What is EFTPS? A Guide to the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System

Paying your federal taxes doesn’t have to involve paper checks and trips to the post office. The Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS) is a free service offered by the U.S. Department of the Treasury that allows individuals and businesses to pay their federal taxes electronically, securely, and conveniently.

However, it’s important to know that the system is currently undergoing changes for individual taxpayers. Here’s everything you need to know about EFTPS, including recent updates, its features, and how to enroll.

Important Update for Individual Taxpayers

As of now, individual taxpayers can no longer create new EFTPS accounts. If you’re an individual looking for a way to pay your taxes online, you now have a couple of excellent alternatives:

  • Pay through your IRS Online Account: This is the recommended method for paying most individual taxes.
  • Use IRS Direct Pay: For less common tax payment types, Direct Pay has expanded to accept payments on additional forms.

This change does not affect current EFTPS users, who can continue to use the system for the time being. It also does not apply to businesses, which can still enroll and use EFTPS.

Why Use EFTPS? Key Benefits

Whether you’re a business owner making payroll tax deposits or an existing individual user, EFTPS offers several powerful features designed to make tax payment simple and reliable.

1. Security You Can Count On

Your financial security is paramount. EFTPS protects your information by requiring your Taxpayer Identification Number (EIN or SSN), a unique Personal Identification Number (PIN), and an Internet Password. This multi-layered approach, combined with a secure internet browser, helps ensure your payments and data are safe.

2. Convenience at Your Fingertips

EFTPS is built for your schedule. You can:

  • Schedule payments up to 365 days in advance.
  • Pay from anywhere 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
  • Manage a variety of taxes, including income, employment, estimated, and excise taxes.
  • Easily change or cancel scheduled payments.
  • Track your payments with email notifications.
  • View up to 15 months of payment history.
  • Get help from live Customer Service Agents if you have questions.

3. Accuracy You Can Depend On

When you make a payment, you receive an immediate acknowledgement and a confirmation number. This, along with your bank statement, provides a clear paper trail, giving you peace of mind that your payment was made correctly and on time.

How to Enroll in EFTPS

While new individual enrollments are not being accepted, businesses can still sign up. New enrollments can take up to five business days to process, so it’s best to plan ahead.

You can start the enrollment process in two ways:

  • Online: Go to the official EFTPS website.
  • By Phone: Request an enrollment form by calling EFTPS Customer Service.
    • General: 800-555-4477
    • Federal Agencies: 877-333-8292
    • TDD (Hearing Impaired): 800-733-4829
    • Español: 800-244-4829

Added Benefits for Enrolled Users

Once you’re enrolled in EFTPS, you unlock even more helpful features:

  • Pay by Phone: You can use the EFTPS voice response system to make payments by calling 800-555-3453.
  • “How To” Feature: Get guided assistance on making payments and using the system.
  • Downloadable Resources: Access detailed guides like Publication 966 (A Guide to Getting Started) and Publication 4990 (Payment Instruction Booklet) to help you make the most of the system.

The Bottom Line

EFTPS remains a cornerstone of the U.S. Treasury’s efforts to provide secure, convenient, and accurate electronic tax payment options. While the recent changes mean new individual users will need to use alternative methods like their IRS Online Account or Direct Pay, the system continues to be a reliable resource for existing individual users and an essential tool for businesses and tax professionals.