If so, those payments are considered made in 2026 and may only be deducted or credited on your 2026 tax return, not for 2025. Estimated payments must be made during the tax year to count toward that year’s liability.
What Are Estimated Tax Payments?
Estimated tax payments are used to pay tax on income not subject to withholding, such as:
- Self-employment income
- Interest and dividends
- Rental income
- Capital gains
- Alimony (if taxable)
- Unemployment compensation
- Social Security benefits (if taxable)
If your withholding is insufficient, you may be required to make estimated payments. Failure to pay enough tax through withholding and/or estimated payments may result in an underpayment penalty.
How to Calculate Estimated Tax
Use Form 1040-ES to calculate and pay your estimated taxes. You must make estimated payments if:
- You expect to owe at least $1,000 in tax after subtracting withholding and credits.
- Your withholding and credits will be less than 90% of your 2025 tax liability or 100% of your 2024 tax liability (or 110% if your 2024 AGI was over $150,000).
2025 Estimated Payment Deadlines
- April 15, 2025 – for income earned Jan–Mar
- June 16, 2025 – for income earned Apr–May
- September 15, 2025 – for income earned Jun–Aug
- January 15, 2026 – for income earned Sep–Dec
You can skip the January 15 payment if you file your 2025 return by February 2, 2026, and pay any remaining tax due.
Program Entry Instructions
To report estimated tax payments made on or before January 15, 2026, follow this path:
Federal Section → Payments and Estimates → Federal Estimated Tax Payments
If you’re unsure how much you paid, you can view your IRS account here.