You can pay the IRS with a credit card, but only through two authorized payment processors, and you will pay a convenience fee on top of your tax bill
The IRS does not accept credit cards directly. Instead, you must use one of two authorized payment processors: Official Payments Corporation or Worldpay. Both charge a convenience fee — typically between 1.87% and 2.35% of the amount you pay — which gets added to your bill. So if you owe $5,000 and pay with a 2% fee, you are actually paying $5,100.
The main reason to pay by credit card is to earn rewards on a large tax payment. If your card earns 2% cash back and the convenience fee is 1.87%, you net roughly 0.13% — a small gain, but a gain. The math only works if your rewards rate exceeds the fee. If you are paying to avoid a penalty or interest charge, the fee usually costs more than the interest you would owe, so a bank transfer or check is cheaper.
You can pay estimated taxes, prior-year returns, or current-year returns this way. The payment posts to your IRS account within one business day, though the processor may take a few days to settle the transaction with your card issuer.
Key Takeaways
- Only Official Payments Corporation and Worldpay are authorized to process IRS credit card payments; you access them through IRS.gov or by searching for their names directly.
- Convenience fees range from roughly 1.87% to 2.35% depending on the processor and payment method, and this fee is added to your tax bill, not paid separately.
- Paying by credit card makes financial sense only if your card's rewards rate is higher than the convenience fee you will pay.
- The IRS records your payment within one business day, but your credit card company may take several days to post the charge to your account.
How to find the authorized processors on IRS.gov
Go to IRS.gov and search for "pay by credit card" or navigate to the payment options page under "Payments." You will see links to both Official Payments Corporation and Worldpay listed as the only two authorized processors. Do not use any other service claiming to process IRS payments — scams exist, and using an unauthorized processor means your payment may not reach the IRS at all.
Each processor has its own website and fee structure. Official Payments typically charges 1.87% for credit card payments; Worldpay's fee varies slightly depending on whether you pay online, by phone, or through a mobile app. Check both sites before you commit, because the fee difference on a large payment can be $20 or more.
What information you need before you start
Have your Social Security number or employer identification number, your tax year, and the amount you want to pay. You will also need your credit card number, expiration date, and CVV. The processor will ask for your billing address and phone number.
If you are paying a bill from a prior year or a notice the IRS sent you, have that document handy — it will show your balance and may include a reference number that speeds up the process. If you are paying an estimated tax, you will need to know which quarter you are paying for.
Comparing the two processors and their fees
| Processor | Credit Card Fee | Payment Methods | When Payment Posts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Official Payments Corporation | 1.87% | Online, phone | 1 business day |
| Worldpay | 1.87% to 2.35% (varies by method) | Online, phone, mobile app | 1 business day |
Both processors post your payment to the IRS within one business day, so there is no speed advantage to choosing one over the other. The difference is in the fee and the payment methods available. Official Payments offers online and phone payments; Worldpay also offers a mobile app. If you want to pay on your phone and the fee is the same, Worldpay may be slightly more convenient.
Neither processor will let you set up a recurring payment for estimated taxes. You must initiate each quarterly payment separately, which means you cannot automate the process the way you can with a bank account.
When paying by credit card costs more than it saves
If you owe $10,000 and your card earns 1.5% cash back, you earn $150 in rewards. The convenience fee at 1.87% costs $187. You lose $37 on the transaction. In this case, paying by bank transfer (free) or check (free) saves you money.
The same is true if you are trying to avoid a late-payment penalty. The IRS charges 0.5% per month (up to 25% total) on unpaid taxes. If you owe $5,000 and are one month late, the penalty is $25. The convenience fee to pay by credit card is roughly $94. You are paying nearly four times the penalty to avoid it.
Credit card payments make sense only when your rewards rate clearly exceeds the fee. A 2.5% cash back card paying a 1.87% fee nets you 0.63% — small, but real. A 3% rewards card nets 1.13%. The larger your payment, the more the absolute dollar gain, even if the percentage is small.
How the payment reaches your IRS account
When you complete the transaction with the processor, they assign you a confirmation number. Write this down or save the email confirmation. The processor sends the payment to the IRS electronically, and the IRS posts it to your account within one business day. You can check the status of your payment on IRS.gov using your Social Security number and the amount you paid.
Your credit card company will see the charge from the processor (Official Payments or Worldpay), not directly from the IRS. This usually posts within three to five business days, depending on your card issuer. If there is a delay, contact your card issuer, not the processor — they control when the charge appears on your statement.
If you need proof that the IRS received your payment for tax records or a dispute, the confirmation number from the processor is your receipt. Keep it. The IRS will also show the payment in your account transcript, which you can view on IRS.gov.
Alternatives if you cannot afford the full amount now
If the convenience fee pushes you over budget, the IRS offers a payment plan (called an installment agreement) that lets you pay in monthly installments with no convenience fee. You can set this up on IRS.gov, by phone, or through a tax professional. The IRS charges a setup fee (typically $31 to $225 depending on the method) and interest on the unpaid balance, but no percentage-based convenience fee.
A short-term extension (120 days) is also free and delays your payment without penalty, though interest accrues. If you are waiting for a refund that will cover part of what you owe, you can request an offset — the IRS will apply your refund to your balance automatically.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a debit card to pay the IRS?
No. Both authorized processors accept credit cards only. Debit cards are not accepted. If you want to pay electronically without a credit card, you can use a bank account through the IRS's direct debit option, which has no fee.
What if I pay with a credit card and then get a refund?
The IRS will refund the amount you overpaid, but the convenience fee you paid to the processor is not refunded — it is a non-recoverable transaction cost. This is another reason to calculate whether the rewards justify the fee before you pay.
Does paying by credit card affect when my payment is due?
No. The due date does not change. If your payment is due April 15 and you pay by credit card on April 15, it counts as on-time as long as the processor receives it by midnight. However, the IRS posts the payment within one business day, so paying on the due date itself is cutting it close.
Can I dispute the convenience fee with my credit card company?
No. The fee is a legitimate charge from the processor, not an error. Your card company will not reverse it. The fee is disclosed before you complete the payment, so you are agreeing to it when you proceed.
What happens if the processor's website is down on the day I need to pay?
If you cannot reach the processor online, you can call them directly to pay by phone. Both Official Payments and Worldpay have phone lines. The fee is the same whether you pay online or by phone. If both are unavailable, you can mail a check or use the IRS's direct debit option as a backup.