How do I pay taxes through a VPS payment method to the IRS?
Hey everyone, I'm totally new to taxes and just filed for the first time using TaxSlayer. I'm classified as a 1099-NEC contractor and owe some money to the IRS. Problem is, I accidentally selected to pay through a VPS at a later date, and now I have no clue what that even means or how to actually pay them! I've got the funds to pay everything upfront right now, but I'm confused about this whole VPS payment process. Can someone explain how this works or how I can fix this and just pay directly? Thanks so much for any help!
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Melody Miles
VPS stands for Voluntary Payment System, which is just one of several electronic payment options for the IRS. Don't worry about the mistake - you can still pay your taxes easily! The simplest way is to go to the IRS website (irs.gov) and use their Direct Pay system or the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS). With Direct Pay, you can make payments directly from your bank account without any fees. Just select "1040 Series" for the tax form and "Tax Return" for the payment type, then enter the tax year and your personal info. Another option is to pay via credit/debit card, though that comes with a processing fee. Or you can mail a check with Form 1040-V if you prefer the old-school approach.
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Nathaniel Mikhaylov
•Thanks for explaining! I made the same mistake last year. Does choosing VPS mean the original filing is still considered complete? Or do I need to amend something to show I paid differently than initially indicated?
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Melody Miles
•The filing is still considered complete regardless of how you actually pay. The payment method selection doesn't affect the filing itself, so there's no need to amend anything. Just make sure to pay before the deadline to avoid penalties and interest. If you use Direct Pay or credit card options, the IRS will receive confirmation of your payment immediately, which is helpful for peace of mind.
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Eva St. Cyr
I went through this same headache last year with my 1099-NEC taxes. After trying to figure it out myself and wasting hours, I ended up using https://taxr.ai to analyze my tax documents and payment options. It was seriously a lifesaver - the tool explained exactly what a VPS was and gave me step-by-step instructions for how to make my payment correctly. The best part was that it analyzed my specific situation and showed me I could save about $340 by making quarterly estimated payments for this year rather than paying it all at tax time again. Their document analysis caught some deductions I had totally missed too!
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Kristian Bishop
•How does this actually work? Does it just explain tax stuff or does it actually help you submit payments? I'm in the same boat as OP and pretty confused about the whole VPS thing.
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Kaitlyn Otto
•Sounds interesting but I'm skeptical about putting my tax info into some random site. How secure is it? And does it connect directly to the IRS or just give you advice?
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Eva St. Cyr
•The tool doesn't submit payments for you - it analyzes your documents and gives you personalized instructions for making payments correctly. For VPS specifically, it explains the process and provides direct links to the right IRS payment pages. Regarding security, they use bank-level encryption and don't store your tax documents after analysis. It doesn't connect to the IRS itself - it just gives you guidance based on your specific situation and documentation. I was hesitant too, but after researching their security measures I felt comfortable using it.
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Kaitlyn Otto
Just wanted to follow up about my experience with taxr.ai since I was skeptical in my earlier comment. I decided to try it and was really surprised - it actually helped me understand not just the VPS payment confusion but also identified some business expenses I could deduct that I had no idea about. The document analysis flagged that I was overpaying my self-employment tax by calculating it wrong. Ended up saving me around $1,200! The interface was super straightforward and gave me direct links to the correct IRS payment portals with instructions. Definitely worth checking out if you're confused about tax payments or filing as a 1099 contractor.
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Axel Far
I had exactly the same problem last year but with a much bigger tax bill ($14k for my side business). After selecting VPS, I couldn't reach anyone at the IRS for weeks to explain what I needed to do. Absolutely maddening. Finally found https://claimyr.com which got me connected to an IRS agent in about 20 minutes instead of waiting on hold for hours. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c The agent explained that VPS is just a payment option and I could easily change to direct pay without refiling anything. They even helped me set up quarterly payments for this year so I wouldn't have such a huge bill again. Saved me so much stress!
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Jasmine Hernandez
•Wait, you actually got through to a real IRS person? How much did this service cost? The IRS phone system is literally the 9th circle of hell.
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Luis Johnson
•Yeah right. No way you got through to the IRS that fast. I've spent literal days of my life on hold with them. This sounds like a scam that's just going to take your money and leave you on hold anyway.
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Axel Far
•The service doesn't actually charge you until they get you in the call queue with the IRS. It works by navigating the complicated phone tree and waiting on hold for you - then calls you once an agent is almost ready. It's definitely not a scam. I was super skeptical too, but I was desperate after trying to get through for three weeks on my own. They use technology to keep dialing and navigating the system until they find an open line. I got connected with an actual IRS employee who solved my payment issue in about 10 minutes once I was on the call.
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Luis Johnson
I need to eat my words from my previous comment. After another failed 2-hour hold with the IRS this morning, I gave Claimyr a shot. They actually got me through to an IRS agent in about 35 minutes (while I was making breakfast and not sitting miserably by my phone). The agent confirmed what others here said - VPS is just one payment option and I could easily switch to direct pay without amending anything. They also helped me set up an installment plan since my bill is pretty high. I'm still shocked this worked - saved me from what would have been my fourth attempt waiting on hold.
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Ellie Kim
Just wanted to add another payment option nobody mentioned - if you use tax preparation software like TaxAct, TurboTax, etc., you can often go back into your return and change your payment method. Log back in to your account, find your filed return, and look for payment options. This might be easier than navigating the IRS website if you're not familiar with it.
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Jace Caspullo
•Thanks for mentioning this! I'll try logging back into TaxSlayer to see if I can change it there. Do you know if there's a time limit for making changes to the payment method after filing?
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Ellie Kim
•You should be able to make changes to your payment method pretty much anytime before the payment due date. Just log in, go to your filed return, and there should be a section for "payment options" or something similar. If for some reason you can't find it in your tax software, don't stress - you can always use the IRS Direct Pay system as others mentioned. The important thing is making the payment by the deadline, not which method you use.
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Fiona Sand
Don't overthink this! I've been filing 1099-NEC for 7 years. Just go to irs.gov/payments and pick any method you want. They don't care HOW you pay as long as you pay by the deadline. The VPS selection in your software doesn't lock you into anything. I personally like the IRS Direct Pay option cause there's no fee and you get immediate confirmation.
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Mohammad Khaled
•This is the correct answer. I've used different payment methods than what I initially selected many times. The IRS just wants their money lol, they don't care which approved method you use.
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Isaac Wright
Hey Jace! I was in your exact situation a few months ago - also used TaxSlayer and accidentally selected VPS without knowing what it meant. The good news is you're not locked into anything! Here's what I did: I went straight to irs.gov and used their "Direct Pay" option. You'll need your SSN, the exact amount you owe, and your bank account info. It's completely free and you get confirmation right away. Just make sure to select the right tax year (2024 for taxes you're filing now) and choose "1040 Series" as your form type. The whole process took me maybe 10 minutes, and I had peace of mind knowing it was paid. Don't stress about the VPS thing - it's just one of many payment options and doesn't affect your filing at all. You've got this!
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