How to Pay Taxes Online and Why It Matters Now More Than Ever
Aug 21, 2025
Kassidy Wagner
Kassidy Wagner
Tax season doesn’t have to mean standing in line at the post office or worrying about whether your check made it on time. The IRS and the Montana Department of Revenue offer secure, simple online payment options. Here’s a step-by-step guide to paying online—plus why it’s brighter than ever.
Paying Federal Taxes Online
Option 1: IRS Direct Pay (Free, Fast, and Recommended)
Go to IRS Direct Pay.
Select the reason you’re paying (for example, “Balance Due” or “Estimated Tax”).
Enter your tax year and filing status.
Provide your bank account details (checking or savings).
Submit and save the confirmation number—you’ll also get an email confirmation.
Best for: Individuals paying a balance due or making quarterly estimated payments.
➡️ Click here for a step-by-step tutorial on how to create IRS and TAP accounts (and get started with payments)
How-to Create an IRS and TAP Account
Option 2: Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS)
Go to EFTPS.gov.
Enroll (this takes about a week because they mail you a PIN).
Log in, select your tax form, and schedule your payment once enrolled.
Best for: Businesses or individuals making regular payments who want the ability to schedule in advance.
➡️ Click the same tutorial link above to walk through setting up your IRS account and get ready to use EFTPS
Option 3: Debit or Credit Card
Visit the IRS Pay by Card page.
Choose an authorized payment processor.
Enter your tax info and card details.
⚠️ Note: Card payments come with a processing fee.
➡️ You can also find guidance on this in the IRS/TAP account setup tutorial linked above
Paying Montana Taxes Online
Montana uses the TransAction Portal (TAP) for state tax payments.
Option 1: One-Time Payment (No Account Needed)
Go to Montana TAP.
Click Make a Payment.
Enter your Social Security Number or ITIN and the tax type (e.g., Individual Income Tax).
Enter your bank account details.
Submit and save the confirmation.
Best for: One-off payments when you don’t want to create an account.
➡️ Need help? See the “How to Make Estimated Payments – MT & Federal” tutorial for a quick walkthrough
How To Make Estimated Payments – MT & Federal
Option 2: Create a TAP Account
Go to Montana TAP.
Click Sign Up and follow the steps to register.
Once logged in, you can:
View balances
File returns
Schedule payments in advance
Best for: Frequent payments or if you want to track balances and returns over time.
➡️ Follow the same TAP tutorial linked above for how to register and get started with your Montana payments
Why Paying Online Matters More Than Ever
Avoid Mail Delays: Postal service slowdowns can cause mailed payments to arrive late—even if you sent them on time.
Reduce Fraud Risk: Mailed checks can get lost or stolen. Online payments are encrypted and secure.
Instant Confirmation: Both IRS Direct Pay and Montana TAP give you a confirmation number to save for your records.
Plan Ahead: You can schedule payments so you never scramble at the deadline.
Bottom Line
For Montanans, paying online through IRS Direct Pay and Montana TAP is the most innovative way to stay ahead. It’s faster, safer, and more reliable than mailing a check—and in today’s environment, that peace of mind is worth a lot.
Swanson Agency
Montana Roots. Future Focused.
Tax season doesn’t have to mean standing in line at the post office or worrying about whether your check made it on time. The IRS and the Montana Department of Revenue offer secure, simple online payment options. Here’s a step-by-step guide to paying online—plus why it’s brighter than ever.
Paying Federal Taxes Online
Option 1: IRS Direct Pay (Free, Fast, and Recommended)
Go to IRS Direct Pay.
Select the reason you’re paying (for example, “Balance Due” or “Estimated Tax”).
Enter your tax year and filing status.
Provide your bank account details (checking or savings).
Submit and save the confirmation number—you’ll also get an email confirmation.
Best for: Individuals paying a balance due or making quarterly estimated payments.
➡️ Click here for a step-by-step tutorial on how to create IRS and TAP accounts (and get started with payments)
How-to Create an IRS and TAP Account
Option 2: Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS)
Go to EFTPS.gov.
Enroll (this takes about a week because they mail you a PIN).
Log in, select your tax form, and schedule your payment once enrolled.
Best for: Businesses or individuals making regular payments who want the ability to schedule in advance.
➡️ Click the same tutorial link above to walk through setting up your IRS account and get ready to use EFTPS
Option 3: Debit or Credit Card
Visit the IRS Pay by Card page.
Choose an authorized payment processor.
Enter your tax info and card details.
⚠️ Note: Card payments come with a processing fee.
➡️ You can also find guidance on this in the IRS/TAP account setup tutorial linked above
Paying Montana Taxes Online
Montana uses the TransAction Portal (TAP) for state tax payments.
Option 1: One-Time Payment (No Account Needed)
Go to Montana TAP.
Click Make a Payment.
Enter your Social Security Number or ITIN and the tax type (e.g., Individual Income Tax).
Enter your bank account details.
Submit and save the confirmation.
Best for: One-off payments when you don’t want to create an account.
➡️ Need help? See the “How to Make Estimated Payments – MT & Federal” tutorial for a quick walkthrough
How To Make Estimated Payments – MT & Federal
Option 2: Create a TAP Account
Go to Montana TAP.
Click Sign Up and follow the steps to register.
Once logged in, you can:
View balances
File returns
Schedule payments in advance
Best for: Frequent payments or if you want to track balances and returns over time.
➡️ Follow the same TAP tutorial linked above for how to register and get started with your Montana payments
Why Paying Online Matters More Than Ever
Avoid Mail Delays: Postal service slowdowns can cause mailed payments to arrive late—even if you sent them on time.
Reduce Fraud Risk: Mailed checks can get lost or stolen. Online payments are encrypted and secure.
Instant Confirmation: Both IRS Direct Pay and Montana TAP give you a confirmation number to save for your records.
Plan Ahead: You can schedule payments so you never scramble at the deadline.
Bottom Line
For Montanans, paying online through IRS Direct Pay and Montana TAP is the most innovative way to stay ahead. It’s faster, safer, and more reliable than mailing a check—and in today’s environment, that peace of mind is worth a lot.
Swanson Agency
Montana Roots. Future Focused.