EFW, EFTPS, Card, or Check: Choosing How to Pay Your HVUT

Filing Form 2290 and paying the tax are two separate steps — and your Schedule 1 stamp reflects the filing, while the IRS still expects the payment to clear. Here's how the four payment routes compare.

Electronic Funds Withdrawal (EFW)

The simplest option: you provide your bank routing and account number inside the e-filed return and the IRS debits the tax directly. No enrollment needed. The classic failure mode is a mistyped routing number — double-check it, because a bounced debit means IRS follow-up letters.

EFTPS

The Electronic Federal Tax Payment System is the Treasury's payment portal. It works well for businesses that already use it for other federal taxes, but new enrollments take time to activate — set it up well before the deadline, not the night of.

Credit or debit card

You can pay through IRS-approved card processors, which charge their own processing fee on top of the tax. It's the fastest fallback when a bank account isn't handy, and the fee may be a deductible business expense — ask your tax preparer.

Check or money order

Mail a check with the Form 2290-V payment voucher. It's fully valid but slow, and proof-of-payment timing depends on the mail. If you choose this route, mail early and keep a copy of the voucher and check.