Don't Mess With Taxes

You put off filing your taxes because you knew you were going to have to pay the IRS.

At least Uncle Sam makes it relatively easy, and in a couple of cases fee-free, to pay him electronically.

These tax e-payment options are today's Daily Tax Tip.

First, here's a look at the e-pay ways that'll cost you: credit or debit card transactions.

Contact the service provider for up-to-date fee information.

Generally, there is a flat per debit card transaction.

For credit card payments the minimum convenience fee is $3.89 for WorldPay and Link2Gov and $3.95 for Official Payments.

The one possible positive here is that if you itemize, you can count these fees as part of your miscellaneous expenses on next year's Schedule A.

Direct from you: If you don't mind moving money directly from your bank account to the U.S. Treasury, you also can use electronic electronic funds withdrawal, or EFW, or Electronic Federal Tax Payment System, known as EFTPS.

There's usually no charge for these transactions.

EFW essentially is the reverse of the direct deposit that the IRS encourages for receipt of refunds. You can pay this way via Free File, commercial software or a paid preparer. You'll need your financial institution's routing transit number and account number. Check with your bank to confirm these numbers, especially the routing data since it's not always the same as on your paper checks.

Since EFTPS requires some set-up time, if you haven't already established an account it's out of the tax e-pay picture for the impending filing deadline. But after you're through with your 2011 return and tax payment, check it out.

EFTPS can be used to pay a variety of business and individual tax bills throughout the year, including estimated tax payments, the first of which for the 2012 tax year also is due April 17.

You also might find these items of interest:

• Some states issuing refunds via debit cards
• Take your taxes electronic
• Tax deadline filing tips