IRS RIPOFF Why do they charge 2.5-3% convenience fee to pay taxes with credit card?

[m00d]

This really pisses me off. Why do they make us pay 2.5-3% convenience fee to pay by credit card? Why can't the IRS accept credit cards directly? What in hell is their problem? The fucking least I ask is convenience of paying with credit card and I WANT MY REWARD POINTS for these taxes paid. This bugs me every year. I mean come the fuck on IRS!! Don't you get enough?!


Credit Card

Features and Benefits:

It's convenient. Individual taxpayers can e-file or paper file early, make a payment by credit card and yet delay out-of-pocket expenses.
It's safe and secure - standard, commercial credit card networks are used. The IRS does not receive or store credit card numbers.
Credit card options are available through service providers.
There is a fee charged by credit card payment service providers. Fees are based on the amount of the payment and may vary by service provider (see below).
Payment information will not be disclosed for any reason other than processing the transaction authorized by the taxpayer.
A confirmation number is provided at the end of the phone or Internet transaction.
The "United States Treasury Tax Payment" is included on the credit card statement as further proof of payment. The convenience fee will be included on the statement as a "Tax Payment Convenience Fee" (or similar transaction).
If enrolled in such a program, taxpayers may earn miles, points, rewards or money back from the credit card issuer.
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How to Make a Credit Card Payment

The integrated e-file and e-pay credit card option is available through a number of tax preparation software products and tax professionals. For additional information about e-filing and paying all at once (including convenience fees and accepted credit cards), taxpayers can refer to tax preparation software or a tax professional.
When paying through tax preparation software, users will be prompted to enter the necessary credit card information.
Pay by phone and Internet options are available through credit card payment service providers.
When paying by phone, a recorded script will prompt taxpayers through the call.
When paying by Internet, taxpayers will be prompted to complete the necessary entry fields.
The following information is needed in order to complete a credit card payment

Credit Card Service Provider Telephone/
e-file products Web Site Convenience Fees (% of tax payment) Customer Service Number

Official Payments Corporation 1-800-2PAY-TAXsm

(1-800-272-9829)
www.officialpayments.com 2.49%1 1-877-754-4413
LINK2GOV Corporation 1-888-PAY1040sm
(1-888-729-1040)

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Jackson Hewitt www.PAY1040.com 2.49%1
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3%1
1-888-658-5465
Discover® Card Quicken® TurboTax Products www.discovercard.com
www.turbotax.com 2.25%2 1-800-440-3279

[DavePlays]

Isn't that just the fee the credit card company charges them?

Merchants absorb it, you didn't ecpect the IRS to did you?


You can always buy a stamp and mail it.....

[twistyneck]

Isn't that a violation of Visa's regulations?

[goBigtime]

Originally posted by twistyneck
Isn't that a violation of Visa's regulations?

Yes.

(But not when you're the IRS)


But you wouldn't get away with running an average sized business and charging more for a user to use a (VISA) credit card over another payment method.

[twistyneck]

Originally posted by goBigtime



Yes.

(But not when you're the IRS)

That's what I thought. Those fuckers.

[Snake Doctor]

That's just the fee that the IRS has to pay VISA for taking the card. (Alot lower than the adult 15% LOL)

As far as I know its not against any VISA regs to do that, its just that most places don't because they have competition that also takes credit cards. (The IRS has no competition)

[Pleasurepays]

fuck them. call your bank and charge it back

[goBigtime]

Originally posted by twistyneck


That's what I thought. Those fuckers.

Well don't take my word for it, I'm sure there is some loophole so that they are in complaince with visa regulations or something.

[goBigtime]

Originally posted by Lenny2
As far as I know its not against any VISA regs to do that, its just that most places don't because they have competition that also takes credit cards. (The IRS has no competition)

I remember way back when we had merchant accounts for the mainstream the merchant bank specifically told us that you coudln't charge more for credit card charges or put the fees on to the customer directly.

But i've seen it a lot for government and large private sector businesses that do charge fees for using CC's.

So who knows... they probably just have a contract that allows them to do it.

[SuckOnThis]

Originally posted by goBigtime




So who knows... they probably just have a contract that allows them to do it.

Of course Visa/MC are going to allow them to do it, they don't want to get audited.