Estimated tax payments are typically due on April 15, June 15, and September 15 of the current year and then January 15 of the following year. You can skip the final (January 15) estimated tax payment if you will file your return and pay all the tax due by February 1.
Estimated tax payments should be made as your income is earned, and the IRS sets deadlines for collection on a quarterly basis. These dates don't coincide with regular calendar quarters, so plan ahead. You can also make payments more often if you like, says Bess Kane, a CPA in San Mateo, California.
If you don't pay enough tax by the due date of each of the payment periods, you may be charged a penalty even if you are due a refund when you file your income tax return.
You can make separate estimated tax payments and still file a joint return. If you file a joint return, you would add the estimated tax payments each of you made. The form 1040 instructions for line 26 (estimated tax payments) says (taking 2022 as an example):
For estimated tax purposes, a year has four payment periods. Taxpayers must make a payment each quarter. For most people, the due date for the first quarterly payment is April 15.
The IRS may issue a penalty if you miss a quarterly tax payment deadline. The penalty is 0.5% of the amount unpaid for each month, or part of the month, that the tax isn't paid. The amount you owe and how long it takes to pay the penalty impacts your penalty amount.
Myth 2: Missing a estimated quarterly taxes payment deadline is fine as long as you pay on the next deadline. If you have to make estimated tax payments, following the schedule is important. Missing quarterly deadlines, even by one day, can mean accruing penalties and interest.
The rule is that you must pay your taxes as you go throughout the year through withholding or making estimated tax payments. If at filing time, you have not paid enough income taxes through withholding or quarterly estimated payments, you may have to pay a penalty for underpayment.
Pay all of your estimated tax by January 16, 2024. File your 2023 Form 1040 or 1040-SR by March 1, 2024, and pay the total tax due. In this case, 2023 estimated tax payments aren't required to avoid a penalty.
If you're self-employed, own a small business, work as a freelancer or have a profitable side hustle, you may be required to make quarterly estimated tax payments to the IRS. Making payments online is the fastest, easiest way to pay quarterly taxes. If you prefer, you can also make payments by mail.
It doesn't matter if you pay too much or too little one quarter; you can't get the money back from the IRS until you file your tax return. That's one reason why it's so important to get your estimated tax payments right. You may have a better use for that money now – not next year.
In short: avoid overpaying too much estimated taxes as that money can do more for you when it's in your own pocket.
The Underpayment of Estimated Tax by Individuals Penalty applies to individuals, estates and trusts if you don't pay enough estimated tax on your income or you pay it late. The penalty may apply even if we owe you a refund. Find how to figure and pay estimated tax.
Failure to pay proper estimated tax
If you owe more than $1,000 when you calculate your taxes, you could be subject to an underpayment of estimated tax penalty. To avoid this you should make payments throughout the year via tax withholding from your paycheck or estimated quarterly payments, or both.
If you're at risk for an underpayment penalty next year, we'll automatically calculate quarterly estimated tax payments and prepare vouchers (Form 1040-ES) for you to print.
Individuals generally must pay the lesser of 100% of last year's tax or 90% of this year's tax to avoid an underpayment penalty. You must pay the lesser of 110% of last year's tax or 90% of this year's tax if your adjusted gross income (AGI) for last year exceeded $150,000.
Additionally, if you submit your 2023 federal income tax return by Jan. 31, 2024, and pay the entire balance due at that time, you won't have to make the final estimated payment for 2023, which would normally be due on Jan. 16, 2024.
We'll automatically include four quarterly 1040-ES vouchers with your printout if you didn't withhold or pay enough tax this year. We do this to head off a possible underpayment penalty on next year's taxes. You may get these vouchers if you're self-employed or had an uncharacteristic spike in your income this year.
The IRS uses third party payment processors for payments by debit and credit card. It's safe and secure; your information is used solely to process your payment.
The failure to pay penalty is 0.5% of the unpaid taxes for each month or part of a month the tax remains unpaid. The penalty won't exceed 25% of your unpaid taxes.
There are three steps to calculating estimated tax payments. The steps involve calculating your taxable income based on your marital status and income; computing any credits and deductions you may be eligible for, such as child tax credits or credits for taxes already withheld, and calculating your remaining tax due.
When you prepare your taxes, TurboTax can also automatically calculate your estimated tax payments and print out payment vouchers for you to send into the IRS. You can also use TurboTax TaxCaster to get an estimate of your overall tax picture and if you should make an estimated tax payment.
To request a waiver when you file, complete IRS Form 2210 and submit it with your tax return. With the form, attach an explanation for why you didn't pay estimated taxes in the specific time period that you're requesting a waiver for. Also attach documentation that supports your statement.
Expert-Verified Answer
Vinitpaul must pay the anticipated tax, or 90% of the tax due for the current year, in order to avoid penalties.