As the world continues to shift to a more paperless system, the IRS offers a multitude of ways to make electronic tax payments. While the system of mailing paper checks still works, making online tax payments offers individuals a different option to make such payments. There a several methods that allow you to make digital payments, however the method that our office recommends is to create your online IRS account.
Creating an account with the IRS online allows you to make current tax due and estimated tax payments. Some features of the account are access to your payment history, access to your tax records via transcripts and access to digital copies of select IRS notices and letters. For married individuals, each spouse has the ability to create their own account. Currently, the IRS online accounts only exist for you personally. Business accounts are not yet an option.
Here is how you can go about creating your account:
Part of the process for creating your account is to verify your identity. To do so, you will need to gather:
- a mobile phone or computer with a webcam
- A valid email address (that you can access)
- A government issues photo ID (driver’s license, state ID, passport, etc.)
- Social Security number or ITIN number
Once you have gathered those documents, here are the instructions for setting up your account.
- Go to IRS.gov and select “Your online account” or “Sign into your account”.
- Select the “Sign into your Online Account” button.
- Click “Create an account” under the “Create a new account” heading.
- After entering an email address and creating a password you will be prompted to set up multi-factor authentication.
- It will then prompt you to select “Self-Service” or “Video Chat Agent” to verify your identity.
- Follow the screens through the instructions to verify your identity.
- Once your identity is verified you should be able to access your account.
- Once your account is created, you should have a screen that allows you to check your account balance, make payments and view payment history, view tax records, and more.
While the process to create your account is a little laborious, having the account gives you continuous access to all sorts of beneficial information in one place. We are also quickly approaching the September 15th, 3rd quarter estimate payment deadline, for those with payments, having your account created would allow you to make that estimated tax payment directly to the IRS electronically.
If you have any questions or need assistance, do not hesitate to give our office a call at 307-577-4040.
In other news: As the summer is winding down, we have shifted back to our normal business hours. We are open again Monday- Friday 8am to 5pm.