How to Pay Quarterly Estimated Taxes Online with IRS Direct Pay

The third estimated payment of 2026 covers income earned from June 1 through August 31 and is due Tuesday, September 15, 2026. Direct Pay needs no account and no sign-in, and the payment is free. The one thing that trips people up is identity verification: you cannot verify with the 2026 return, because it does not exist yet, so you verify with a return you already filed and then point the money at 2026.

Open Direct Pay and choose estimated tax

Go to the IRS Direct Pay page and pick Pay individual tax. When the form asks for a reason for payment, choose Estimated Tax. The form it applies to is 1040-ES, and the tax year is 2026. Do not pick balance due; that label is for a return you have already filed and sends the money to the wrong bucket.

Verify your identity with a return you already filed

Direct Pay checks who you are against a prior return, so choose a filed year such as 2025 or 2024 and enter your name, address, and Social Security number exactly as they appear on that return. If you filed jointly, enter the details of the spouse listed first on that return. A mismatch is the usual reason the page rejects a payment, so if you moved, use the address that was on the return you selected, not your current one.

Enter the amount, the date, and your bank details

Type the payment amount, then the payment date. Today is fine, and you can schedule a date up to 365 days ahead, so you can set the January 15, 2027 payment now if you know the figure. Enter your bank routing number and account number and choose checking or savings. A single payment cannot exceed $9,999,999.99, and you can make up to five Direct Pay payments in any 24 hour period, as of September 2026.

Save the confirmation number

Review the summary, submit, and copy the confirmation number. Tick the box to have the confirmation emailed to you as well; it is the only record you will get, since Direct Pay has no account to log back into. If you need to change or cancel the payment, use Look Up a Payment on the same page with that number. Changes are allowed until two business days before the payment date.

If that fails. Pay by debit or credit card through one of the IRS processors listed on the card payments page. As of September 2026, Pay1040 charges $2.15 per debit payment and 1.75% for credit, and ACI Payments charges $2.10 and 1.85%. You can also pay from your IRS Online Account, which shows your payment history but needs an ID.me login.

If you would rather mail it. Make the check payable to U.S. Treasury, and write your name, address, daytime phone, Social Security number, and "2026 Form 1040-ES" on it. Send it with the payment voucher from Form 1040-ES by regular mail to the address in the form instructions. The check and money order page says private couriers can delay processing.

If the due date lands on a weekend. The payment is on time if it arrives the next business day. The IRS notes that paying too little by a due date can bring an underpayment penalty even if you are owed a refund when you file, so pay what you calculated rather than rounding down. The final 2026 payment is due January 15, 2027.

Sources. IRS Direct Pay, Direct Pay help, IRS estimated tax due dates, IRS payment options, Pay by debit or credit card, Pay by check or money order, About Form 1040-ES.