When you owe federal income taxes, you have choices of how to pay.
This year, based on which filing option you use (paper, e-file by computer, or
TeleFile by phone), you may be able to pay your taxes via check, money order,
credit card, or direct debit.
If you pay taxes you owe by check or money order, make it out to the
United States Treasury. Please show your correct name, address, social security
number, daytime telephone number, and the tax year and form number on the front
of your check or money order. Enclose your payment with your return, but do not
attach it to the form. Do not mail cash with your return. If you pay cash at an
IRS office, keep the receipt as part of your records.
With the quick and accurate IRS e-file options (computer or phone), you
have the opportunity to file now and pay later (up to April 17, 2000) using a
direct debit from your checking or savings account. Some computer filers may use
tax preparation software that allows them to include a credit card charge as
part of the e-file return.
The IRS has authorized Official Payments Corporation (OPC) to accept
credit card charges for federal taxes by phone. All individuals - whether filing
on paper or electronically - may use this system to charge taxes to American
Express Card, MasterCard, or Discover Card accounts. Call 1-888-2PAY-TAX
(1-888-272-9829) and follow the instructions.
OPC accepts three types of credit card payments this year:
- taxes owed on a 1999 return;
- a projected balance of 1999 taxes a taxpayer chooses to pay with a
request for an automatic extension of time to file; and
- estimated tax payments for tax year 2000.
Taxpayers who charge a payment with an automatic extension request or who
charge an estimated tax payment will not need to file the respective paper Forms
4868 or 1040-ES. OPC accepts 1999 federal tax payments beginning January 14, and
the estimated tax payment option starts March 1, 2000.
The credit card processor will charge a convenience fee based on the
amount you are paying. You will be told what the fee is when you call and you
will have the option to continue or cancel the call. Do not include the
convenience fee as part of your tax payment. You can also find out what the fee
will be on the Internet at www.8882paytax.com. If you paid by credit card before
you filed your tax return, enter the confirmation number you were given at the
end of the call on page 1 of Form 1040 in the upper left corner. You may file a
return early and wait until April 17, 2000, to phone in a credit card charge.
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