INSIGHTS

Using IRS Direct Pay to Securely Pay Form 1040 series

ARTICLE | April 1, 2025

UPDATED| October 2, 2026

Did you know IRS Direct Pay lets you securely pay your Form 1040 series tax balance and estimated taxes from your checking or savings account at no cost? Follow the step-by-step instructions below to make an estimated tax payment, individual extension payment, or tax return balance due payment. Larson Gross

Before you begin, have your Social Security number or ITIN, the filing status and address from your most recently filed return, your bank’s nine-digit routing number and account number, and your payment amount and preferred withdrawal date ready. 

For Estimated Tax Payments

  1. Visit directpay.irs.gov/directpay/payment.

  2. Click on the Make a Payment button. 

  3. Click on the drop-down menu for Apply Payment To and select Form 1040 – Income Tax.

  4. Click on the drop-down menu for Reason for Payment and select Estimated Tax.

  5. Click on the drop-down menu for Tax Period for Payment and select the year the income will be earned. You do not need to indicate the quarter—the payment date tells the IRS which quarter the payment is for. Click Continue. 

  6. On the next page, Verify Identity by choosing the tax year of a previously filed return. Enter your filing status, Social Security number or ITIN, date of birth, and address, making sure the information matches the return you selected. Click Continue. 

  7. Proceed to Payment. Enter your payment amount and withdrawal date, then add your bank’s routing and account numbers and select checking or savings. Double-check your bank information and review the tax year, form, amount, and withdrawal date before signing electronically and submitting. Save, email, or print your confirmation number and keep it with your tax records. 

Complete your payment by the applicable due date in your provided voucher instructions. Larson Gross

Individual Extension Payments

  1. Visit directpay.irs.gov/directpay/payment.

  2. Click on the Make a Payment button. 

  3. Click on the drop-down menu for Apply Payment To and select Form 1040 – Income Tax.

  4. Click on the drop-down menu for Reason for Payment and select Extension.

  5. Click on the drop-down menu for Tax Period for Payment and select the year of the return to be filed. Click Continue.

  6. On the next page, Verify Identity by choosing the tax year of a previously filed return. Enter your filing status, Social Security number or ITIN, date of birth, and address, making sure the information matches the return you selected. Click Continue. 

  7. Proceed to Payment. Enter your payment amount and withdrawal date, then add your bank’s routing and account numbers and select checking or savings. Double-check your bank information and review the tax year, form, amount, and withdrawal date before signing electronically and submitting. Save, email, or print your confirmation number and keep it with your tax records. 

Please note: The Extension option only appears in the Reason for Payment menu from January 1 through the filing deadline, typically April 15. Outside that window, the option is no longer available. To make a late payment on an extended return after that window, follow the balance-due instructions below instead. 

Complete your payment by the applicable due date in your provided voucher instructions. Larson Gross

Tax Return Balance Due Payment

  1. Visit directpay.irs.gov/directpay/payment.

  2. Click on the Make a Payment button. 

  3. Click on the drop-down menu for Apply Payment To and select Form 1040 – Income Tax.

  4. Click on the drop-down menu for Reason for Payment and select Balance Due or Payment Plan/Installment Agreement.

  5. Click on the drop-down menu for Tax Period for Payment and select the year of the return you filed. Click Continue. 

  6. On the next page, Verify Identity by choosing the tax year of a previously filed return. Enter your filing status, Social Security number or ITIN, date of birth, and address, making sure the information matches the return you selected. Click Continue. 

  7. Proceed to Payment. Enter your payment amount and withdrawal date, then add your bank’s routing and account numbers and select checking or savings. Double-check your bank information and review the tax year, form, amount, and withdrawal date before signing electronically and submitting. Save, email, or print your confirmation number and keep it with your tax records. 

Use this option to pay the balance on a recently filed original return—not an amended return—or to make a regularly scheduled installment-agreement payment. Making a payment does not file your tax return. 

Complete your payment by the applicable due date in your provided voucher instructions. Larson Gross

Additional Payment Reminders

Scheduling your payment: You can choose a withdrawal date of today or up to 365 days ahead. You can change or cancel a scheduled payment through IRS Direct Pay Payment Lookup up to two business days before it is set to process. Your confirmation number is required to look up a scheduled payment. 

Keeping your records: In addition to saving your confirmation number, print the final confirmation page. It includes the payment amount, tax year, and reason for payment, which can be helpful when making multiple payments throughout the year. 

Making multiple payments: When paying more than one type of payment or more than one tax year, submit each payment separately.

Managing your IRS account: Consider creating an IRS Individual Online Account at IRS.gov/account. You can view your balance, payment history, pending and scheduled payments, tax records, and notices; make or schedule payments; and manage a payment plan. IRS Direct Pay Instructions – I…

Contact Us

Not sure which option applies to you? Call our office at 800.447.0177 before you submit. We’re glad to help!