Quick answer: The cheapest way to pay California state income tax online is Web Pay on the Franchise Tax Board (FTB) website, which takes money from your checking or savings account for free. You can also pay by credit card through ACI Payments for a 2.3% fee, have the payment withdrawn when you e-file, or mail a check with the right voucher. For the 2026 tax year, a balance due must be paid by April 15, 2027, and estimated payments follow California's 30/40/0/30 schedule.
Updated November 2026: every payment method, fee and deadline was rechecked on ftb.ca.gov. Added the credit card processor and its 2.3% fee, mandatory e-pay rules, the correct check vouchers, California's estimated tax schedule and payment plan terms. The old post's third-party payment sites and its description of the FTB Mobile app were corrected.
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California tax payment options compared
| Method | Cost | Use it for |
|---|---|---|
| Web Pay (bank account) | Free | Balance due, estimated, extension, amended returns, bills |
| Electronic funds withdrawal | Free | Paying when you e-file with software |
| Credit card (ACI Payments) | 2.3% fee | Balance due, estimated, extension, bills |
| Check or money order | Postage | Any payment, mailed with the right voucher |
| Payment plan | $34 setup fee | Balances up to $25,000 you can't pay at once |
Sources: FTB Web Pay, FTB credit card payments and FTB payment plans.
Pay from your bank account with Web Pay
Web Pay is the FTB's own online payment service. It is free and accepts a checking or savings account. Individuals can use it for a current-year or amended return balance, estimated tax, an extension payment, a bill, or a proposed assessment.
- Open Web PayFrom ftb.ca.gov/pay, or log in to MyFTB
- Identify yourselfSSN or ITIN and your details
- Pick the payment typeReturn, estimate, extension or bill, and the tax year
- Enter your bank accountRouting and account number
- Choose a dateToday or a future date, then save the confirmation
- Timing: a Web Pay payment counts as on time if you submit it by midnight Pacific time on the due date (FTB).
- Scheduling: you can schedule payments up to one year in advance, which works well for estimated payments (FTB 2026 Form 540-ES instructions).
- Changes: if you pay through your MyFTB account, you can view, schedule and cancel payments there.
Choose the correct payment type and tax year. A 2026 estimated payment entered as a 2025 balance payment is credited to the wrong year.
Pay by credit card through ACI Payments
The FTB does not take cards itself. It uses ACI Payments, Inc. (formerly Official Payments), which charges a 2.3% service fee (FTB: Pay by credit card). You can pay at officialpayments.com using FTB jurisdiction code 1555, or by phone at 800-272-9829 (FTB 3582).
Illustrative example: a $2,400 estimated payment by card costs $2,400 × 2.3% = $55.20 in fees; an $8,000 balance costs $184. The same payments through Web Pay cost nothing. A card only makes sense if its rewards exceed 2.3%, or if you need a few weeks of float and will pay the card off in full. The FTB also warns that refunds created by card payments may be delayed or need verification.
Pay when you e-file (electronic funds withdrawal)
If you e-file with tax software or a preparer, you can have the balance withdrawn from your bank account as part of the return. This is called electronic funds withdrawal (EFW). Software that supports it can also schedule extension and estimated payments the same way (FTB Form 540 instructions).
The FTB also runs a pay-by-phone bank debit service, but you must first apply on form FTB 4073 and be approved, so most individuals use Web Pay instead.
When paying electronically is mandatory
Once you make an estimated or extension payment of more than $20,000, or file an original return with total tax over $80,000, you must make all later payments electronically, whatever the amount. The payment that triggers the rule can be made another way. Paying by check after that brings a penalty of 1% of the amount not paid electronically (FTB penalties). Web Pay, EFW, credit card and the pay-by-phone service all count. You can ask the FTB for a waiver in some situations.
Paying by check: use the right voucher
Make the check or money order payable to "Franchise Tax Board", in US dollars, drawn on a US bank. Write your SSN or ITIN and the tax year and form name on it (for example, "2026 Form 540-ES"). Don't send cash, and don't staple the payment to the voucher.
| What you're paying | Voucher |
|---|---|
| Balance on a return you e-filed | FTB 3582 |
| Payment with an automatic extension | FTB 3519 |
| Estimated tax | Form 540-ES (the voucher for that due date) |
| Balance on a paper return | Send with the return, as the Form 540 instructions say |
FTB 3582 and 540-ES payments go to Franchise Tax Board, PO Box 942867, Sacramento, CA 94267-0008. Use the address printed on the current year's voucher, because the FTB can change it. A check that bounces brings a penalty of 2% if it was $1,250 or more, or the smaller of $25 or the payment amount if it was less.
