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Wisconsin Department of Revenue

 Making Payments in My Tax Account (FAQs)

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Many answers to your questions can be found in the responses to these Frequently Asked Questions. Please review this information before contacting the department by telephone or e-mail.

Payment Options
Payment Processing & Timing


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Payment Options

What is a “pending” return or payment request?

My Tax Account does process the return and payment requests separately. Your return and payment are listed as “pending requests” immediately after you have successfully filed them. Pending requests are pulled at 4 p.m. each business day for our department to process and can be changed or withdrawn while still in pending status. If ever desired, you may cancel your pending payment or return request by selecting the specific request and then selecting the “Withdraw” button.

To view your return and payment requests history, click on your sales tax account number to access your sales tax records. “View Requests” is the last blue hyperlink option listed under the Account Summary My Tax Account page. You may view your past return and payment filing requests by selecting the “Last 90 Days” view in the “Requests that have been completed” bar in your “View Requests” option.

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What payment methods does My Tax Account offer?

My Tax Account offers the following payment methods:

For all business tax types, except the Police and Fire Protection Fee (PFPF), once you complete the filing of your return by entering your password, My Tax Account offers you 4 payment options to select from; “Pay with Credit Card,” “Pay with Bank Direct Debit,” “Create a Payment Voucher,” and “Pay Later.”  

Note: The Police and Fire Protection Fee payment must be made electronically via My Tax Account Direct Debit or via ACH Credit by your financial institution.

EFT ACH Credit - My Tax Account does not provide an EFT Credit payment option when you file a return, however you may still pay your sales or withholding tax using ACH Credit EFT through your bank. Electronic Funds Transfer Payment Instructions for Financial Institutions with ACH Credit Instructions is available on our Department of Revenue website at: www.revenue.wi.gov/eserv/eft2.html

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How do I make a payment in My Tax Account?

If you want to make a payment toward a specific filing period , locate the filing period on the filing period list and select the “Pay” link. If you have just completed a return request, the “Pay” link will not be available until the return has been processed and posted to My Tax Account within the next two days. Alternatively, you can use the “Make a Payment” link and select the “Return Payment” option. Enter the payment effective date (date you want the funds to come out of your bank account), the payment amount, and select the bank source or enter a new bank source. Click the Submit button and verify your payment by entering your password.

If you want to make a payment toward the entire account balance, use the “Make a Payment” link. The link is located with the other blue links in the Account Summary panel. After you select Direct Debit or Credit Card payment method, “Make a Payment” offers four Payment Types to choose from:

Please Note: The “Make a Payment” hyperlink is not an option that is available for Withholding tax accounts. A My Tax Account Withholding tax return must be filed in order to receive an option to pay. After submitting a Withholding tax return, you will be given an option to “Pay with Direct Debit,” “Pay with Credit Card,” “Create a Payment Voucher,” or “Pay Later.” If you select the “Pay Later” option, you will not be able to pay that period until the return has been processed. After the return has been processed (usually the next business day), the “Pay” link will appear in the filing periods panel.

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How do I file and pay the Police and Fire Protection Fee (PFPF)?

If you are a communications provider or other retailer who sells prepaid wireless telecommunications plans, such as a card for a prepaid wireless account, you are required to register to collect and remit the newly enacted Police and Fire Protection Fee electronically.

You may both file and amend Police and Fire Protection Fee (PFPF) returns. To file and pay the PFPF, select the PFPF account number from your My Tax Account home page => Select the “File Now” hyperlink next to the required filing period => Click “Next” to complete the return filing process => Select the Direct Debit payment option or the Pay Later option, if you wish to contact your bank to send an ACH Credit EFT payment.

Note: To create a PFPF account, you may choose the My Tax Account “Add Access to an Account” registration option and then select option B in the pull down menu. By completing the preparer information and entering your password, a Police and Fire Protection Fee account will be set up for you.

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Can I pay my business taxes using the EFT ACH Credit method?

