The Internal Revenue Service introduced a new payment option Wednesday for individual taxpayers who need to pay their taxes with cash at their local 7-Eleven store.
In partnership with ACI Worldwide’s OfficialPayments.com and the PayNearMe Company, individuals can now make a payment without the need of a bank account or credit card at over 7,000 7-Eleven stores nationwide.
“We continue to look for new ways to provide services for our taxpayers,” said IRS Commissioner John Koskinen in a statement. “Taxpayers have many options to pay their tax bills by direct debit, a check or a credit card, but this provides a new way for people who can only pay their taxes in cash without having to travel to an IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center.”
Individuals wishing to take advantage of this payment option can visit the IRS.gov payments page, select the cash option in the other ways you can pay section and follow the instructions:
• Taxpayers will receive an email from OfficialPayments.com confirming their information.
• Once the IRS has verified the information, PayNearMe sends the taxpayer an email with a link to the payment code and instructions.
• Individuals may print the payment code provided or send it to their smart phone, along with a list of the closest 7-Eleven stores.
• The retail store provides a receipt after accepting the cash and the payment usually posts to the taxpayer’s account within two business days.
• There is a $1,000 payment limit per day and a $3.99 fee per payment.
Because PayNearMe involves a three-step process, the IRS is urging taxpayers choosing this option to start the process well ahead of the tax deadline to avoid interest and penalty charges.
The IRS has been partnering with Official Payments since 1999 for taxpayers wanting to use a credit card to pay taxes.
In this new option, PayNearMe is currently available at participating 7-Eleven stores in 34 states. Most stores are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week,. For details about PayNearMe, the IRS offers a list of frequently asked questions on IRS.gov.
The IRS also said Wednesday that individuals without the need to pay in cash can use IRS Direct Pay to pay the taxes they owe. Available at IRS.gov/Payments/Direct-Pay, the free, secure online tool allows taxpayers to pay their income tax directly from a checking or savings account without any fees or pre-registration.
“Taxpayers should look into the payment option that works best for them,” Koskinen said.
Check IRS.gov/payments for the most current information about making a tax payment.
The IRS is also continuing to remind taxpayers to watch out for email schemes. Taxpayers will only receive an email from OfficialPayments.com or PayNearMe if they have initiated the payment process.
The IRS reminded taxpayers who have not taken this step to be watchful of any emails they receive saying there are tax issues involving the IRS or from others in the tax industry.