Filing and Paying in TAP

Filing and paying in TAP are two of the most common tasks people do in TAP. See TAP: Introduction and Registering for the types of taxes you can file and pay in TAP. 

Need help using TAP?

  • If you see a red asterisk (*) next to a blank field, fill in that field because it’s required.
  • If a field turns red, hover over it to see the error and correct it.
  • See the Tech Problems with TAP guide for common issues.
  • Call us at(208) 334-7660 in the Boise area or toll free at(800) 972-7660.
  • Contact us through the TAP Issues box in our Submit a question section.

Filing and paying at the same time

Returns and payments are on time if you submit them by 11:59 p.m., Mountain Time (MT) on the due date. You can file up to 90 days before the due date.

You can now file and pay for most returns in the same process in TAP.  You can’t file income tax, cigarette, or tobacco returns in TAP, but you can pay for them there. See Paying without filing below for these tax types.

The default date to pay is today, but you can change this date. Just be sure to pay by the due date to avoid interest and possible penalties.

Paying by bank account is free. Paying by debit card or credit card has a fee that our payment processor charges.

Learn more about filing requirements for different tax types by reading the information for all the tax types we work with.

To file and pay at the same time

  1. On the Summary tab, find the tax type you want to file for and click File/View Returns.
  2. Locate the Period you want to file for and click File Now.
  3. Read the instructions and click Next.
  4. Answer if you’re canceling your permit or changing your address and click Next. 
  5. Enter your return information and click Next.
  6. Review your return and click Next.
  7. If you owe any amount, go to the next step. Or if you owe zero, click Submit.
  8. Select how you want to pay and click Next.
    • If you chose Bank Account, go to the next step.
    • If you chose Debit or Credit Card, confirm the amount to pay, enter your email address, and click Next. Confirm your information and click Pay. You’ll go to our payment processor, where you can click Continue as Guest to finish paying.  
    • If you chose Pay Later, make sure to pay by the deadline to avoid interest and possibly penalty.
  9. If you chose Bank Account:

a. Confirm what you want to pay and the date to pay.

b. Choose a payment channel or enter your bank account information.

c. To save bank account information you just added as a payment channel for this tax type, click Yes for the Save for future use question.

d. Add or confirm your billing information, if it’s not there.

e. Click Next when finished, and then click Submit.

At the end, you should see a confirmation screen. You’ll also receive email confirmation after the software begins processing any payment you made.

If you don’t see the confirmation screen, we didn’t receive your return and any payment Check for errors and resubmit your return and any payment. You also can check your submissions; see Reminders, history, and letters.

Paying without filing

A payment is on time if you submit it by 11:59 p.m., Mountain Time (MT) on the due date.

You can pay when you aren’t filing. You can make multiple payments in TAP, even for the same tax type and period.

The default date to pay is today, but you can change this date. Just be sure to pay by the due date to avoid interest and possible penalties.

Paying by bank account is free. Paying by debit card or credit card has a fee that our payment processor charges.

To pay without filing

  1. On your TAP homepage, click the Summary
  2. Locate the tax type you want to make a payment for and click Make a Payment.
  3. Review the payment instructions and click Next.
  4. On the Pay screen, choose if you want to pay the total balance for this tax type, pay for just a certain period, or make another type of payment. Answer any other questions you see based on your choice.
  5. Click Next.
  6. Select how you want to pay and click Next.
    • If you chose Bank Account, go to the next step.
    • If you chose Debit or Credit Card, confirm the amount to pay, enter your email address, and click Next. Confirm your information and click Pay. You’ll go to our payment processor, where you can click Continue as Guest to finish paying.  
  7. Do all of these if you chose Bank Account:

a. Confirm what you want to pay.

b. Confirm the date to pay.

c. Choose a payment channel or enter your bank account information.

d. To save bank account information you added as a payment channel for this tax type, click Yes for the Save for future use question.

e. Add or confirm your billing information, if it’s not there.

f. Click Next when finished, and then click Submit.

You’ll see a confirmation screen and receive an email confirmation after the software begins processing your payment.

If you don’t see the confirmation screen, we didn’t receive your payment. Check for errors and resubmit your payment. You also can check your submissions; see Reminders, history, and letters.

Generating a payment voucher

You can file a return in TAP and still mail a check for payment. Make sure the money goes to the correct tax type and filing period by generating a payment voucher in TAP. Then, print and include it with your check.

To generate a payment voucher for checks

  1. On your homepage, click the More tab.
  2. In the Payments and Returns panel, click Generate a Payment Voucher.
  3. Choose the tax type you want the voucher for.
  4. Choose the payment type and period.
  5. Enter the payment amount and click Generate Voucher.
  6. A PDF version of the voucher opens. Print it to mail with your check. You can also download it for your records.

Changing or canceling a pending return

You can change or cancel returns with a Pending status. You can’t change a return with a Processing status.

Separately, you’ll need to cancel any payment you made, if it’s still pending. See Canceling a payment below.

To change or cancel a pending return

  1. On your TAP homepage, click the More tab.
  2. In the Submissions panel, click Search Submissions.
  3. On the Pending tab, click the return you want to change or cancel.
  4. Click Withdraw toward the top of the screen to save the return for editing or Delete.
  5. Confirm your choice.
  6. Do one of these:
    • If you withdrew your return, you can now see and click Continue Editing near the top of the screen. (You can also find this “Incomplete” return on your TAP homepage and click View Submission.)
    •  If you deleted the return, file a new one (if needed) from your TAP homepage.
  7. Cancel any payment you made with this return. See Canceling a payment below.

Canceling a pending payment

You can cancel a pending payment that you made using your bank account (ACH debit). You can’t cancel this payment if it has a Processing status.

You can’t cancel payments you made by debit card or credit card.

To cancel a pending payment

  1. On your TAP homepage, click the More tab.
  2. In the Submissions panel, click Search Submissions.
  3. On the Pending tab, click the payment you want to cancel. You see the payment that’s pending.
  4. Click Delete (near the top).  
  5. Click Yes to confirm and then click OK. The Pending block should now say Canceled and show the cancellation’s confirmation information.
  6. Create a new payment, if needed.

Payment plan payments

After the Tax Commission approves a payment plan, payments are withdrawn from your bank account automatically every month.

You can’t track payments in TAP, but you’ll see the “balance due” in your TAP account change to reflect these credits. See TAP Payment Plan Requests for more information.