Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS)

EFTPS Explained
EFTPS Explained. Photo: LdF/Getty Images

The Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS) is a federal tax-payment system that allows you to pay business taxes online. You can use EFTPS to pay income taxes, quarterly estimated taxes, federal employment taxes, and corporate taxes.

Note

The IRS extended some tax deadlines for 2021. Individual tax returns are now due May 17, 2021. And if your business is in Texas or another area where FEMA issued a disaster declaration due to winter storms, you can receive an automatic extension for filing your 2020 taxes. The filing and payment deadlines for businesses in these affected areas changed from March 15 and April 15, 2021, to June 15, 2021.

Which Taxes Can I Pay with EFTPS? 

EFTPS can be used to make many kinds of tax payments, including:

You can also use EFTPS to make non-depository payments of federal income taxes, estimated taxes, and employment taxes.

How Do I Enroll in EFTPS?

Existing businesses and individuals can enroll in EFTPS by submitting an online application.

  • Go to the EFTPS website, and click on "Enrollment" at the bottom of the screen.
  • You will need to enter your Employer ID Number (EIN) and the usual business contact information. You will receive a PIN number to use as an identifier.
  • Then you will be asked to authorize transactions, which you can do by providing your business checking account information (routing number and account number), or you can check with your financial institution to see whether it will do the authorization for you. You also can make the authorization by phone.

Beware of Fake E-File Sites

Some websites pretend to be an IRS e-file site, and they will charge you to file and send payments. The only official IRS e-file pages are on IRS.gov. Any other sites are FAKE! Look at the bottom of the site to see who owns it.

How Does EFTPS Work?

When you sign up for EFTPS, you provide information about your business bank account (routing number and account number).

Once your account is verified, you make payments electronically using this system, just like any online banking or bill-payment system.

You can schedule payments ahead of time and schedule as many as you want. When a payment is made, you receive an acknowledgment of the transaction.

Note

To avoid having your payment considered late, you must make EFTPS payments no later than 8 p.m. Eastern time the day before the due date. For example, if your tax payment is due on April 15, it must be entered no later than 8 p.m. Eastern on April 14.

Some features of the EFTPS system, according to the IRS, include:

  • Scheduling payments up to 365 days in advance
  • Keeping track of payments online
  • Easily changing or canceling payments
  • Tracking your payment with email notifications
  • Viewing 15 months of payment history

Can I Use EFTPS if I Have a Payroll-Processing Service?

Your payroll-processing service can use EFTPS to make some tax payments and filings for you.

Even if you have a payroll service, it's a good idea to enroll in EFTPS so you can check on payments it makes for you, and to make it easy to change payroll service companies.

Is the EFT9PS System Secure?

When you sign up, you use your Employer ID or Taxpayer ID number, and you have a PIN number. Then you set up a password for using the system.

The IRS says, "You can be assured your information is protected and that no one has access to your account unless you authorize it."

What's the Difference Between EFTPS and E-File? 

Simply stated, EFTPS is for making tax payments. E-file is for submitting tax returns (which might also include making tax payments). EFTPS is part of the e-file system of the IRS. 

Note

The IRS has an EFTPS, A Guide to Getting Started with more information on how the system works and details on how to enroll. 

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Sources
The Balance uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
  1. Internal Revenue Service. "Tax Day for Individuals Extended To May 17: Treasury, IRS Extend Filing and Payment Deadline." Accessed March 31, 2021.

  2. Internal Revenue Service. "Victims of Texas Winter Storms Get Deadline Extension and Other Tax Relief." Accessed March 31, 2021.

  3. Internal Revenue Service. "Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS)," Pages 1-2. Accessed March 31, 2021.

  4. Internal Revenue Service. "Electronic Federal Tax Payment System – A Guide to Getting Started," Pages 2-4. Accessed March 31, 2021.

  5. Internal Revenue Service. "Electronic Federal Tax Payment System – A Guide to Getting Started," Page 2. Accessed March 31, 2021.

  6. Internal Revenue Service. "EFTPS: The Electronic Federal Tax Payment System." Accessed March 31, 2021.

  7. Internal Revenue Service. "Electronic Federal Tax Payment System – A Guide to Getting Started," Page 4. Accessed March 31, 2021.

  8. Internal Revenue Service. "Electronic Federal Tax Payment System – A Guide to Getting Started," Page 4. Accessed March 31, 2021.

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