IRS Tax Tip 2017-45, April 11, 2017 The IRS offers several payment options for taxpayers who owe federal taxes. Keep in mind that the deadline for payment is Tuesday, April 18, 2017. Here are some key points when paying taxes this year: Never send cash. Electronic payment options are the quickest and easiest way to make a tax payment. Taxpayers can pay online, by phone or with their mobile device. A secure and easy way to pay is with IRS Direct Pay. Taxpayers can pay online for free at IRS.gov. Use Direct Pay to pay directly from a checking or savings account. Taxpayers will get instant confirmation when they submit their payment. Whether e-filing their tax return or filing on paper, taxpayers can choose to pay with a credit or debit card. The company that processes the payment will charge a processing fee. The taxpayer may be able to deduct the credit or debit card-processing fee on the Schedule A, Itemized Deductions, on next year’s return. Use the IRS2Go app to pay with Direct Pay or by debit or credit card. IRS2Go provides easy access to mobile-friendly payment options. Download IRS2Go for free from Google Play, the Apple App Store or the Amazon App Store. Pay taxes electronically on IRS.gov. Just click on the ‘Payments’ tab for access to IRS Direct Pay and other payment options. Taxpayers can pay in a single step by using their tax software when they e-file. If using a tax preparer, ask the preparer to make the tax payment electronically. Taxpayers may also enroll in the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System. They can use the EFTPS to pay their federal taxes electronically. They have a choice to pay using the internet, or by phone using the EFTPS Voice Response System. Taxpayers can make a cash payment without the need of a bank account or credit card at more than 7,000 7-Eleven stores nationwide. To pay with cash, first visit IRS.gov/paywithcash and follow the instructions. If taxpayers can’t pay electronically, they can still pay by a personal or cashier’s check or money order. Do not send cash. Taxpayers should make their check or money order payable to the “U.S. Treasury.” They need to write their name, address and daytime phone number on the front of the payment. They also need to write the tax year, form number they are filing and their Social Security number. They should use the SSN shown first if it's a joint return. If paying by check, taxpayers should complete Form 1040-V, Payment Voucher. Mail it with the tax return and payment to the IRS. Taxpayers should make sure they send their payment to the address listed on the back of Form 1040-V. This will help the IRS process their payment and post it to their account. Taxpayers can get the form on IRS.gov/forms at any time. Do not staple or clip checks to any tax form. If taxpayers can’t pay their tax bill in full, they should still file their tax return on time. They should pay as much as they can with their tax return. That will help keep their penalty and interest costs down. Taxpayers have options such as an installment agreement, which allows them to pay the balance over time. The Online Payment Agreement application is available on IRS.gov. Taxpayers can check their account balance using a new online tool. It’s safe, secure and available on the Finding Out How Much You Owe page on IRS.gov. Taxpayers should keep a copy of their tax return. Beginning in 2017, taxpayers using a software product for the first time may need their Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) amount from their prior-year tax return to verify their identity. Taxpayers can learn more about how to verify their identity and electronically sign tax returns at Validating Your Electronically Filed Tax Return. More IRS resources IRS Free File E-file Options Filing Your Taxes IRS Tax Map IRS YouTube Videos: IRS Taxes - Three Easy Ways to Pay - English | Spanish | ASL (Obsolete) Owe Taxes but Can’t Pay - English | Spanish | ASL (Obsolete) Subscribe to Tax Tips
