To pay the IRS with cash at retail partners, start on IRS.gov, generate a payment barcode through one of two authorized processors, and take the barcode and your cash to a participating store such as 7-Eleven, CVS, Walgreens, or Walmart. Each transaction is capped at $500, and the service fee is a flat $1.50 per payment.
How to Generate Your Payment Barcode
The payment starts online, not at the register. Go to IRS.gov and choose one of the two authorized processors: ACI Payments, Inc. or Pay1040.1Internal Revenue Service. Pay with Cash at a Retail Partner Select the tax form and year you’re paying for, enter your taxpayer information (Social Security Number or ITIN), choose “Pay With Cash” when prompted for a payment method, and provide an email address.
You’ll get two emails. The first confirms what you entered. The IRS then verifies your details, and the processor sends a second email with a link to your barcode and instructions.1Internal Revenue Service. Pay with Cash at a Retail Partner The IRS doesn’t publish how long verification takes, so start well before your due date. Once the barcode arrives, you have 20 days to use it before it expires.
At the Store
Print the barcode or pull it up on your phone, then bring it and your cash to any participating retailer. The cashier scans the barcode through the store’s point-of-sale system, you hand over the cash, and the payment routes to your IRS account.
Ask for a paper receipt before you leave. It includes a tracking number and is your proof of payment if anything goes wrong. Keep it until the payment appears in your IRS Online Account. The IRS says to start the process ahead of your due date but doesn’t give a specific posting time, so don’t cut it close.
Which Stores Participate
Payments run through the VanillaDirect network, which covers national chains across several categories:1Internal Revenue Service. Pay with Cash at a Retail Partner
- Convenience stores: 7-Eleven, Circle K, Speedway, Kum & Go, Pilot Travel Centers, Go Mart, Kwik Trip, Stripes
- Pharmacies: CVS Pharmacy, Walgreens, Rite Aid
- Discount and grocery: Dollar General, Family Dollar, Walmart, The Kroger Co.
- Other: Royal Farms, TAA Operating
The list is maintained on the IRS website and can change as retailers join or leave the network.
Limits and Fees
Each payment is capped at $500. There’s no daily limit on how many payments you can make, but monthly, annual, and other frequency limits apply depending on the type of tax. Both processors charge $1.50 per payment, paid at the register on top of the tax amount.1Internal Revenue Service. Pay with Cash at a Retail Partner
Say you owe $1,500. That’s three separate payments of $500, each with its own barcode generated through the online process, and $4.50 in fees. Not catastrophic, but the fees and the time add up with larger balances.
If You Owe More Than the Retail Cap Allows
For a large cash balance, the retail route isn’t the right tool. Call 844-545-5640 to schedule an in-person appointment at an IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center that accepts cash. The IRS recommends calling 30 to 60 days ahead, since appointment slots fill up.2Internal Revenue Service. Pay Your Taxes with Cash A single TAC appointment can handle a far larger amount in one visit, without the repeated per-payment fees.
Avoiding Scams
The real program only works through the barcode process above: start on IRS.gov, use ACI Payments or Pay1040, and pay at a participating retailer. The IRS will never call, email, or text you demanding that you buy a prepaid card, gift card, or any store card to pay a tax bill.3Internal Revenue Service. Ways to Tell if the IRS Is Reaching Out or if Its a Scammer If you get a letter that looks official, verify it by logging into your IRS Online Account or calling IRS customer service directly. Anyone telling you to walk into a store and buy gift cards to settle a tax debt is running a scam.