FAQ - Credit Card Payments

• What taxes can I pay with a credit card?
• Who is Official Payments Corp. (OPC)?
• Who can use a credit card?
• What credit cards are accepted?
• Is there a fee?
• Is there a limit to how much I can pay using a credit card?
• What kind of payments can I make by credit card?
• How do I make a credit card payment?
• What information do I need to have ready to make a credit card 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 Official Payment Corp. (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 credit card transactions?
• If I pay by credit card once, do I have to make all future tax payments by credit card?
• How can I verify that my credit card payment has been received by EDD?
• Can I schedule a payment for a future date (warehousing)?
• Whom do I call if I have problems using a credit card?

What taxes can I pay with a credit card?

The EDD’s credit card program allows you to make your Payroll Tax Deposit (DE 88) payments and pay other payroll tax liabilities on the Internet or by touch-tone phone. The credit card program is administered by our vendor, Official Payments Corp. (OPC).

Who is Official Payments Corp. (OPC)?

Official Payments Corp. (OPC), a leading provider of reliable, secure payment options for federal, state, and local government entities, is the vendor who administers the credit card program. Their 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 a credit card?

Employers and their representatives can pay their payroll tax liabilities with a credit card. The only exception is mandatory Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) filers. A credit card payment does not satisfy the EFT mandatory requirement for State Disability Insurance (SDI) and California Personal Income Tax (PIT) deposits. A noncompliance penalty will apply to mandatory EFT filers who use a credit card to make SDI/PIT deposits.

What credit cards are accepted?

American Express, Discover/Novus, MasterCard, and Visa.

Is there a fee?

Yes. Official Payments Corp. (OPC) charges a convenience fee of 2.3 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 Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Franchise Tax Board, and Board of Equalization have the same arrangement with OPC.

Example: If your total tax deposit is $1,125.00, the convenience fee is $25.88 ($1,125.00 x .023). The total charged to your credit card would be $1,150.88 ($1,125.00 + $25.88).

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 Official Payments Corp. (OPC) at 877-297-7457. If you made prior arrangements with your credit card company, the transaction will be completed the day the payment was initiated through OPC. If arrangements were not made in advance, your credit card transaction may take up to two days for approval, potentially resulting in a late payment.

What kind of payments can I make by credit card?

You can use a major credit card to make your DE 88 deposits and pay other payroll tax liabilities. Except, mandatory EFT filers are subject to a 10 percent noncompliance penalty if an SDI/PIT deposit is made by credit card.

How do I make a credit card payment?

Internet Filers: Access Official Payments Corp.’s (OPC) website. The system is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including weekends and holidays. The system will prompt you for the information needed to make a credit card transaction. No registration process is required to use a credit card. 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, OPC will also e-mail your confirmation number.

Phone Filers: This option is only available for DE 88 deposits; use a touch-tone phone to call 800-272-9829.

What information do I need to have ready to make a credit card payment?

• Payment amount
• Employer’s name and address, if using website
• Preparer’s name and daytime area code and phone 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
• 8-digit EDD employer payroll tax account number
• Pay date (For DE 88 deposits)
• Deposit schedule (For DE 88 deposits)
• Quarter covered
• Credit card number and expiration date
• Jurisdiction code 1501, if paying DE 88 deposits by phone

What is a jurisdiction code?

The jurisdiction code is 1501. The 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, Official Payments Corp. (OPC) phone system allows you to enter a California ZIP Code to hear a list of payment types. For a DE 88 deposit 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 Official Payment Corp. (OPC) phone system?

No, you must enter a California ZIP Code or 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).

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 can 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.

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 or lost, you can obtain it again through the Official Payments Corp.’s (OPC) website by selecting “Verify Payments.” 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 at 877-297-7457 or EDD’s Taxpayer Assistance Center at 855-866-2657, Monday to Friday (excluding state holidays), 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Pacific Time.

Where can I obtain a list of my credit card transactions?

Internet Filers: Select “Verify Payments,” and provide your e-mail address and the last four 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 877-297-7457.

Phone Filers: Call 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 can pay by credit card one time, then online or by check the next time.

How can I verify that my credit card payment has been received by EDD?

Five business days after making your credit card payment, log in to e-Services for Business, select “Account ID” and select “View My Payments” or call our Taxpayer Assistance Center 855-866-2657, Monday to Friday (excluding legal holidays), 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Pacific Time.

Can I schedule a payment for a future date (warehousing)?

No. Credit card payments cannot be warehoused.

Whom do I call if I have problems using a credit card?

Internet Filers: Select “Help” for assistance.

Phone Filers: Call 877-297-7457 for assistance.

For any processing issues or questions regarding your employer account, call the EDD Taxpayer Assistance Center at 855-866-2657, Monday to Friday (excluding state holidays), 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Pacific Time.