The IRS does not collect state taxes or forward payments to states.

What to do if you are unsure about the payment address

The safest approach is to use IRS Direct Pay or EFTPS, which eliminate the risk of sending money to the wrong address. If you prefer to mail a check, verify the lockbox address on irs.gov/payments immediately before sealing the envelope. The address changes occasionally, and an outdated address can delay posting by weeks.

If you have already mailed a payment and are not sure whether it went to the right address, check your payment status on irs.gov using the "Where's My Payment?" tool or call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040. Provide your Social Security number and the payment amount. The IRS can tell you whether the payment has been received and posted.

If a mailed payment is lost or delayed beyond three weeks, you can make a second payment online through Direct Pay while the first one is still in transit. Once both arrive, the IRS will credit both to your account. You will not be penalized for the delay as long as the original check was postmarked by the deadline.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I pay my taxes with a credit card?

Yes, but only through a third-party payment processor, not directly to the IRS. Credit card payments carry a fee of 1.87% to 2.35% of the amount paid. You can pay by credit card through tax software, a payment processor website, or by phone through a tax professional. The IRS itself does not accept credit cards directly.

What if I mail my check to the wrong address?

The check will likely be forwarded to the correct lockbox, but this adds two to four weeks to posting time. To avoid this, verify the lockbox address for your state on irs.gov before mailing. If you have already mailed it, call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 to report the error and ask whether you should send a second payment online.

How do I know if my payment was received?

Check the "Where's My Payment?" tool on irs.gov, which updates within one business day for online payments and two to three weeks for mailed checks. You can also call 1-800-829-1040 with your Social Security number and payment amount. Keep your confirmation number from the payment method you used.

Can I split my payment between two methods?

Yes. You can pay part of your tax bill online through Direct Pay and mail a check for the remainder, or use any combination of methods. Each payment posts separately to your account. Make sure the total of all payments equals what you owe to avoid underpayment penalties.

Do I have to pay by the same deadline as filing?

Yes, tax payments are due by April 15 (or the next business day if April 15 falls on a weekend). The postmark date matters for mailed checks, but for online and phone payments, the date you schedule or submit the payment is what counts. If you cannot pay by the deadline, you can still file your return on time and pay later, but penalties and interest will accrue.