IRS Online Payments Going Mandatory – What Solopreneurs Must Know
📬 IRS Says Goodbye to Paper Checks: How to Handle the 2025 Shift to Online Tax Payments
💡 What’s Changing: IRS Moves to 100% Digital Payments in 2025
Starting September 30, 2025, the IRS will stop issuing most paper tax refund checks. A new Executive Order mandates all federal payments, including tax refunds and estimated tax payments, be made electronically.
That means if you're used to getting a refund by check or mailing in your tax payments, it’s time to switch to IRS online payments, like Direct Pay, Pay1040, or even IRS.gov account-managed debit card systems.
🧾 Why Go Fully Digital?
The IRS cites three main reasons for this change:
💸 Cost Efficiency: Paper checks cost the government $657 million in FY 2024.
🛡️ Fraud Reduction: Paper checks are 16x more likely to be stolen or misused.
⚡ Speed & Simplicity: Electronic refunds arrive faster.
This is more than just a software update, it's a full overhaul of how tax payments and refunds are processed.
👥 Who This Impacts Most: Solopreneurs, Small Biz Owners & Freelancers
Entrepreneurs already juggle dozens of responsibilities, adding another layer of IRS digital account setup, bank verification, and online refund management isn't exactly welcome.
Key concerns for solopreneurs include:
👵 Tech Barriers for Elderly & Underbanked: Many filers may struggle to set up and manage digital accounts.
🔓 Identity Theft from Prepaid Cards: These cards can be exploited by fraudsters filing fake returns.
⛔ No Easy Paper Refund Option: You'll need to request an exemption to get one—and it's not guaranteed.
🧭 How to Prepare for IRS Online Payments in 2025
🔗 1. Set Up or Confirm Your IRS.gov Account
Visit irs.gov/account to create or verify access. This is essential for tracking your:
Refund status
Payment history
IRS install agreement online payments
Quarterly payment schedules
Use two-factor authentication for added security.
💳 2. Choose Direct Deposit or Credit Card Payments
Avoid surprises by switching to IRS online payments direct pay or credit card-based payments now. For example:
Use IRS Direct Pay for simple bank transfers.
Or go through Pay1040.com for flexible credit/debit options.
Avoid using paper checks altogether for your 2024 tax return, so you're ahead of the curve.
📅 3. Plan for Estimated and Quarterly Tax Payments Online
If you’re making quarterly IRS payments for 2024 online, you’ll need to schedule those via your IRS account or using trusted tools like EFTPS or Pay1040.
🔒 IRS Payment Security Tips (So You Don’t Get Burned)
Tax refund fraud is real and digital doesn’t mean risk-free. Be especially cautious if you:
Receive an unsolicited prepaid card in the mail.
Notice IRS payments missing or misapplied.
Haven’t logged into your IRS account in over a year.
Protect yourself:
💠 Set up an Identity Protection PIN (IP PIN) via IRS.gov.
🔁 Review and verify your bank routing info annually.
🔍 Learn how to look up IRS payments online through your account dashboard.
✅ What You Need to Do Right Now
Here’s your three-step IRS digital readiness checklist:
Confirm IRS Online Access → Log in at irs.gov/account
Opt for Direct Deposit → For 2024 filings and future refunds
Schedule a Tax Strategy Session → Especially if you’re managing installment agreement payments or expecting a large refund
🎯 Bottom Line: The IRS Digital Transition Isn’t Optional—But It Can Be Easy
This isn't just about ditching envelopes and stamps. It's a paradigm shift that affects how you manage:
Tax refunds 💰
Estimated payments 📆
IRS compliance 🔐
Don’t wait for a missed refund or lost prepaid card to take action.
📞 Book a Tax Sherpa Strategy Call to make sure you're set up for the future of tax payments—digitally, securely, and stress-free.
