The Internal Revenue Service has finalized new regulations that could change how Americans pay their federal taxes using credit and debit cards. The changes allow the IRS to accept card payments directly rather than requiring taxpayers to complete transactions through separate third-party payment processors.
The final rule, published in the Federal Register on October 19, 2026, took effect the same day. However, the regulations authorize the IRS to establish direct card-payment arrangements and do not necessarily mean a new payment service is immediately available to taxpayers.
