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Should you pay your taxes with a credit card?
Tax time can be hard, especially if you don’t have the money to pay what you owe. A credit card can be a quick way to pay the bill, but be sure you know all the ways it will cost you. Should you pay your taxes
Because of tax laws, Uncle Sam can’t take credit cards directly. Instead, the federal government hires out that service to three third-party companies: PayUSAtax, Pay1040, and ACI Payments Inc. There are convenience fees for all of these choices. Depending on the third-party service you use, the convenience fee for paying your 2021 taxes with a credit card is between 1.87% and 3.93% of the payment, with a minimum of $2.50 to $3.95. Should you pay your taxes
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If you use tax preparation software that has e-file and e-pay built in, like TurboTax, you can also pay by credit card. However, the payment processor will still charge a convenience fee. You can also pay with a digital wallet, but you will have to pay the same fees as you would with a regular debit or credit card.
Let’s say you have a $4,000 tax bill. How much would it cost to pay with a credit card? Should you pay your taxes
What does it cost to pay your taxes with a credit card?
| Payoff method | Charge to pay by credit card | Payoff details | Total cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12-month payoff, 16% interest | $79.60 (1.99% convenience fee) | 12 equal payments of $370 | $4,441.60 ($4,079.60 financed, $362 in interest) |
| Minimum payments, 16% interest | $79.60 (1.99% convenience fee) | 248 monthly minimum payments, starting at $95.20 | $8,979.09 ($4,079.60 financed, $4899.49 in interest) |
| Balance transfer, 0% interest for 12 months | $199.60 (1.99% convenience fee, then a 3% balance transfer fee) | 12 equal payments of $350.20 | $4,202 (no interest) |
| Assumptions: Minimum payment of 1% of balance plus interest and an APR of 16%, and no further charges made on the card. Use CreditCards.com’s credit card calculators to figure your own example. The IRS website has additional details on paying by credit card and e-filing. | |||
Balance transfer card buys you time, saves money
When you shift your debt from Uncle Sam to your credit card issuer, you pay interest on whatever balance you carry. If you pay only minimum payments, this year’s tax bill could haunt you for a long time. Should you pay your taxes
You could open a balance transfer credit card and transfer your tax payment to it. Balance transfer offers to people with good credit typically include an interest-free period of a few months to more than a year. A year-long promotional credit card rate of 0% would likely make for a pretty sweet deal. Should you pay your taxes
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“But you’d better make a plan to pay that credit card off within the year, so it really is 0%,” warns Dawn W. Brolin, CEO of the CPA firm Powerful Accounting.
Also, keep in mind that if you are late on a payment, your interest rate could skyrocket.
You’ll typically pay a fee of about 3% to 5% of the balance amount you’re transferring, and people with less-than-perfect credit may not qualify for a transfer covering the full amount of the tax bill. Additionally, many credit card issuers have tightened their standards for balance transfer offers as the economy struggles from the coronavirus pandemic. Should you pay your taxes
Cash advance convenience cheque is an expensive option
Credit card holders also can pay their tax bill with a cash advance convenience check, but this option comes with a high price. Cash advance convenience checks have steep transaction fees, high interest rates and no grace period, making them an expensive choice. Should you pay your taxes
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Mark Foster, director of education for Credit Counselling of Arkansas, advises, “It’s crucial for individuals to thoroughly review the terms and conditions.” “Cash advances typically have a higher interest rate than other purchases and they don’t typically have a grace period.” Should you pay your taxes
IRS instalment agreement spreads out payments
Before whipping out the plastic, compare the costs of paying by credit card with the costs of an instalment agreement with the IRS. Should you pay your taxes
That’s what Dana Andrews of Wheatfield, New York, did when he had a $15,000 tax bill. After weighing whether to put the tax bill on his credit card versus working with the IRS, Andrews decided to go with the installment plan. Should you pay your taxes
With an installment plan, taxpayers typically get six years to pay off a debt.
Of course, you will pay a fee to set up the installment plan ($130 or $225, depending on whether you apply online or by mail, phone or at an IRS office), interest and late penalties. The setup fee drops to $31 or $107 if you have the payments automatically deducted from your bank account, depending on how you apply. Taxpayers whose income meets the Department of Health and Human Services’ poverty guidelines may be able to qualify for having the setup fee waived. Should you pay your taxes
The costs don’t stop there. Even if you have an instalment plan, you still must pay a late penalty of 0.25% per month until the debt is paid in full. Interest, compounded daily, must also be factored in. The interest rate, which equals the federal short-term rate plus 3%, is set quarterly. Should you pay your taxes
If you select an installment agreement, know that you won’t receive future tax refunds until your debt is paid. Instead, the refunds will be applied to any remaining debt.
If you think you can pay off the amount you owe in 120 days or less, you can apply for a short-term payment plan. There is no setup fee whether you apply online or via phone, mail or in person. However, you will have to pay any penalties that have accrued, as well as interest until you’ve paid off the entire balance. Should you pay your taxes
Credit card vs. IRS instalment agreement
Some – including the IRS – tout using credit cards to make tax payments as a way to earn rewards. However, card issuers typically award rewards worth 1% of your spending, while the third-party convenience fee could be nearly 2%. Should you pay your taxes
“Taxpayers would likely be paying more to the third party than they would get back for redeeming points,” says Michael Rozbruch, founder of Michael Rozbruch’s Tax and Business Solutions Academy. Should you pay your taxes
Another thing to consider: An IRS instalment agreement won’t affect your credit, while paying by credit card would increase your debt load. The latter could increase your credit utilization ratio, which lowers your score, leaving you with increased interest rates and a reduced credit line, Foster says. Should you pay your taxes
Bottom line
Ideally, you should have enough money withheld from your earnings throughout the year so you don’t have to scramble for cash on tax day, says Brolin. But if your savings won’t cover the taxes you owe, you have to determine which form of payment will cost you the least. Should you pay your taxes
Regardless of what option you choose, plan to have more money set aside to ensure that you don’t fall short next year.
“If you don’t make some adjustments, whatever happened this year will probably happen again,” Foster says. Should you pay your taxes
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Our writers solely base the editorial content on an objective assessment, not influenced by advertising dollars. The credit card issuers have neither provided nor commissioned it. However, we may receive compensation when you click on links to products from our partners. Should you pay your taxes