EFT ACH Credit - My Tax Account does not provide an EFT Credit payment option when you file a return, however you may still pay your sales or withholding tax using ACH Credit EFT through your bank. Electronic Funds Transfer Payment Instructions for Financial Institutions with ACH Credit Instructions is available on our Department of Revenue website at: www.revenue.wi.gov/eserv/eft2.html

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Can I make my Unemployment Insurance and Employee Wage Attachment payments on My Tax Account?

Unemployment Insurance – Unemployment Insurance reporting is administered by the Department of Workforce Development (DWD) and is presently not available for filing on Department of Revenue’s (DOR) My Tax Account. My Tax Account is only administered by DOR, which does not have access to DWD’s processing systems. Just like My Tax Account, DWD provides a direct debit withdrawal option on their unemployment wage reporting web application.

Employee Wage Attachment - Presently, employee wage garnishment attachments are not available to file and pay on My Tax Account. It is possible that it may be added in the future.

The wage attachment filing system is available at: www.revenue.wi.gov/eserv/wage/wage.html

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Can I save my bank account information in My Tax Account so that I don’t have to enter it each time I make a payment?

Yes. When making a payment you can choose to save a payment source for future use. After entering the bank routing number and account number, check the box next to “save payment source for future use” and define a name for the payment source for future reference. You can save multiple payment sources.

You can also add bank account information under My Profile. Click the “Add Source” link in the Payment Sources panel.

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My bank information has changed or I’d like to use another source. How can I update this?

You may add new payment sources or change a source at any time in your My Tax Account profile. After logging in and following the “My Profile” link to view your profile, you may view your payment sources at the bottom of the profile screen. To add a new payment source, click the “Add Source” link and enter the correct details. To change a source, click the desired source name from the list of payment sources to view the details for that source. The “Modify” button will allow you to change the details.

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What information do I need to provide to my financial institution if I have “Fraud Protection” on my account?

Please notify your bank that the first letter of the Department of Revenue’s 10-character originator number or company ID for business tax ACH Debit withdrawal requests is “X”.

If needed, you may contact our department for the full 10-character originator number via email at: dormytaxaccounthelp@revenue.wi.gov or call (608) 261-5338.

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Can I make one payment to pay both sales and WH tax?

No, payment requests submitted through My Tax Account are submitted by specific tax types. You can save your bank information and use the same bank account to pay both sales and withholding taxes.

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Do I also need to file a My Tax Account withholding tax return, when I electronically make my withholding tax deposit payments on My Tax Account?

Yes. Sending a payment alone does not report your withholding tax liability on My Tax Account. You must file a My Tax Account withholding tax return prior to making your payment.

Note: Do not also mail a paper WT-6 deposit report coupon, if you have already electronically filed your My Tax Account withholding deposit return for the same filing period. This would double your withholding liability reported for this period and may result in a Notice of Amount Due for the duplicate report.

Locate the filing period that you wish to file and click on the “File Now” hyperlink to open the online return form. If the “File Now” hyperlink is not available, or the period is not listed on the Account Summary page, you may also select a period to file a return using the “File a Return” hyperlink. Once you complete the filing of your return by entering your password, My Tax Account offers you 4 payment options to select from; “Pay with Credit Card,” “Pay with Bank Direct Debit,” “Create a Payment Voucher,” and “Pay Later.”

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How do I make a credit card payment?

The Wisconsin Department of Revenue, in cooperation with Official Payments Corporation (OPC), allows you the option of making a payment on your sales and use liability by credit card. OPC charges a convenience fee of 2.5% of the payment amount with a $1.00 minimum. The Wisconsin Department of Revenue does not receive any portion of the convenience fee. To pay by telephone call toll-free 1-800-272-9829. To pay over the Internet visit OPC’s website at www.officialpayments.com. You will need the following information to complete a transaction:

  1. Wisconsin jurisdiction code - 5800
  2. Payment type - Option 4 - Sales Tax
  3. WI tax account number (456-XXXXXXXXXX-03)
  4. Contact phone number
  5. Payment amount
  6. Credit card number and expiration date
  7. Zip code of credit card billing address
  8. Name, address, and zip code (Internet only)
  9. E-mail address (Internet only)

OPC accepts the following credit cards: Visa, American Express, MasterCard, and Discover

Questions: www.revenue.wi.gov/faqs/crcard.html or call the phone number listed on your notice. You will receive a confirmation number for your records as proof of payment.

