Can I pay Form 2290 HVUT with a credit card?
Yes. The IRS takes Form 2290 card payments through two third-party processors listed on IRS.gov, Pay1040 and ACI Payments, Inc. Per the IRS card-payment page updated June 28, 2026, a personal debit card costs a flat $2.10-$2.15, a personal credit card 1.75%-1.85% ($2.50 minimum), and a commercial or corporate card 2.89%-2.95%. The IRS also limits Form 2290 card payments to two per year. The other payment options are EFW (electronic funds withdrawal at filing), EFTPS, and check or money order.
The IRS does not process card payments itself - you pay through one of the processors on its "Pay your taxes by debit or credit card" page. As of the June 28, 2026 update that page lists two: Pay1040 (personal debit $2.15 flat; credit card 1.75% with a $2.50 minimum; commercial card 2.89%) and ACI Payments, Inc. (personal debit $2.10 flat; credit card 1.85% with a $2.50 minimum; corporate card 2.95%). Both take PayPal and Click to Pay; ACI also takes Venmo. None of the fee goes to the IRS. The IRS frequency-limit table allows two card payments per year for Form 2290, so a fleet that pays in installments needs a different method for the third payment. Check the IRS page before you pay - the processor list and fees change.
EFW (Electronic Funds Withdrawal) is included free with e-filed returns. The IRS pulls the payment from the bank account the carrier specifies on Form 2290 at submission. For most filers EFW is the cleanest option since it avoids the third-party processor fee.
EFTPS (Electronic Federal Tax Payment System) requires advance enrollment but lets the carrier schedule HVUT payments separately from the e-file submission. Useful for cash-flow-management filers who want to schedule payment for a specific date after filing.
Check or money order is still accepted but slows processing. The check is mailed with Form 2290-V (the payment voucher) to the IRS office in Cincinnati, OH. The IRS deposits the check on receipt; the stamped Schedule 1 returns by mail in 4-6 weeks vs the same-day return on e-file.