EFTPS enrollment and how to schedule deposits

The Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS) is the IRS-operated portal small employers use to schedule and pay federal payroll tax deposits, federal estimated tax payments, and most other federal tax obligations. Enrollment is free, mandatory for federal payroll deposits, and takes about a week from application to first usable login. This guide is the step-by-step.

1. Apply for enrollment

Visit eftps.gov and click "Enroll." You'll need your EIN, business name, business address, and a contact name and phone. The application form takes about five minutes. There is no fee.

2. Wait for the PIN

After submission, the IRS mails an EFTPS PIN to the business address on file. The PIN typically arrives 5–7 business days after enrollment. You cannot use the system until the PIN arrives — there is no email-based or expedited delivery option. Plan ahead so the first deposit deadline is not your enrollment deadline.

3. Set your password

Once the PIN arrives, log in at eftps.gov, enter the PIN and your EIN, and set a permanent password. Save the credentials somewhere durable; password resets require additional IRS verification and can take days. Use a business password manager if you don't already have one — payroll credentials are exactly the kind of thing that costs you a deposit deadline if you can't find them.

4. Link a bank account

EFTPS pulls funds via ACH debit from a designated bank account. Add the routing and account number under the "Bank Account" section. EFTPS will run a small test transaction (typically $0.01) to verify the account; the verification clears in 1–2 business days.

5. Schedule your first deposit

From the dashboard, choose "Make a Payment," select the tax type (Form 941 for payroll), the tax period, and the amount. Schedule the payment for any business day on or before the deposit deadline. Payments scheduled by 8 PM Eastern on a banking day post the next banking day. Save the confirmation number — it's your proof of timely payment.

6. Verify the payment posted

Log back into EFTPS the day after the scheduled date and confirm the payment cleared. If it didn't (insufficient funds, account closure, etc.), you have until the original deposit deadline to fix the issue. Late deposits trigger Failure to Deposit penalties starting at 2%.

If your payroll software files for you

Most modern small-business payroll software (Gusto, Rippling, ADP, QuickBooks Payroll, Paychex, OnPay, Patriot) initiates EFTPS deposits on your behalf as part of each payroll run. Even so, enroll in EFTPS personally so you have direct visibility into the deposits the IRS has actually received — your software's internal "deposit submitted" status doesn't always match what EFTPS shows. The disconnect catches small businesses every quarter when the Form 941 doesn't reconcile to the EFTPS deposit history. Compare modern payroll providers if you're shopping for software with end-to-end EFTPS integration.

Common enrollment mistakes

Three mistakes recur: (1) enrolling under the wrong EIN — fatal because the IRS identifies all subsequent deposits by EIN; (2) listing a personal bank account as the deposit account — works mechanically but creates personal-vs-business commingling problems at audit time; (3) waiting until the first deposit deadline to start the enrollment — guaranteed to miss the deadline because the PIN takes a week. Start the enrollment the same week you receive your EIN.

Other federal payments through EFTPS

Once enrolled, EFTPS handles federal estimated tax payments (Form 1040-ES for owners), federal corporate estimated payments (Form 1120-ES), excise taxes, and most other federal tax types. The same login covers all of them. The system is dated but reliable — small businesses that have used it for a decade rarely complain about it.

Related reading