When the bottom line of your tax return says, "Amount You Owe," be sure to make your check or money order payable to the "United States Treasury." Do not mail cash with your tax return.

Whether you are filing your current year´s return, a prior year´s return or an amended return, always provide your correct name, address, Social Security number, daytime telephone number, tax year and tax return form number on the front of your check or money order. Enclose your payment with your return, but do not staple it to the form.

If you have a balance due on your 2003 Form 1040, complete and include Form 1040-V, Payment Voucher, when sending your payment and return to the IRS. This will help the IRS process your payment more accurately and efficiently. Follow the instructions on the form.

Do not include a 2004 estimated tax payment with your 2003 income tax return. Mail your estimated tax payments separately to the address shown in the Form 1040-ES instructions.

If you are paying by electronic debit of your bank account, you will need to know your account number and your financial institution´s routing number. You can check with your financial institution to make sure that an electronic withdrawal is allowed and to get the correct routing and account numbers.

If you are paying by credit card, call toll free or visit the Web site of either service provider listed below and follow the instructions:

• Link2Gov Corporation
  Phone: 1-888-PAY-1040 (1-888-729-1040)
  Web site: www.pay1040.com
• Official Payments Corporation
  Phone:1-800-2PAY-TAX (1-800-272-9829)
  Web site: www.officialpayments.com

The service providers charge a convenience fee. Fees may vary between the providers. You will be told what the fee is during the transaction and you will have the option to either continue or cancel the transaction. You can also find out what the fee will be by calling the provider´s toll-free automated customer service number or visiting the provider´s website shown below.You will be given a confirmation number at the end of the call.

For more information, call toll free 1-800-829-4477 to check out TeleTax Topic 158, Ensuring Proper Credit of Payments, or check out Tax Topic 158 on this Web site. This information is also contained in Publication 17, Your Federal Income Tax, which is available on this Web site, as are the payment voucher and estimated tax form.

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