IRS Direct Pay Information
Pay Your Taxes Directly - Updated: December 20, 2025
What is Direct Pay?
Direct Pay is the IRS's free and secure way to pay your taxes directly from your bank account or by credit/debit card. It's available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and provides instant confirmation of your payment.
Direct Pay Benefits:
- Convenient: Pay anytime, anywhere
- Secure: Bank-level encryption and security
- Fast: Instant payment processing
- Free: No fees for debit card payments
- Flexible: Pay what you owe or set up payment plans
How to Use Direct Pay
Step-by-Step Process:
- Access Direct Pay: Visit the IRS website or use IRS Free File
- Create Account: Set up a secure account (one-time process)
- Enter Payment Info: Provide tax year, SSN, and payment amount
- Choose Payment Method: Bank account or credit/debit card
- Authorize Payment: Confirm and submit your payment
- Receive Confirmation: Get instant email and online confirmation
Payment Methods
🏦 Bank Account (ACH)
Pay directly from your checking or savings account.
- Cost: Free
- Processing: 1-2 business days
- Security: Bank-level encryption
- Limits: Up to $100,000 per payment
💳 Credit/Debit Card
Use Visa, MasterCard, American Express, or Discover.
- Cost: 2.49% convenience fee
- Processing: Instant
- Security: PCI DSS compliant
- Limits: Up to $100,000 per payment
Payment Types Available
You can use Direct Pay for:
- Tax Returns: Individual, business, and employment taxes
- Estimated Taxes: Quarterly estimated payments
- Extensions: Payment with filing extension
- Amendments: Additional payments for amended returns
- Trust Fund Recovery: Business tax penalties
- Installment Agreements: Monthly payment plans
Security and Privacy
Your Information is Protected
Direct Pay uses advanced security measures to protect your personal and financial information:
- SSL Encryption: 256-bit SSL certificate protection
- PCI Compliance: Meets Payment Card Industry standards
- Data Encryption: All data encrypted in transit and at rest
- Secure Servers: Hosted on IRS-secured infrastructure
- Audit Trail: Complete transaction logging and monitoring
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I schedule future payments?
Yes, you can set up recurring payments for estimated taxes or installment agreements.
What if I make a mistake?
Contact the IRS within 60 days to request a refund of incorrect payments.
Are there payment limits?
Maximum payment amount is $100,000. Minimum is $1 for electronic payments.
Can I get a receipt?
Yes, you'll receive an email confirmation and can download receipts from your account.