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GENERAL FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
 
Q: What is EFTPS?
  A: For more informationEFTPS is the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System developed by the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and Financial Management Service (FMS) to enable taxpayers to pay their federal taxes electronically. The system allows taxpayers to use the phone, personal computer (PC) software, or the Internet to initiate tax payment reports to EFTPS directly. It’s convenient, secure, and timesaving.

     
Q: Who can use EFTPS?
  A:

Any individual taxpayer making payments for Forms 1040, 706 estate, 709 gift taxes or installment payments can use EFTPS-OnLine.

Any business taxpayer can use EFTPS. Some business taxpayers are required to use EFTPS because they have met certain criteria. Specifically, if your total deposits of designated federal taxes (including employment taxes, income taxes, Railroad Retirement taxes, Social Security taxes, and various other types of non-payroll withholding) during a calendar year exceed $200,000, you are required to use EFTPS beginning in the second succeeding calendar year. For example: if you had more than $200,000 in deposits of designated taxes in calendar year 2002, you will be required to use EFTPS beginning January 2004. Once you are required to use EFTPS, you will continue to be required in subsequent years, even if your annual tax deposits fall below $200,000.
     
Q: How does EFTPS work?
  A:

With EFTPS-Direct, you can make your tax payment instructions at least one calendar day prior to the tax due date. Based on your tax payment report, EFTPS initiates a debit against your bank account and your tax records are updated with the IRS.

With EFTPS-Through a Financial Institution (available only to businesses), you will initiate your tax payment through a service offered by your financial institution. Your financial institution will debit your account and send the tax payment electronically to EFTPS.
     
Q: Is there a cost to use EFTPS?
  A: No. EFTPS does not charge taxpayers for its services. However, if you choose to use EFTPS-Through a Financial Institution (available only to businesses), you may incur a fee from your financial institution. Please check with your financial institution directly to inquire about their fee structure.
     
Q: What are the benefits of using EFTPS?
  A:

EFTPS offers you many benefits over the traditional paper system:
* it’s fast…you can make a tax payment in minutes
* it’s accurate…because there are verification steps along the way, you are able to check and review your information before it is sent
* it’s convenient…EFTPS is available to you by phone, PC Software or Internet—24 hours a day, 7 days a week
* it’s easy to use…it’s a step-by-step process that tells you what information you need to successfully complete your tax payment for any federal tax
* it’s secure…EFTPS offers the highest levels of security on the Internet
     
Q: Who controls making the tax payments?
  A:

You do. It’s your responsibility to initiate the tax payment. It will not occur automatically.
     
Q: Does money move over the Internet?
  A: No. Only information. Your tax payment report is the only information that moves over the Internet. The exchange of funds still occurs within your financial institution.
     
Q: What information can I edit OnLine?
    The Edit Enrollment function allows you edit contact information and payment money limits.

The Edit Financial Institution function allows you to edit your financial institution (Routing Transit Number (RTN) and Account Number) information as well as the contact and payment money limits.

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