The U.S. Department of Treasury provides the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System, or EFTPS, as a free service to allow taxpayers to pay their federal taxes electronically. The service is designed to help make it easier for businesses and individuals to pay their taxes on time and help reduce errors associated with manual payments.
EFTPS offers a secure and convenient way to pay taxes, including payroll taxes, directly from your bank account. Once registered, you can schedule payments in advance, track payment history, and confirm payments made to the IRS.
In addition to saving trips to the post office, it can minimize the worry about checks getting lost in the mail.
Tax professionals can use the Batch Provider Software to make payments for multiple clients with a single login.
Benefits of EFTPS
EFTPS is a popular choice to make tax payments.
- Free
- Available 24/7
- Provides a confirmation number for every transaction
- Utilizes multiple layers of security to protect identity and financial information
- View 15 months of payment history
- Receive help with payments or questions from customer service agents
How to Enroll in EFTPS
You must be enrolled in ETPS before you use it to make payments. It can take up to five business days for the IRS to process new EFTPS enrollments.
- Enroll https://www.eftps.gov/eftps/
- Call customer service at 800-555-4477
During enrollment, you will need your:
- Taxpayer identification number or employer identification number
- Banking information
- Contact information
When your registration is complete, you’ll receive a PIN by mail to securely access your account.
The IRS offers answers to frequently asked questions about EFTPS enrollment.
The IRS also provides publications to help taxpayers navigate the system including Publication 966, Electronic Federal Tax Payment System, A Guide to Getting Started and Publication 4990, EFTPS Payment Instruction Booklet for Business and Individual Taxpayers.
Other Ways to Pay Taxes
EFTPS is not the only way you can pay your federal taxes. Depending on your needs and preferences, you can also consider these federal tax payment methods. Not all options allow for the payment of federal payroll taxes, like Social Security and Medicare (also called FICA taxes) and federal unemployment taxes (FUTA).
Business Tax Account
Businesses set up as sole proprietorships can create a business tax account to make federal tax deposit payments, including payroll taxes. This is free and requires an account.
Individual Online Account
Individuals, including household employers, can create an account to file Form 1040 and pay their individual income tax and federal household employer taxes at no charge.
Direct Pay
Pay your federal taxes directly from your bank account without registering for an account. This is free and secure but does not offer the same tracking capabilities as EFTPS. Businesses and household employers can use this method to pay federal employment taxes.
Debit Card, Credit Card or Digital Wallet
Individuals and businesses may pay their federal income taxes with debit card, credit card or digital wallet. Employers cannot use this option to pay federal employment taxes.
Check or Money Order
The IRS accepts checks and money orders for payment of federal taxes. Mail your payment to the address listed on your notice or instructions.
Same-Day Wire
You may be able to do same-day wire from your financial institution. Contact your financial institution for availability, cost, and time frames.
Electronic Funds Withdrawal
This is integrated into e-file/e-pay and is only available when filing federal taxes using tax preparation software or through a tax professional.
Simplify Payroll Taxes
You’re an expert in your field. You don’t need to be one in payroll and payroll tax management. The right payroll service provider can help you stay focused on your business, customers and employees. Learn how at www.surepayroll.com.
* This content is for educational purposes only, is not intended to provide specific legal advice, and should not be used as a substitute for the legal advice of a qualified attorney or other professional. The information may not reflect the most current legal developments, may be changed without notice and is not guaranteed to be complete, correct, or up-to-date.
