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HL1Housing Living 101

How to Pay Your Arizona State Income Tax Online

By Tanika Patel
8 minute read

Where to Pay Arizona State Taxes Online

Arizona offers two main online payment routes: the Arizona Department of Revenue's official website and the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS), which also handles state taxes. The Department of Revenue site is the most direct path — you go to azdor.gov, find the payment portal, and pay with a bank account or debit card. EFTPS is a federal system that states use, and it works the same way but requires you to enroll first, which takes one to two business days.

Both systems process payments immediately, though the money may not clear your bank account for one to three business days depending on your bank. Neither charges you a fee for paying online — Arizona does not add a surcharge for electronic payments the way some states do. If you owe taxes on your 1040 form filed with the IRS, you can also use the IRS's Direct Pay system, which will route your payment to Arizona if you live here and owe state tax.

Key Takeaways

  • The Arizona Department of Revenue website (azdor.gov) is the fastest way to pay state income tax online without setting up an account in advance.
  • You can pay with a bank account (ACH transfer) or debit card; credit cards are not accepted for state tax payments.
  • Payments show as processed immediately, but your bank may take one to three business days to move the money.
  • EFTPS requires enrollment before your first payment, so if you need to pay today, use the Department of Revenue site instead.
  • Paying online does not change your filing deadline — if you file late, you still owe penalties and interest regardless of how you pay.

What You Need Before You Pay

Have your Arizona tax return or notice in front of you. You will need your Social Security number or federal employer identification number (FEIN), the tax year you are paying for, and the exact amount you owe. If you received a notice from the Department of Revenue — such as a bill for unpaid taxes or a demand for payment — have that handy too, because it contains your account number, which speeds up the payment.

You will also need a bank account or debit card. The Department of Revenue accepts both ACH transfers (which pull money directly from your checking or savings account) and debit card payments. Credit cards are not accepted. If you are paying for a business, you will need your FEIN instead of a Social Security number, and you may need to verify your business registration with the state.

Step-by-Step: Paying Through the Arizona Department of Revenue

Go to azdor.gov and look for the "Pay Taxes Online" or "Make a Payment" link — it is usually on the homepage or under a "Payments" section. Click it and select "Individual Income Tax" or "Business Income Tax" depending on what you owe. You will be asked whether you are paying a balance due on a return you filed, paying an estimated tax payment, or paying a bill from a notice.

Enter your Social Security number (or FEIN for businesses), the tax year, and the amount. The system will confirm your identity and show you a summary of what you are about to pay. Choose your payment method: ACH (bank account) or debit card. If you choose ACH, provide your routing number and account number — you can find these on a check or by logging into your bank's website. If you choose debit card, enter the card number, expiration date, and CVV.

Review the payment details one more time, then submit. The system will give you a confirmation number immediately — save this or print it. You will also receive an email confirmation. The payment is now in the queue, and the Department of Revenue will process it within one business day. Your bank will deduct the money within one to three business days after that.

Using EFTPS If You Pay Regularly

EFTPS is the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System, run by the U.S. Department of the Treasury. It handles both federal and state tax payments and is useful if you pay taxes multiple times a year — for example, if you are self-employed and make estimated payments quarterly. The trade-off is that you must enroll before you can use it, and enrollment takes one to two business days.

To enroll, go to eftps.gov, click "Enroll Now," and provide your Social Security number or FEIN, date of birth (for individuals), and mailing address. The system will send you an enrollment confirmation by mail within two weeks, which includes a Personal Identification Number (PIN) you will use to log in. Once you have your PIN, you can schedule payments up to 120 days in advance, which is helpful if you know when you will owe.

EFTPS also lets you set up recurring payments if you make the same payment every month or quarter. The system does not charge a fee, and payments are processed the same day you submit them, though your bank will take one to three business days to clear the money.

What Happens After You Pay

The Department of Revenue will post your payment to your account within one business day of receiving it. You can check the status by logging into your account on azdor.gov or by calling the Department of Revenue at 602-255-3381. If you paid a bill from a notice, the department will send you a receipt showing the payment was applied.

If you overpaid — meaning you sent more than you owed — the department will either refund the difference or let you apply it to a future tax year. You can request a refund or a credit when you pay, or you can contact the department later to change your choice. Refunds are usually issued within 30 days if you paid by ACH, or within 60 days if you paid by debit card.

If you still owe money after your payment posts, you will continue to owe interest and penalties on the unpaid balance. Paying online does not stop penalties — only paying the full amount owed by the deadline does that. If you cannot pay the full amount, contact the Department of Revenue about a payment plan, which allows you to pay in installments.

Payment Plans If You Cannot Pay in Full

If you owe more than you can pay at once, the Arizona Department of Revenue offers short-term and long-term payment plans. A short-term plan lets you pay within 120 days with no setup fee. A long-term plan spreads payments over several months or years and charges a one-time setup fee (the amount varies based on how you set it up — online, by phone, or by mail).

To request a plan, contact the Department of Revenue at 602-255-3381 or go to azdor.gov and look for "Payment Plans" or "Installment Agreements." You will need to provide your Social Security number or FEIN, the tax year, and the total amount you owe. The department will calculate a monthly payment amount based on how long you want to take to pay.

While you are on a payment plan, interest and penalties continue to accrue on the unpaid balance, so the longer you take to pay, the more you will owe in total. However, a payment plan stops the department from taking collection action like wage garnishment or bank levies, as long as you make your payments on time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I pay my Arizona state taxes through the IRS website?

Yes, if you filed a federal return and owe both federal and state tax. The IRS Direct Pay system lets you pay federal tax directly, and you can indicate that part of your payment goes to Arizona state tax. However, the Arizona Department of Revenue site is simpler if you only owe state tax and did not file federally.

What if I pay online but my payment does not show up on my account?

Wait one to three business days for your bank to process the transfer. Once your bank deducts the money, the Department of Revenue will post it to your account within one business day after that. If more than three business days have passed and your bank shows the money left your account but the department has not posted it, call 602-255-3381 with your confirmation number.

Do I have to pay online, or can I mail a check?

You can mail a check to the Arizona Department of Revenue, but online payment is faster — your payment posts within one business day instead of the five to ten days a mailed check takes. The address for mailing is on your tax return or notice. Online payment also gives you a confirmation number immediately, so you have proof the payment was sent.

Will paying online change when my refund comes?

No. If you overpaid your taxes, your refund timeline depends on when you filed your return, not on how you paid any balance. Refunds are usually issued within 30 to 60 days of the department processing your return, regardless of payment method.

Can I pay someone else's Arizona state taxes online?

You can pay if you have their Social Security number or FEIN and the amount they owe, but the payment will be posted to their account, not yours. The person who owes the tax should contact the Department of Revenue to confirm the payment was received and applied correctly, since the department may not send a receipt to the person who made the payment.