- The IRS is promoting $0 Direct Pay for federal taxes from a U.S. checking or savings account.
- Taxpayers can schedule payments up to 365 days ahead and receive a confirmation number.
- The service avoids card fees, but it cannot be used for refunds or payments over less than $10 million each.
The Internal Revenue Service is promoting a $0 online way to pay federal taxes from a checking or savings account. The agency issued the reminder on September 10, 2026, in IR-2026-109, directing taxpayers to the payments section of IRS.gov.
The service requires no sign-in and no registration for individual payments. Taxpayers need a U.S. bank account, and the payment goes directly from that account to the federal government.
Free toolSubstantial Presence Test Calculator
The IRS says the option covers several common payment situations. It is available for balance due payments, estimated tax payments, amended return payments, extension payments and other federal income tax payments.
IRS Chief Executive Officer Frank J. Bisignano linked the tool to the agency’s effort to update government payment systems.
“As the IRS continues to support the broader federal effort to modernize payments to and from the government, Direct Pay gives taxpayers a free, secure, and convenient way to pay directly from a bank account.”
Business taxpayers can also use the service. Their listed uses include balance due payments, federal tax deposits and other federal tax payments.
The free payment route still requires identity checks
The IRS describes the individual process as a one-time payment flow. Users answer a few basic questions before authorizing the transfer.
Individual taxpayers verify their identity with information from a prior-year return they select. They also enter their bank routing and account numbers.
Businesses use a different check. The IRS verifies the business name and employer identification number, or EIN, against information in its records.
The agency’s payment system does not charge a fee. That gives taxpayers who want to pay from a bank account an alternative to card transactions that may involve processor fees.
Payments can be scheduled up to 365 days ahead
The IRS lists several timing and transaction rules for the service:
| Payment feature | IRS rule |
|---|---|
| Payment amount | Each payment must be less than $10 million |
| Immediate payment | A same-day payment is available |
| Advance scheduling | A payment can be scheduled up to 365 days in advance |
| Changes or cancellation | A scheduled payment can be changed or canceled up to two business days before the payment date |
| Confirmation | The taxpayer receives a confirmation number and may opt for email confirmation |
The scheduling window lets taxpayers arrange a payment before its due date rather than submit it immediately. The two-business-day rule controls when a scheduled transaction can still be changed or canceled.
A confirmation number provides a record of the submission. Taxpayers can also request an email confirmation during the payment process.
Bank-account payments avoid card processor fees but cannot deliver refunds
The IRS payments page presents the bank-account option alongside other ways to pay federal obligations. Credit or debit cards can be used for payments, but card transactions may carry processor fees.
EFTPS serves a different function. The IRS describes it as a recurring-payment system for businesses, while the bank-account option supports one-time payments.
The service is strictly a payment method. It cannot be used to receive tax refunds by direct deposit.
That distinction separates money sent to the IRS from money the IRS sends to a taxpayer. A taxpayer arranging a payment should therefore enter the transaction as an amount owed or another listed federal payment, not as a refund request.
The September 10 reminder describes the payment option as part of the IRS effort to modernize payments to and from the federal government. The agency’s description remains focused on direct bank-account transfers, rather than refund delivery or card processing.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute tax advice. Consult a qualified tax professional or CPA about your specific situation.
