Can you pay IRS (federal income tax) with a credit card?
Yes, with a fee of 1.75% (minimum $2.50).
Stated on IRS's own payment page.
Last checked October 19, 2026 by Bill Router. How we check
Ways to pay IRS (federal income tax)
| Way | Accepted | Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Card through the biller's processor | Yes | 1.75%, minimum $2.50 | Processor: Pay1040 (pay1040.com). Personal credit card 1.75% ($2.50 minimum); business or commercial cards 2.89% ($2.50 minimum); personal debit card flat $2.15. Also accepts Diners Club, China Union Pay, JCB and debit networks, plus PayPal and Click-to-pay. The fee goes to the processor, not the IRS, and shows on your card statement as a 'Tax Payment Convenience Fee'. Networks: visa, mastercard, discover, amex. |
| Card through the biller's processor | Yes | 1.85%, minimum $2.50 | Processor: ACI Payments (fed.acipayonline.com, formerly Official Payments). Personal credit card 1.85% ($2.50 minimum); business or commercial cards 2.95% ($2.50 minimum); personal debit card flat $2.10. Also PayPal, Venmo and Click-to-Pay. ACI handles federal payments only, not state taxes. Discover is not listed for ACI. Networks: visa, mastercard, amex. |
| Bank account (ACH) | Yes | Free | IRS Direct Pay from a checking or savings account. Free. |
What it is worth for your tax payment
Example amount shown; change it to yours.
| Way to pay | Fee per payment | Net per year |
|---|---|---|
| Card through the biller's processor (1.75%, minimum $2.50) | $17.50 | +$30 |
| Card through the biller's processor (1.85%, minimum $2.50) | $18.50 | +$18 |
| Bank account (ACH) | $0 | $0 |
Rewards minus fees, twelve payments a year. A negative number means a card costs you money.
When a card is worth it
For a $1,000 tax payment, the fee is more than a typical 2% card earns, so pay IRS (federal income tax) from your bank account. A card only makes sense here if it is the cheapest way to finish a sign-up bonus; the calculator checks that against your other bills.
Watch out for
The card fee is paid to the processor, not the IRS, and is non-refundable. Business or commercial cards pay 2.89% to 2.95% instead of about 1.75% to 1.85%. Federal tax deposits (employment taxes) cannot be paid by card, and different card fees apply if you pay while e-filing through tax software.
Sources
Pay1040 Fees Debit card $2.15 Credit card 1.75% ($2.50 minimum) Commercial card 2.89% ($2.50 minimum)
www.irs.gov · checked October 19, 2026ACI Payments Fees Debit card $2.10 Credit card 1.85% ($2.50 minimum) Commercial card 2.95% ($2.50 minimum)
www.irs.gov · checked October 19, 2026Pay taxes from your bank account with Direct Pay. Free and secure
www.irs.gov · checked October 19, 2026
Payment rules change. Every biller is re-checked at least every 180 days, and a page past that date is taken out of search until it is.
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Other tax agencies
- California Franchise Tax Board · Card, with a fee
- Georgia Department of Revenue · Card, with a fee
- Illinois Department of Revenue · Card, no fee published
- Michigan Department of Treasury · Card, with a fee
- New Jersey Division of Taxation · Card, no fee published
- New York State Department of Taxation and Finance · Card, with a fee
- North Carolina Department of Revenue · Card, with a fee
- Ohio Department of Taxation · Card, with a fee
See every bill at once
Add your other bills to the calculator to see which go on a card, which stay on your bank account, and which sign-up bonus your normal spending can reach.