First time having to pay owed federal tax for 2021. Pretty much on the final step of submit the efile.
From my reading, it seems that to pay by credit card directly within the turbotax software would incur higher convenience fee than to go through IRS direct pay (three sites, 1.8x% fee). I also see people mention that you just pick "pay by check" in the turbotax software at the final step but instead paying it at the IRS direct pay site.
In order to minimize changes to the almost finalized tax form, what is the best way of paying the owe tax? I do not need extension, but want to put the payments on two credit cards
1. If I pay at the IRS direct pay before I turned in the e-file, do I need to somehow idenfity that payment in the form?
2. If I pay online after turning in the e-file (chose pay by check), would it incur unnecessary trouble for myself as it would ask IRS to link my online payment to the tax return with owed amount and a expeced check)
Thanks a lot.
