PAY THE IRS OR YOUR STATE

Pay estimated taxes or a balance due

Tax payments go directly to the IRS and your state, not to Clergy Financial Resources. Use the official links below to pay quarterly estimates, a balance due with your return, or an extension payment.

  • Official IRS & state sites
  • Free bank-account options
  • Save your confirmation number
Paying a CFR invoice instead? Go to Make a Payment

Pay the IRS

All of these are official IRS options. Bank-account payments are free.

RECOMMENDED

IRS Direct Pay

Free, from your checking or savings account. No sign-up needed. You can schedule a payment ahead of time.

IRS Online Account

Sign in to see your balance and payment history, and to make or schedule payments.

EFTPS

Free Treasury system for scheduling payments well in advance. Requires enrollment, so allow time to set it up.

Debit card, credit card or digital wallet

Through IRS-approved processors. The processor charges a fee.

Check or money order

Payable to “U.S. Treasury.” Mail it with the payment voucher (Form 1040-ES for estimates, Form 1040-V for a balance due).

Can’t pay in full?

Apply for an IRS payment plan online. Call us first if you’d like help deciding.

Pick the right payment type

When you pay online, the IRS asks what the payment is for. Choosing correctly makes sure it’s applied to the right year and form.

  1. Quarterly estimateReason: Estimated Tax. Form: 1040-ES. Tax year: the year you’re paying ahead for.
  2. Balance due with your returnReason: Balance Due. Form: 1040. Tax year: the year of the return.
  3. Extension paymentReason: Extension. Form: 4868. Pay by the April deadline to limit penalties and interest.

Estimated tax due dates

Quarterly estimates for each tax year are due on these dates. If a date falls on a weekend or holiday, it moves to the next business day.

1st payment
April 15
2nd payment
June 15
3rd payment
September 15
4th payment
January 15 of the following year

Why this matters for clergy: ministers’ wages are generally exempt from income tax withholding, and self-employment tax is never withheld by the church. Most ministers cover both through quarterly estimates, or by asking their church to withhold extra income tax voluntarily.