FAQ - Credit Card Payments (EZPAY)
- What is EZPAY?
- Who is Official Payments Corp. (OPC)?
- Who can use EZPAY?
- What taxes can I pay with EZPAY?
- What credit cards are accepted?
- Is there a fee?
- Is there a limit to how much I can pay using a credit card?
- How do I make a credit card payment?
- What information do I need to have ready to make an EZPAY payment?
- What is a jurisdiction code?
- If I do not have a jurisdiction code, can I still make a credit card payment?
- Can an out-of-state employer/agent use their state's ZIP Code to access the OPC telephone system?
- Will my deposit due date remain the same?
- When will my payment be effective?
- When is my payment posted to my employer account?
- What if my payment is late?
- How do I prove a payment was initiated on time?
- Where can I obtain a list of my EZPAY credit card transactions?
- If I pay by credit card once, do I have to make all future tax payments by credit card?
- What number do I call to verify that my credit card payment has been received by EDD?
- Can I make a tax deposit to be paid on a future date (warehousing)?
- Why is a credit card option available?
- Who do I call if I have problems using EZPAY?
What is EZPAY?
EZPAY is EDD's credit card program that allows you to pay your Payroll Tax Deposits (DE 88s) on the Internet or by touch-tone telephone. EZPAY is administered by our vendor, Official Payments Corp.
Who is Official Payments Corp. (OPC)?
OPC, a leading provider of reliable, secure payment options for federal, state, and local government entities, is the vendor who administers the EZPAY program. OPC's commitment to protecting the privacy of individuals who use their services ensures that transaction data is never sent over the Internet unencrypted, and personal customer information is not retained for marketing purposes, nor is it available to other businesses. Also, credit card information is never passed to EDD.
Who can use EZPAY?
Any employer or agent except mandatory electronic funds transfer (EFT) filers when paying SDI and PIT. Mandatory EFT filers can use EZPAY to pay their UI and ETT deposits. Voluntary EFT filers may use EZPAY for all tax deposits.
Note: Credit card transactions do not satisfy mandatory EFT requirements and may result in noncompliance penalties.
What taxes can I pay with EZPAY?
You can pay Unemployment Insurance (UI), Employment Training Tax (ETT), State Disability Insurance (SDI), and California Personal Income Tax (PIT) withholding, as well as penalty and interest for late payments, if applicable. You cannot pay liabilities that have been billed to you on an Employer Account Statement (DE 2176).
What credit cards are accepted?
American Express, Discover/Novus, MasterCard, and Visa.
Is there a fee?
Yes. OPC charges a convenience fee of 2.5 percent of the total payment amount, with a $1 minimum. The convenience fee is a charge for using OPC's credit card service and is not revenue to EDD. The IRS, Franchise Tax Board, and Board of Equalization have the same arrangement with OPC.
Example: If your total tax deposit is $1,125, the convenience fee is $28.13 ($1,125 x .025). The total charged to your credit card would be $1,153.13 ($1,125 + $28.13).
Is there a limit to how much I can pay using a credit card?
Yes. Payments of $100,000 or more require special authorization from your credit card company. To make such a payment, call OPC toll-free at (877) 297-7457. If you made prior arrangements with your credit card company, the transaction will be completed the day you access EZPAY. If arrangements were not made in advance, your credit card transaction may take up to two days for approval, possibly resulting in a late payment.
How do I make a credit card payment?
Call toll-free at (800) 272-9829 on a touch-tone telephone or access OPC's Web site. The warning page contains a link to the OPC Web site) Both systems are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including weekends and holidays. The systems will prompt you for the information needed to make a credit card transaction. No registration process is required to use EZPAY. A confirmation number is provided at the end of the completed transaction, which is proof that your transaction was successfully processed. Please keep this confirmation number for your records. If you provide your e-mail address when using the Web site, OPC will also e-mail your confirmation number.
What information do I need to have ready to make an EZPAY payment?