Note: Selecting the Credit Card option pops open a new browser window to redirect you to the Official Payments Corporation’s secure website. Your Internet browser program’s pop-up blocker feature needs to be disabled to allow this new window to pop up.

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What taxes and fees can I pay through My Tax Account?

Sales and use tax, premier resort area tax, local exposition center tax, withholding tax, rental vehicle fee, business tax registration fee, and the Police and Fire Protection Fee (PFPF) can be paid using My Tax Account.

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How is my financial information protected?

The Wisconsin Department of Revenue takes information protection very seriously. There are multiple layers of security within the application to protect your data. Your access to My Tax Account uses SSL - secure socket layer - from your browser to protect any information you submit or view from the My Tax Account system. Your user names and account passwords are protected so that even My Tax Account administrators cannot access this information.

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Can I make a future payment?

A payment can be made up to 173 days in advance of the current date.

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Can I make a payment on a tax period before filing a return?

Yes, you can make a payment prior to filing a return for all business tax types except for withholding tax. However, but late filing fees and penalties may still apply if the return is not filed timely.

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How do I get a voucher to send with my check?

The Department of Revenue encourages you to use an electronic payment option. These options are quick, easy and secure. However, after you complete your return you may use the “Create a Payment Voucher” option. You can also create a voucher after a return has been filed by clicking the view link for the return then clicking the Create Printable Voucher button. Both methods create a request that will be processed within a few minutes. You can then find the payment voucher by using the blue “View Mail” link from the tax account summary page.

Note: The Police and Fire Protection Fee payment must be made electronically via My Tax Account Direct Debit or via ACH Credit by your financial institution.

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Payment Processing & Timing

Will I get a confirmation number if I make a payment in My Tax Account?

Yes. After you complete a payment you will receive a confirmation number for your records.

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When must I make a payment for it to be timely?

Payments must be submitted with a payment effective date prior to 4:00 PM CST on or prior to the filing period due date to avoid penalties and interest.

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How long will it take for my payments to process?

Payments must be verified by the bank before they are posted to your account. This process may take a few days. Some payments require a manual review after the bank verifies the funds. In these cases it will take longer for the payment to post to your account. Note that the processing time does not affect the payment effective date. Your payment will post with the effective date that you defined when you submitted the payment, regardless of the amount of time it takes to process the payment.

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Why does My Tax Account not show my sales tax return $10 retailer’s discount in the payment amount field when I pay my sales tax?

You may subtract your sales tax return discount amount from the total tax due amount before you pay the tax for the return.

Your $10 retailer’s discount is only allowed if both the return and payment are filed by the return period's due date. Our tax processing system will not reflect your retailer’s discount until your payment has been processed using the payment's captured receive date. If the receive date is timely, our system will grant the discount when the payment is processed. Your processed return may not show your discount before your payment is processed, for this reason.

Payments must be verified by the bank before they are posted to your account. This process may take a few days. Some payments require a manual review after the bank verifies the funds. In these cases it will take longer for the payment to post to your account. Note that the processing time does not affect the payment effective date. Your payment will post with the effective date that you defined when you submitted the payment, regardless of the amount of time it takes to process the payment.

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My payment hasn’t posted to my account. What should I do? What if my payment was reversed by my bank?

Check with your bank to make sure the payment was withdrawn. Verify with your bank that your payment was not reversed due to an invalid bank account number or your bank’s fraud protection security.

Reversed Payments

Reversed payment transactions will not update or post on your My Tax Account business tax “Account Summary” page. However, you may view reversed payment transactions inside the returns and payments “Recent Activity” panel.

To view the “Recent Activity” panel, log into My Tax Account => Select the business tax account number that you wish to review => Click on the blue “More Activity…” hyperlink, located in the “Recent Activity” box in the upper right corner of the business tax account summary page => Payments and returns are listed in the order of the filing periods.

