"Mike Wellman" <irsfixer[at]aol.com> wrote:
- quote -

I would not advise this. In the past, the number of people
who could look at the physical check, or the microfilm copy
of it, was pretty circumscribed to bank employees. While
fraud was not unheard of, it was reasonably limited.

With Check 21, the image of the check may be sent to an
offshore facility for key entry of the amount.

So let's see, I'm giving my bank account number and Social
Security number to...who knows?

It's much safer in my opinion to send the check with no
identifying information, along with the appropriate form,
certified mail. The paper trail, combined with the returned
check or copy thereof, provides some defense at an audit as
well. I believe that the IRS is still returning checks at
this point.

YMMV.

Hank Murphy
speaking only for myself

<< ================================================== ===== > << The foregoing was not intended or written to be used, > << nor can it used, for the purpose of avoiding penalties > << that may be imposed upon the taxpayer. > << > << The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting posts > << to this newsgroup as well as our anti-spamming policy > << are at www.asktax.org. > << Copyright (2006) - All rights reserved. > << ================================================== ===== >

"Mike Wellman" <irsfixer[at]aol.com> wrote:
- quote -

My bank's online bill payment system allows you to add a
note to the check. If mark212's does as well, he should be
able to add that information.

--
Barry Margolin, barmar[at]alum.mit.edu
Arlington, MA
*** PLEASE don't copy me on replies, I'll read them in the group ***

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mark212 wrote:

- quote -

You can avoid any doubt by using EFTPS-OnLine
(https://www.eftpssouth.com/Eftps).

John B.

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mark212 wrote:

- quote -

You can avoid any doubt by using EFTPS-OnLine
(https://www.eftpssouth.com/Eftps).

John B.

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mark212 wrote:

- quote -

Unless you put your SSN AND "1040 - 2006" on the check,
there will be a problem.

<< ================================================== ===== > << The foregoing was not intended or written to be used, > << nor can it used, for the purpose of avoiding penalties > << that may be imposed upon the taxpayer. > << > << The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting posts > << to this newsgroup as well as our anti-spamming policy > << are at www.asktax.org. > << Copyright (2006) - All rights reserved. > << ================================================== ===== >

mark212 wrote:

- quote -

I don't have an answer for you about whether paying with a
Bill Pay check will work. The lack of the 1040-ES with the
check certainly opens the door to the check being applied
inaccurately.

Have you considered using the Electronic Federal Tax Payment
System (EFTPS) instead? Here's the website: www.wftps.gov

You can set up payments in indvance to be withdrawn from
your checking account on any day you specify. Not the best
user interface in the world, but it's extremely convenient.
It's probably too late for you to set things up with EFTPS
for the September due date, but it could be something you
look at for future payments.

--Chris Ballard

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mark212 wrote:

- quote -

I seriously doubt it. without reference to what the payment
is all about, and your social security number (specified as
that, not just "account number") it is really taking a
chance. use the voucher and check next time.

ChEAr$,
Harlan Lunsford, EA n LA

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mark212 wrote:

- quote -

Wasn't a good plan, but when you mail a check with enough
info to identify who you are (look up your "entity"
account), they can assume an ES payment was intended. If
they receive a physical check, that can happen. But maybe
they have sufficient info on common vendors to make an
electronic transfer. What does IRS receive then?

Fred F.

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"mark212" <mark212[at]comcast.net> wrote:

- quote -

I'm not a tax pro and don't have a direct answer to your
questions, but I suggest you first ask your bank. The banks
I use for on-line bill pay state that their services cannot
be used to pay taxes.

To pay your estimated taxes on line sign up for EFTPS at
www.eftps.gov. Your EFTPS account will be linked to your
bank account and funds will be transferred (at your
direction) at no cost to you. It takes a few weeks to have
an EFTPS account set up, so you will not be able to use it
for a payment due next week.

--
Vic Roberts
Replace xxx with vdr in e-mail address.

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"mark212" <mark212[at]comcast.net> wrote:

- quote -

I'm not overly hopeful. In addition to your SSN the lockbox
needs to know where to apply the money. It may be that this
specific one handles only current year ES payments, but I
wouldn't take the chance.

I would cancel the online payment and send a check for the
9/15 installment. In the meantime go to www.eftps.gov and
get yourself set up so you can make future online payments
through that system.

--
Phil Marti
Clarksburg, MD

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"mark212" <mark212[at]comcast.net> wrote

- quote -

Please don't. Without the estimated tax coupon with the
check, it's up to a governmental employee type (the one that
opens the mail at that) to decide what you are paying for.
It could end up most anywhere besides where you want it to
go. Hand write the check yourself and mail it with the
quarterly coupon.

--
Paul Thomas, CPA
paulthomascpapc[at]bellsouth.net

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I was on hold with the IRS for 35 minutes today and finally
gave up. All I wanted to know is if I could pay my estimated
tax quarterly bill due next week with a Bill Pay check from
my bank that I set up online. I set up the IRS as a vendor
with their PO Box and my account number (SS#) but when the
check gets there it will not have one of those estimated
invoice forms with it. I hope this goes through this way.

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