The IRS Can Now Take Credit Card Payments Directly, but You'll Still Pay a Fee

The IRS can now take credit and debit card payments directly. Until now, the IRS sent you to an approved third-party processor. Now, a final rule published in the Federal Register on Oct. 19 allows the IRS to sign its own card-processing contracts.

Don't expect fee-free card payments, though. Under the rule, if the IRS pays processing fees, it must pass the full cost on to you as a "reimbursement fee" when you pay. As it stands, that fee can't exceed what the IRS pays in processing fees.

The rule is in effect, but the IRS hasn't said when — or if — it'll start processing card payments itself. Until then, you'll still pay through its approved processors: Pay1040 charges 1.75% for credit cards and ACI Payments charges 1.85%, each with a $2.50 minimum. Debit card payments cost a flat $2.15 or $2.10.

Andrew's Take

Paying taxes with a card is still one of the simplest ways to hit a big spend requirement, but at 1.75%, a $5,000 payment costs you $87.50 in fees. A direct IRS option might trim the fee a little, since the IRS can't profit from the processing fee.