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For Americans who owe taxes, there are only a couple of ways to pay your bill to the government. You can pay using direct withdrawal from your bank account, cash in-person at participating retailers, digital wallet, payment plans or with a debit and/or credit card. However, the last option has fees associated with it.

Paying taxes with a debit card is a modest $2.20 fee, and paying with a credit card is a 1.87% fee of your total tax bill.

While that can be large or small depending on your tax bill, there is enough wiggle room to make paying taxes with a credit card worth it. Here is how the numbers worked out for me.

An illustration of a man paying his taxes with a credit card to get rewards.

How I Paid Taxes With a Credit Card and Came Out Ahead

My 2020 tax bill was $4,200. Because I was going through a divorce at the time, I simply didn’t have the money to pay that bill all at once. So I decided to peek into 0% intro APR credit cards to see how I could finance the bill.

Once I ran the numbers, I decided to go for it. I applied for the Capital One Savor Rewards Card and was approved immediately. When I received the card, I used it to pay the entire tax bill. Below is how the charges appeared on my credit card statement:

This is Brett Holzhauser's credit card statement example.

The fee to pay my taxes using a credit card was $82, but the numbers worked in my favor.
  • signupBonus icon

    Start With the Sign-Up Bonus

    First, I was able to earn the sign-up bonus since my tax bill was well over the spending requirement. You get a $200 cash bonus after you spend $500 in the first three months of card membership. It is a solid sign-up bonus for a no-annual-fee cash back credit card. Additionally, I earned 1% cash back on the entire $4,282.32, which is nearly $43.

    So with a $243 bonus for paying with a credit card, minus the $82 fee incurred from the servicer, I walked away with $161 in profit. And this profit is tax-free as credit card rewards are not taxable.

  • noAnnualFee icon

    Take Advantage of 0% Intro APR Offer

    While the profit is nice, the main reason I paid with the Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card is to take advantage of the 0% intro APR offer. I’m able to carry the balance month-to-month without incurring any interest, as long as I pay the minimum payment. And for the duration of the 15 months, I have been paying down the balance to where I may not need to transfer the remaining balance.

  • balanceTransfer icon

    Use a Balance Transfer Card if Needed

    Since I was regularly paying off the balance, I may not need to transfer it. But if I do need to apply for a balance transfer credit card, I’m thinking of applying for the Wells Fargo Active Cash as it has an extended balance transfer and valuable welcome offers. By doing this, I continue extending how long I can pay the balance off, and the numbers will once again work in my favor.

    Let’s say I need to transfer the remaining $2,000 balance to the card. I will incur a 3% balance transfer fee, which will equate to $60. But with the $200 cash bonus, after spending $500 in the first three months, I will come out ahead again by $140.


However, paying with a credit card isn’t a long-term solution, but as inflation continues at a 40-year high, it is prudent for me (and maybe you too) to continue investing for the future and hold debt that costs nothing.
An illustration of a woman making sure she understands the key factors credit score, available servicers and rewards — before she pays with a credit card.

What to Know Before You Start Paying With a Credit Card

As you start to pay your taxes with a credit card, you might want to consider these factors — such as your credit score, available servicers and rewards — before you do.

How Paying by Card Can Impact Your Credit Score

It’s worth noting that holding a balance on a 0% APR credit card can negatively impact your credit score, especially if the card has a lower credit limit.

For example, my Capital One SavorOne card has a $10,000 credit line, meaning that I used roughly 40% of my available credit to pay my taxes. I noticed a slight decrease in my credit score, but nothing to be overly concerned over. It is generally recommended to keep your credit utilization under 30%.

Additionally, a large increase in credit usage could send your credit score down a few points.

So if you’re approved for a new card or have a card in mind to use, be sure that the credit line is larger than your tax bill. It isn’t advised to max out your credit card, and if you need more credit, give your issuer a call to see if they can extend your credit limit.

Understanding the Different Servicers Available to Pay With

When you receive your tax bill and decide to pay with a debit or credit card, you can choose between three different servicers: ACI Payments, Pay1040 or payUSAtax. Each of these is approved by the IRS and charges different fees.

Pay1040 currently offers the lowest fee for paying taxes with a credit card at 1.87%.

Knowing What Rewards Is Worth The Fee

In my case, I was chasing the sign-up bonus to help offset the fee of paying taxes with a credit card. But for someone who wants to earn more rewards, or meet a high spending requirement for a welcome offer, incurring a small fee may be worth it.

