I filed our 2025 joint return and set up an IRS payment plan through TurboTax. Since our balance is on the higher side, I'd like to pay a portion now rather than wait.I've created my own IRS online account, but our 2025 return isn't showing up yet.A couple of questions:Joint return visibility: My husband is the primary taxpayer on our filing. Will our 2025 balance appear in my IRS account, or does he need to create his own account to see it?Making a partial payment now: Is it possible to pay a partial amount before the balance populates? If I select "2025 Income Tax" as the payment type and submit a payment, will it apply correctly even though the balance currently shows $0?Any guidance is appreciated — I want to get this payment in as soon as possible.

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Question

Paying a Partial Amount Before IRS Payment Plan Kicks In — Joint Return Question

1 reply
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I filed our 2025 joint return and set up an IRS payment plan through TurboTax. Since our balance is on the higher side, I'd like to pay a portion now rather than wait.

I've created my own IRS online account, but our 2025 return isn't showing up yet.

A couple of questions:

Joint return visibility: My husband is the primary taxpayer on our filing. Will our 2025 balance appear in my IRS account, or does he need to create his own account to see it?
Making a partial payment now: Is it possible to pay a partial amount before the balance populates? If I select "2025 Income Tax" as the payment type and submit a payment, will it apply correctly even though the balance currently shows $0?

Any guidance is appreciated — I want to get this payment in as soon as possible.

MaryK4

Alumni - Intuit

Yes, you can make a partial payment now even if your account balance shows $0. Making early payments is encouraged as it helps limit the accumulation of penalties and interest while the IRS processes your return. It is normal for the balance to show $0 right now. It can take 1 to 3 weeks for a recently filed return and any subsequent payments to appear in your online account.

As joint filers, both you and your husband can see the balance, payment history, and tax records for any tax returns you filed jointly. Even though your husband is the primary taxpayer, the joint balance should appear in your individual IRS account once the return is fully processed.

Use IRS Direct Pay or your IRS Online Account and select "Balance Due" or "Income Tax - Form 1040" for the 2025 tax year. To ensure the payment is credited as quickly and accurately as possible, the IRS strongly recommends making payments under the Social Security number of the primary taxpayer (the spouse listed first on the return). If you make a payment for "2025 Income Tax," the IRS will hold that credit and apply it to the 2025 joint balance as soon as the return finishes processing.

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