Contributed by: KelliP, FreeTaxUSA Agent, Tax Pro
You’ve filed your tax return and selected to have the IRS electronically withdraw your tax due. However, the date selected for the withdrawal has passed, and the IRS has yet to process the payment. This can be both frustrating and stressful. This article will explain some of the reasons your payment may not have been withdrawn on the selected date.
Things to know
- If the payment date you chose is on a weekend or bank holiday, the money can’t be withdrawn until the next business day.
- If you file your return and select a date close to the filing deadline (April 15th), the IRS may not be able to debit the payment until after the deadline because of the high volume of tax returns being submitted at that time.
- The IRS can’t do a partial withdrawal. Funds must be available for the full amount you selected to pay.
- It can take a few days for your bank to post the transaction to your account.
- Your bank statement will show something like "IRS USA Tax Payment" or "IRS USA Tax Pymt."
- CAUTION: The IRS currently isn’t required to treat electronic payments processed after April 15th as having been paid on time. This article has more information. To avoid a late payment, we recommend the following options:
- File your return with your electronic payment a few days before the April 15th deadline.
- Use the IRS Direct Pay website if you’re paying on or near April 15th . This ensures the payment begins processing in the IRS system on time.
- Choose to mail your payment if you’re sending an extension or the tax return on April 15th. Mailed payments postmarked by the due date are the only payment method the IRS is legally required to treat as on-time, even if the payment is received after the deadline.
- 💡Note: An executive order has directed federal agencies to stop accepting paper check payments with a full transition to electronic payments required by September 30, 2025.
- There’s a bill currently under consideration in Congress that would require the IRS to treat electronic payments as being made on the date requested by the taxpayer—instead of the date the electronic payment is processed by the IRS. However, until the law is fully updated, one of the only ways to ensure a payment is treated as being on time is to have a paper check postmarked by April 15th.
- Please see this article for guidance on handling an IRS penalty for late payment if you e-filed with an electronic payment by April 15th.
What can be done?
You can call the IRS e-file Payment Services 24/7 at 1- 888-353-4537 to inquire about or cancel your payment. This is an automated line. The IRS requests you wait at least 7-10 business days after the payment date selection passes before contacting them.
Summary
Having your tax payment electronically withdrawn is the easiest and quickest way to pay a balance due. However, it’s not always timely when done close to the filing deadline. Be sure that you don't select a holiday or weekend for payment withdrawal. Due to high volume, select a payment date at least a few days prior to the deadline. It’s likely best to select a future date—not the date of filing—as it may take the IRS a few days to accept the return. If you’re filing just before the deadline or on the deadline, it’s recommended to mail a check to be considered timely.