Pay all tax liabilities by credit card

Taxpayers now have their option to pay all their taxation liabilities using major credit cards. The Tax Office has been conducting a pilot for credit card payments since February 2009.

Requirements

During the pilot, taxpayers may make taxation payments from a minimum of $10 to a maximum of $10,000 to the Tax Office. In order to make a credit card payment, taxpayers will need:

• a current Visa, MasterCard or American Express card
• the ATO electronic funds transfer EFT code, and
• to use the Government EasyPay website or telephone service.

According to the Tax Office, the credit card payments must reach the Tax Office on or before its due dates. Taxpayers need to be aware that transactions entered on a weekend, national public holiday or after 6pm Sydney time will be processed on the next business day.

Card payment fees

The following fee rates apply to transactions made using credit cards:

• Visa or Master Card:  0.67%
• American Express: 1.02%

The Commissioner said these fees are the non-GST components of the fees the ATO would incur from its banker for these transactions.

How to make a card payment

To make a card payment online, taxpayers can click here to go to Government EasyPay.

Alternatively, taxpayers may make their credit card payments using the Government EasyPay telephone service by calling 1300 898 089. 

According to the Tax Office, the Government EasyPay service will provide a receipt for both the tax payment and the card payment fee. The details will be displayed as ATO payment and Card payment fee - ATO on the cardholder's statement.  This is currently just being piloted and we encourage taxpayers to utilise the service during this time in the hope that it will be maintained.