Which Taxes Can I Pay with EFTPS?
EFTPS can be used to make many kinds of tax payments, including:
Federal payroll taxes, including FICA tax and withholding for employee federal income tax (Form 941 Employer’s Quarterly Federal Tax Return) and Form 944 - Employer’s Annual Federal Tax Return Federal unemployment taxes (Form 940 - Employer’s Annual Federal Unemployment (FUTA)Tax Return Corporate income taxes (Form 1120 U.S. Corporation Income Tax Return) Estimated taxes for individuals (Form 1040-ES) or for corporations (Form 1120-W) Federal excise taxes (Form 720) Payments on installment agreements. You can make payments on a partial-payment installment agreement (PPIA) by using EFTPS.
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.
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. Some features of the EFTPS system, according to the IRS, include:
Scheduling payments up to 365 days in advanceKeeping track of payments onlineEasily changing or canceling paymentsTracking your payment with email notificationsViewing 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.
