How to Pay Taxes at the Last Minute

Nobody likes to pay their taxes. When you complete all those forms and find that you still owe money, it's nice to pay those taxes at the last minute but you also don't want to risk paying a penalty either. Here's how to pay your taxes at the last minute and still avoid the fees and calls from the IRS.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Prepare early but pay your taxes at the last minute through your accountant. You may want to gather interest income on the taxes that you owe by waiting until April 15th to pay those taxes. Prepare and sign your tax forms early with your accountant, then have him or her pay the taxes you owe right at the last minute.
2. Enlist some online help to pay your taxes at the last minute. Online tax software such as TaxCut and TurboTax are valuable tools you can download to get your taxes done quickly, even if you wait until the last minute. These sites enable you to file directly through their portal and pay your taxes with a credit card on April 15th.
3. Pay at least 90 percent of the taxes you owe by April 17th. Immediately file Form 4868, which is a request for an extension, and include any amount of estimated taxes that you still owe after calculating how much you have already paid through the year. If you pay 90 percent of the taxes that you owe by April 17th, then you will not have to pay the "failure to pay penalty" but you will still have to pay interest on the 10 percent of taxes that you still owe.
4. Stand in line at the post office. Make a check payable to the IRS for the amount of taxes you owe, include your signed tax forms and put them in an envelope properly addressed to the IRS. Get your envelope stamped with the April 15th deadline and send it on its way. Some post offices have extended hours until midnight on the tax filling day.
5. Visit your local tax office on April 15th and get in line with everything you think you'll need. Although this is a risky option and should only be used by extreme tax procrastinators, it's possible to get some last minute tax help from the pros to pay your taxes before midnight.

Tips & Warnings

• Always check your return. Even though you're in a hurry, don't miss checking your tax return before you file, and be sure you've signed it.
• Call the IRS if you hit a snag. If there's some calculation you simply cannot figure out, call the IRS at [phone]. They will arrange for an agent to call you back at a specified time.