However, be sure to run the numbers on the rewards you earn versus the fee you incur. For example, if you enjoy earning American Express Membership Rewards points to redeem for first-class flights, the small fee may be worth it — especially if you value Amex rewards over 1.8 cents per point.

Going Electronically May Be the Way to Go

Tax season is right around the corner, and it’s looking to be a hairy tax season. As the IRS struggles with employees being out sick due to Covid-19 and other logistical issues, there is more reason to handle your payments electronically rather than through snail mail.

And if you need some flexibility or simply want to earn rewards for paying your taxes, consider paying your taxes using a credit card this tax season.

Experts' Advice on Getting Paid by Paying Your Taxes

  1. What are the benefits of paying taxes with a credit card?
  2. In what ways does paying with a credit card affect your credit score?
  3. What are the potential risks or downsides to paying taxes with a credit card?
  4. Are there any restrictions or limitations on using a credit card to pay taxes, and how can taxpayers ensure they are following all applicable laws and regulations?
Gregory Germain
Gregory Germain

Professor at Syracuse University College of Law

Jamieson Hopp, CFP®, ECA
Jamieson Hopp, CFP®, ECA

Financial Planner at Millenial Wealth, LLC

James Hamill, Ph.D., CPA
James Hamill, Ph.D., CPA

Associate Professor of Accounting at Texas A&M University-Commerce

Caroline Chen
Caroline Chen

Associate Professor at San Jose State University

Dr. Hrishikesh (Hrish) Desai
Dr. Hrishikesh (Hrish) Desai

Assistant Professor of Accounting at Arkansas State University

Dr. Brian Routh
Dr. Brian Routh

Assistant Professor of Accounting at Meredith College, School of Business

Stephanie G. Wendling
Stephanie G. Wendling

CPA, CFP®, MSTFP, Instructor at Widener University

Thomas M. Spade, CPA
Thomas M. Spade, CPA

Senior Instructor of Accounting, College of Charleston

Eric Chaimowitz, CPA, CFP®
Eric Chaimowitz, CPA, CFP®

Senior Tax Manager at Truepoint Wealth Counsel

Vicki M. Stewart
Vicki M. Stewart

Lecturer - Accounting/Business & Certified Public Accountant at the University of Tennessee-Martin

Brad Childs, Ph.D. J.D.
Brad Childs, Ph.D. J.D.

Professor of Accounting at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee

Edward Charles Randle, Ph.D., CPA
Edward Charles Randle, Ph.D., CPA

Assistant Professor of Accounting at Winthrop University

Donna Bobek-Schmitt
Donna Bobek-Schmitt

Professor of Accounting, Darla Moore School of Business at the University of South Carolina

James Clifton
James Clifton

Assistant Professor of Accounting Practice at North Dakota State University

Dr. Katie Landgraf
Dr. Katie Landgraf

DBA, MBA, CPA, Assistant Professor in Accounting at University of Hawai`i-West O`ahu

Nichole Williams
Nichole Williams

Sr. Tax Manager & Shareholder at Truepoint Wealth Counsel

Barbara Schreihans
Barbara Schreihans

Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Your Tax Coach

Paula Mann
Paula Mann

Associate Dean of the Business School at Western Colorado University

Carlo Silvesti
Carlo Silvesti

Adjunct Professor of Accounting at Gwynedd Mercy University

James Guarino, CPA, PFS, CFP®
James Guarino, CPA, PFS, CFP®

Managing Director, Tax Practice at Baker Newman Noyes

D'Arcy Becker, Ph.D.
D'Arcy Becker, Ph.D.

Professor and Chair of Accounting at the University of Wisconsin 

Mark McKnight
Mark McKnight

Professor of Accounting at the University of Southern Indiana

Valrie Chambers
Valrie Chambers

Associate Professor of Accounting at Stetson University

Dr. Christopher Calvin
Dr. Christopher Calvin

Assistant Professor, Department of Accounting at the University of Dayton

About Brett Holzhauer


Brett Holzhauer headshot

Brett Holzhauer is a personal finance reporter. He has written for several leading publications and is mentioned in many others, including Forbes Advisor, Lending Tree, CNBC and ValuePenguin. An alum of the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism at Arizona State, when he is not reporting, Brett is likely scuba diving, golfing or watching college football. He tweets regularly at @brett_holzhauer.


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