Payments in the amount of $1,000 or greater are not requested for transfer from your bank a second time. Reversed payments may be subject to a $20 return check fee and interest. You must initiate a new replacement payment, if your payment has been reversed by your bank.

To make a replacement payment, click on your business tax account number (white hyperlink) under the “My Tax Account – Jane Doe (i.e., your name)” line in the upper blue rectangle page header. From your business tax “Account Summary” page => Click on the red “Pay” hyperlink next to your reversed payment filing period => Select the “Direct Debit” option => Select the “Bill Payment” type => Select your payment source and submit your payment.

Direct Debit payment requests may be reversed by your bank for the following reasons:

Invalid/Bad Account – Your bank cannot identify the bank account number that the payment is being requested to be withdrawn from. Your bank should be able to provide you with the invalid bank account number that was submitted. You must verify and change your My Tax Account Payment Source with the invalid bank account number. From your My Tax Account Home page select the “My Profile” settings option => Click on your Payment Source name under the green Payment Source bar => You may verify only the last 4 digits of your bank account number. The rest of the digits are hidden for security purposes. You may click on the gray “Change” button to re-enter your correct bank account number.

Unauthorized Corp Debit – Payment was reversed due to your bank’s fraud protection service. You must provide your bank with the Department of Revenue (DOR)’s electronic funds transfer originator number to indentify DOR as the payment requesting entity before you make a replacement payment. Please notify your bank that the first letter of the Department of Revenue’s 10-character originator number or company ID for business tax ACH Debit withdrawal requests will either be a “W” or “X”. Both of these should be recognized as valid codes for initiating EFT debit payments. If needed, you may contact our department for the full 10-character originator number via email at: dormytaxaccounthelp@revenue.wi.gov or call (608) 261-5338.

Insufficient Funds – Payment was reversed due to the lack of enough funds in the bank account to cover the amount of funds electronically requested. Please make a replacement payment.

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My payment hasn’t posted to my account, but my bank reports the money as transferred. Where did the payment go?

It may take a few days for the payment to be posted to your account. You will receive credit as of the effective date you scheduled for the payment. If it has been five days and your payment is not posted call (608) 261-5338 or email dormytaxaccounthelp@revenue.wi.gov for assistance.

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I think I accidentally made a payment that I didn’t want to, can I stop it?

Login to My Tax Account as soon as possible and click on the blue “View Requests” link. Here you will see a list of requests waiting to be processed, as well as those that have already been processed. If the payment in question is still waiting to be processed or pending, you can click on the blue payment link to open a new screen that will allow you to cancel the request by clicking on the “Withdraw” button. On the requests screen, you can also search for the request by confirmation number. PAYMENT REQUESTS ARE PROCESSED AT APPROXIMATELY 4:00 PM CST MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY.

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I made a payment but I’d like to change the amount of it. How do I do that?

You cannot change the amount of a payment using My Tax Account. However, if a payment request has not been picked up for processing yet, you can withdraw the payment request and then create a new payment request for the correct amount. PAYMENT REQUESTS ARE PROCESSED AT APPROXIMATELY 4:00 PM CST MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY.

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If I make a payment in My Tax Account on the return due date, will it be processed the same day?

No, payment requests are placed on a payment file that is sent to the Department of Revenue’s bank at 4 p.m. CST each business banking day, to be processed and transferred from your bank on the very next business banking day.

Your payment is considered timely, if it is initiated before 4 p.m. CST on the due date or extended due date, even though it will not transfer until the day after the due date.  The filing due date is extended to the next business banking day, if the original filing period due date falls on a weekend day or holiday.

Payments must be verified by the bank before they are posted to your account. This process may take a few days. Some payments require a manual review after the bank verifies the funds. In these cases it will take longer for the payment to post to your account. Note that the processing time does not affect the payment effective date. Your payment will post with the effective date that you defined when you submitted the payment, regardless of the amount of time it takes to process the payment.

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FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE
Customer Service Bureau
Mail Stop 5-77
P.O. Box 8949
Madison, WI 53708-8949
Phone: (608) 261-5338
Fax: (608) 267-1030
E-Mail Additional Questions

Last updated November 12, 2009