The Department of Revenue wants to reduce the amount of paper it processes, so it has introduced an E-check payment option for its popular Electronic Filing Service.

Nearly 50,000 businesses now file electronically, paying about a third of all excise taxes, but many of these choose to mail in their checks the old-fashioned way rather than sign up for electronic funds transfer or pay by credit card.

E-check lets users enter a checking account number and make a one-time payment, similar to using a debit card at the grocery store. This differs from electronic funds transfer in which the business authorizes the Department to withdraw funds from a business’s account.

Revenue officials say the new process is quicker than printing out a payment voucher, hunting down a stamp and envelope, and hoping the mail hasn’t been picked up yet. It also will help taxpayers who send in vouchers but forget to include the checks, or fill out the checks for the wrong amount.

For more information, visit dor.wa.gov and click on the E-file icon.