- Jurisdiction code 1501, if paying by telephone
- Amount for each fund payment: UI, ETT, SDI, and/or California PIT
- Amounts for penalty and interest, if applicable
- Employer's name and address, if using Web site
- Preparer's name and daytime area code and telephone number (the name and number of the person completing the credit card transaction; this is required information should a question arise regarding your transaction)
- E-mail address, for e-mail confirmation and online verification
- EDD 8-digit employer account number
- Pay date
- Deposit schedule
- Quarter covered
- Credit card number and expiration date
What is a jurisdiction code?
The jurisdiction code for EDD Payroll Tax Deposits (DE 88s) is 1501. OPC uses jurisdiction codes to uniquely identify each agency and tax. The code lessens the chance of accessing the wrong agency or paying the wrong tax.
It is important to use the correct jurisdiction code to ensure that your tax payment is received by the intended agency in a timely manner.
If I do not have a jurisdiction code, can I still make a credit card payment?
Yes. If you do not have the jurisdiction code, the OPC telephone system allows you to enter a California ZIP Code to hear a list of payment types. For a DE 88 payment, select the option "State of California EDD DE 88 for Payroll Tax Deposit."
Can an out-of-state employer/agent use their state's ZIP Code to access the OPC telephone system?
No, you must use a California ZIP Code if you do not enter jurisdiction code 1501.
Will my deposit due date remain the same?
Yes. Deposits made by credit card are due according to California deposit requirements on the same date that you would pay by a check and DE 88 coupon.
When will my payment be effective?
Your payment is effective on the date you charge it, as long as the transaction is completed by 12 midnight, Pacific Time (including weekends and holidays)(04.01.03).
When is my payment posted to my employer account?
It may take 3-5 days for your payment to post to the EDD's accounting system due to standard credit card processing times. However, the effective date of the payment will be the date OPC charges your credit card.
What if my payment is late?
If you submit your deposit late, you may pay penalty and interest at the same time you make your credit card payment. Late payments made by credit card are subject to the same penalty and interest charges as late payments made by check with DE 88 coupons.
How do I prove a payment was initiated on time?
Use the confirmation number received at the end of your credit card payment transaction to trace the payment. If the confirmation number is misplaced/lost, you can obtain it again through the OPC Web site by selecting "Payment Verification." Provide your e-mail address and the last four digits of the credit card that was used to make the payment and OPC will e-mail you another payment confirmation. If these options do not work, call OPC toll-free at (877) 297-7457 or EDD's Taxpayer Assistance Center toll-free at (888) 745-3886, Monday through Friday (excluding holidays), 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Pacific time.
Where can I obtain a list of my EZPAY credit card transactions?
Telephone users: Call 1-877-297-7457.
Internet users: Select "Payment Verification," and provide your e-mail address and the last 4 digits of the credit card(s) used for the transactions. Payment verification can only be provided for transactions processed within the last 12 months. For transactions older than 12 months, call toll-free at (877) 297-7457.
If I pay by credit card once, do I have to make all future tax payments by credit card?
No. The ability to pay by credit card was established for your convenience. You may pay by credit card one time, then by check the next time, and so on.
What number do I call to verify that my credit card payment has been received by EDD?
Five business days after making your credit card payment, you may call our Taxpayer Assistance Center toll-free (888) 745-3886, Monday through Friday (excluding holidays), 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Pacific Time.
Can I make a tax deposit to be paid on a future date (warehousing)?
No. EZPAY cannot schedule (warehouse) a payment to be charged on a future date. However, if you wish to make a voluntary deposit for a future payroll, select "Quarterly" as the payment type and enter the last day of the quarter in the "Pay Date" field. Your credit card will be charged the day you complete the credit card transaction.
Why is a credit card option available?
Many employers have requested a credit card program. Also, EDD has a long-term goal of providing our customers with a full range of payment options.
Who do I call if I have problems using EZPAY?
If you are using the OPC Web site, select "Help". If you are using the telephone system, call toll-free at (877) 297-7457 for assistance.
For any processing issues or questions regarding your employer account, call the EDD Taxpayer Assistance Center toll-free at (888) 745-3886, Monday through Friday (excluding holidays), 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Pacific Time.