Hey people

I have the honour as American to pay taxes. I am here the first year and managed to fill all teh forms and files them. However, I do not get it how I can actually pay my taxes I do NOT have an american bank account anymore (other long story

I went to Postfinance to make a wired transfer. They do however tell me this can only be done with a name.

What is the easiest was to get this done?

Thanks for any help - Joe

Do you have a credit card? If so, that is easiest. If not, I think banks here can cut a check for a fee, but you'll have to ask them exactly how that works.

Loads of credit cards available - as an American I should have thought about that. I was sooooo stuck with that printed payment order. As my excuse I have to mention that I am living abroad for 4 years now (but first year without American account).

Which of these services do you use?
http://www.irs.gov/efile/article/0,,id=101316,00.html

I don't - but my accountant recommends the officialpayments one

We've used the official payments one. No problems with it, other than the gritting and gnashing of teeth accompanying the payment.

Wait... am I reading this right?

These services charge 1.89 to 3.93% of the taxes owed?

That could add a rather frightening sum on to one's (already painful) tax bill.




(Thank doG we are still allowed an account in the US...)

Have you considered opening an online, us bank account? Perhaps a friend in the States will allow you to use their mailing address in order to do so. That way you can use online bill paying for taxes. Otherwise, think credt card is only other choice.

[QUOTE=meloncollie;1584995]Wait... am I reading this right?

These services charge 1.89 to 3.93% of the taxes owed?

That could add a rather frightening sum on to one's (already painful) tax bill.

I know its annoying but all businesses pay a fee in this range to Visa/ MC / Amex (who are the most expensive, why sometimes not accepted). The IRS are just passing it on so they dont lose tax revenue on the way.

Here's a link to the irs website concerning credit/debit cards:
http://www.irs.gov/efile/article/0,,id=101316,00.html

Here's a link to payments in general:
http://www.irs.gov/individuals/artic...241919,00.html

You can transfer payments electronically, through the EFTPS feature, and I would think from any bank in the world.

No fun paying taxes, that's for sure!

You should be able to do an electronic funds transfer in USD, where you pay all the costs of the transfer. I have options for international payment without iban, which is what I use to send money to the US.

Debit cards people???? Why does nobody use debit cards these days. Credit, credit, credit and everyone wonders why there is a debt crisis!!

Debit card will charge you $3.50 irrespective of the liability.

Banks here will cut you a check, I understand that fee can be around 50 CHF.

As mentioned above, if you are a US taxpayer, it really does pay to have a US bank account for these issues. Call it your uncle sam account and it will forever be topped up with the cash you need pay to your favourite unlce at this time of year...................all for the joy of holding that wonderful little document called the US passport of the infamous "Green Card".

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Small minds are concerned with the extraordinary, great minds with the ordinary, Blaise Pascal

I actually just finished paying my taxes through the site PayUSATaxes.com which is a third party organization. It seemed to go through quite well. It takes 5-7 business days so keep that in mind. (I think this is the quickest way to do it.)

There is another option but it is quite expensive and takes a bit of time. You can go ahead and go to your Swiss bank and ask for a money order. I read somewhere that they are hard to come by and cost 50 francs but this might be less than the credit card fee you'd pay online if you have a lot of taxes to pay. Then you just send it through snailmail. *You should have ample time to complete this process if you choose to try it*

We just went to our bank UBS and got them to arrange a bankers cheque which we then posted to the IRS. Nothing to it.