Estimated tax payments: California's 30/40/0/30 schedule
California does not split estimated tax into four equal parts like the IRS. You generally must make estimated payments if you expect to owe at least $500 for the year ($250 if married/RDP filing separately) after withholding and credits.
- April 15, 20261st payment: 30% of your 2026 required annual payment
- June 15, 20262nd payment: 40%
- September 15, 2026No California payment due (the federal one still is)
- January 15, 20274th payment: the last 30%
Illustrative example: if your required 2026 estimated tax is $8,000, you pay $2,400 by April 15, $3,200 by June 15, nothing in September and $2,400 by January 15, 2027.
To avoid an underpayment penalty, your payments plus withholding generally must cover the smaller of 90% of your 2026 tax or 100% of your 2025 tax. Two exceptions (FTB 2026 Form 540-ES):
- If your 2025 California AGI was over $150,000 ($75,000 if separate), the prior-year figure is 110% of your 2025 tax.
- If your 2026 California AGI is $1,000,000 or more ($500,000 if separate), you must base payments on your 2026 tax; the prior-year option is not available.
You can skip the January payment if you file your 2026 return by January 31, 2027 and pay the full balance with it. If your income comes mostly from wages, raising your California withholding with your employer can replace estimated payments; the California paycheck calculator shows what's withheld now.
Size your payments: estimate your 2026 California tax with the California income tax calculator, then plan your federal quarters with the estimated tax calculator.
Can't pay in full? Payment plans
File on time even if you can't pay, because the late-filing penalty is separate from the late-payment penalty. Then pay what you can and apply for an installment agreement (FTB: Payment plans). Individuals generally qualify if:
- the amount due is $25,000 or less;
- you can pay it off in 60 months or less;
- you have filed all income tax returns for the past 5 years.
A $34 setup fee is added to your balance if the plan is approved. Apply online, by phone at 800-689-4776, or by mail with form FTB 3567. Approval can take up to 90 days, so keep paying in the meantime. Interest keeps running on the unpaid balance until it's paid. You may be asked for a financial statement, and a tax lien may be a condition of the plan.
The cost of waiting: the late-payment penalty is 5% of the unpaid tax plus 0.5% for each month it stays unpaid, for up to 40 months, on top of interest. For filing rules and extensions, see our step-by-step California filing guide.
MyFTB and the FTB Mobile app
MyFTB is your free online FTB account. It shows your account balance and payment history, including the estimated payments to claim on your return, and lets you view, schedule and cancel Web Pay payments. Registration may require a PIN sent by mail, so set it up before you need it.
The FTB also publishes a free FTB Mobile app for iPhone. Its App Store listing, from the Franchise Tax Board, describes two functions: checking your refund status and paying from a bank account, including scheduling payments up to a year ahead. It is not a full account manager; use MyFTB on the web for balances and payment history.
Avoid payment scams and look-alike sites
- Pay only through ftb.ca.gov, your MyFTB account, your tax software's EFW, or the FTB's card processor, ACI Payments. Other "tax payment" sites are not FTB services.
- The FTB warns that scammers pose as IRS or FTB staff by text, email, phone and fake websites. Don't click links in unexpected messages; if a letter looks suspicious, call the FTB at 800-852-5711.
- Keep your confirmation number or bank record until the payment shows in MyFTB.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a fee to pay California taxes online?
Not with Web Pay or electronic funds withdrawal, which are free. Credit card payments through ACI Payments carry a 2.3% service fee. Your bank may charge its own fees for some transfers.
What if April 15 falls on a weekend?
The due date moves to the next business day. In 2027, April 15 is a Thursday, so 2026 balances are due that day.
Do I pay California and the IRS separately?
Yes. The FTB and the IRS are separate agencies with separate payment systems, deadlines for estimates and payment plans. A payment to one is never applied to the other.
How do I pay a 2025 balance that is past due?
The 2025 balance was due April 15, 2026, even if you filed by the October 15 extended date, and penalties and interest run from April 15. Use Web Pay and choose the bill or balance-due payment type for tax year 2025. Penalties and interest keep growing until it's paid, so paying part now still helps. If you can't pay all of it, apply for a payment plan.
To work out how much you'll owe before you pay, see California's 2026 and 2025 tax brackets and the deductions and credits that lower California tax.
This guide explains general FTB payment options for tax years 2025 and 2026 and is not personal tax, legal or financial advice. Fees and procedures can change; confirm on ftb.ca.gov before you pay.