ARTICLE | April 1, 2025

Did you know that you can use IRS Direct Pay to securely pay your Form 1040 series tax balance and estimated tax payments directly from your checking or savings account at no cost to you? Below are step-by-step instructions on how to use Direct Pay to securely pay for your Estimated Tax Payment, Individual Extension, or Tax Return Balance Due Payments.

For Estimated Tax Payments

1. Visit https://www.irs.gov/payments/pay-personal-taxes-from-your-bank-account 

2. Click on the Make a Payment button.

3. Click on the drop-down menu to select your Reason for Payment and select Estimated Tax.

4. Click on the drop-down to select what to Apply Payment To and select 1040ES (for 1040 and 1040A).

5. Click on the drop-down menu for the Tax Period for Payment and select the year to apply the Estimated Tax Payment to match the year according to the provided Form 1040-ES voucher.

Click Continue.

6. On the next page Verify Identity and any verification codes with all the required information (*Primary taxpayer’s Name, address, DOB, SSN, etc.). Have your previous year’s filed tax return on hand to match the information the IRS has on file, including income amounts.

Click Continue.

7. Proceed to Payment.

Remember to have this completed by the due date(s) in your provided voucher instructions.

Individual Extension Payments

1. Step One: https://www.irs.gov/payments/pay-personal-taxes-from-your-bank-account 

2. Click on the Make a Payment button.

3. Click on the drop-down menu to select your Reason for Payment and select Extension.

4. Click on the drop-down to select what to Apply Payment To and select 4868 (for 1040, 1040A, 1040EZ).

5. Click on the drop-down menu for the Tax Period for Payment and select the year to apply the Extension Tax Payment to match the year according to the provided Form 4868 voucher.

Click Continue.

6. On the next page Verify Identity and any verification codes with all the required information (*Primary taxpayer’s Name, address, DOB, SSN, etc.). Have your previous year’s filed tax return on hand to match the information the IRS has on file, including income amounts.

Click Continue.

7. Proceed to Payment.

Remember to have this completed by the due date in your provided voucher instructions.

Tax Return Balance Due Payment

1. Visit https://www.irs.gov/payments/pay-personal-taxes-from-your-bank-account 

2. Click on the Make a Payment button.

3. Click on the drop-down menu to select your Reason for Payment and select Balance Due.

4. Click on the drop-down to select what to Apply Payment To and select Income Tax – Form 1040.

5. Click on the drop-down menu for the Tax Period for Payment and select the year to apply the Tax Payment to match the year according to the provided Form 1040-V voucher.

Click Continue.

6. On the next page Verify Identity and any verification codes with all the required information (*Primary taxpayer’s Name, address, DOB, SSN, etc.). Have your previous year’s filed tax return on hand to match the information the IRS has on file, including income amounts.

Click Continue.

7. Proceed to Payment.

Remember to have this completed by the due date in your provided voucher instructions.