When does the IRS actually withdraw tax payments? Set up automatic withdrawal on same day as my paycheck

Thanks for the info! Do you think I should try to push my payment date by a day to be safe? And if the payment does bounce, how bad are the penalties usually?

I would absolutely recommend changing your payment date if possible - ideally schedule it 1-2 business days after your expected deposit to be safe. It's not worth the risk. If a payment to the IRS bounces, they'll charge you a penalty fee (usually around $25-40 depending on the amount), plus you'll likely get hit with insufficient funds fees from your bank (typically $35). The IRS will also send you a notice and you'll need to make other arrangements to pay, and they'll sometimes restrict your electronic payment options for future payments if you have a returned payment.

Does this actually work with all banks? My credit union is pretty small and sometimes their processing times are weird compared to the big banks.

I'm a bit confused about how this would know IRS processing times since those seem kind of unpredictable? Does it just give general advice or something really specific?

It does work with smaller banks and credit unions! The system has data from thousands of financial institutions including regional and local ones. They actually ask you to select your specific bank during setup so the advice is tailored. The tool uses historical data about when the IRS typically processes payments, combined with information about your specific bank's processing patterns. It's not just giving general advice - it's creating a personalized recommendation based on both sides of the transaction. I was skeptical too, but it was surprisingly accurate for my situation.

Wait, how does this actually work? Does it just call the IRS for you or something? I don't get it.

Yeah right, nothing can get you through to the IRS quickly these days. I've been on hold for 3+ hours multiple times this month. Sounds like a scam to me.

It doesn't call the IRS for you - instead it uses an automated system to navigate the IRS phone tree and wait on hold for you. When they actually get a real person on the line, you get a call back so you can talk directly to the IRS agent. So you don't waste your time listening to hold music for hours. I totally get the skepticism - I felt the same way. The IRS wait times are ridiculous right now, averaging 2-3 hours if you even get through at all. I tried for 4 days straight before using Claimyr. It's basically just saving you from the hold time nightmare, not magically creating a direct line to the IRS.

That's a clever idea I hadn't thought of! Has anyone else had luck with asking their bank to prioritize deposits before withdrawals? My bank is Chase if that makes any difference.

I've done this with both a regional bank and with Bank of America. The key is to talk to a branch manager or someone in account services rather than just a front-line customer service rep. Explain your situation clearly and ask if they can flag your account for the deposit to be processed with priority on that day. Chase definitely can do this, but you might need to be persistent and talk to the right person. If the first person says no, politely ask to speak with a supervisor or account manager. Having been a good customer with no overdrafts or issues helps your case too.

Also make sure to print a confirmation of your scheduled payment. The IRS system sometimes glitches and having proof of your scheduled payment can save you if they try to claim you missed the deadline.

That's really helpful advice about calling early in the morning! I didn't realize the IRS automated system might let you modify payments up to 2 days before. Do you remember roughly what time they open? I'm willing to set an alarm if it means avoiding potential overdraft fees. Also good to know about the deposit vs withdrawal processing order - that does give me a little hope that my paycheck might clear first, but you're absolutely right that it's not worth the risk if I can change it.