--- title: "Estimated Tax Payments: Who Pays Quarterly and When" description: "Who must make federal estimated tax payments, the four due dates for tax year 2026, and the rule of thumb the IRS gives for avoiding an underpayment penalty." url: https://wallacecpa.multisites.ai/blog/estimated-tax-payments publisher: Wallace CPA phone: +1-877-682-1171 quote: https://wallacecpa.multisites.ai/contact --- # Estimated Tax Payments: Who Pays Quarterly and When You generally make federal estimated tax payments if you are in business for yourself or have income with no tax withheld. For tax year 2026 the four due dates are April 15, June 15, and September 15 of 2026, then January 15, 2027. Tax deadlinesPublished August 10, 20263 min read ## Who has to make estimated tax payments? You generally make federal estimated tax payments when no one withholds tax from some of your income. The IRS says that if you are in business for yourself, you generally need to make them. They cover income tax and also other taxes, such as [self-employment tax](https://wallacecpa.multisites.ai/glossary/self-employment-tax). Other income can trigger them too. The IRS lists interest, dividends, capital gains, prizes and awards. If the tax withheld from your salary or pension is not enough, you may need to pay the gap during the year. This is the pay-as-you-go rule. The IRS wants tax paid as you earn income, not all at once in April. ## When are estimated tax payments due for tax year 2026? For tax year 2026, the IRS Form 1040-ES gives four due dates. Each date covers a set stretch of the year. The table shows them. Income earned in 2026 Payment due January 1 to March 31 April 15, 2026 April 1 to May 31 June 15, 2026 June 1 to August 31 September 15, 2026 September 1 to December 31 January 15, 2027 The IRS tax calendar confirms the third installment of 2026 estimated tax for individuals falls on September 15, 2026. You can skip the January 15, 2027 payment if you file your 2026 return by February 1, 2027 and pay the entire balance due with it. Fiscal-year taxpayers and farmers or fishers follow different rules. See IRS Publication 505 for those cases. Dates change from year to year. The 2027 dates will appear on the 2027 Form 1040-ES. Check the [due dates page](https://wallacecpa.multisites.ai/tax-due-dates) and the IRS before you pay. ## How much should I pay to avoid a penalty? Pay enough by each due date that you stay inside an IRS safe harbor. For tax year 2026, the IRS gives two common tests. You can owe less than $1,000 after withholding and refundable credits. Or you can pay at least 90% of the current year’s tax, or 100% of the prior year’s tax shown on your return, whichever is smaller. The IRS adds that special rules apply to farmers, fishers, household employers and certain higher-income taxpayers. If your income is high, the prior-year test may not work the same way for you. The IRS says to pay in four equal amounts. Equal payments are simple. They do not suit every year, so ask a CPA to check your numbers. ## Does Texas collect estimated income tax too? No. The Texas Comptroller states that Texas has no state income tax. A Texas resident makes federal payments only, unless the person also owes tax to another state on income earned there. Texas business entities may still owe other state taxes, such as franchise tax. Estimated payments for those are a separate topic. See our [Texas franchise tax glossary entry](https://wallacecpa.multisites.ai/glossary/texas-franchise-tax). ## What if I miss a payment or my income is uneven? You may owe an underpayment penalty even if you get a refund when you file. The IRS says this directly: a late payment can bring a penalty even when you are due a refund. If your income arrives unevenly, you may be able to use the annualized installment method. You report it on Form 2210. The IRS can also waive the penalty in narrow cases, such as a casualty event, disaster or other unusual circumstance, or retirement after age 62 or disability. Those waivers depend on the facts. Good records make all of this easier. A steady [bookkeeping](https://wallacecpa.multisites.ai/glossary/bookkeeping) routine shows what you earned each period. Read more about [estimated tax payments](https://wallacecpa.multisites.ai/glossary/estimated-tax-payments) in our glossary. ## How do I make the payment? You can pay online or by mail. The IRS offers electronic payment options, and the Form 1040-ES packet includes payment vouchers for people who pay by check or money order. The vouchers say to file one only if you are making a payment of estimated tax by check or money order. Write your Social Security number and “2026 Form 1040-ES” on the check, and do not send cash. Keep proof of each payment. If the IRS later asks, a dated record of what you paid and when settles most questions. Our [due dates page](https://wallacecpa.multisites.ai/tax-due-dates) lists the other dates in your year. ## Next step Wallace CPA offers [tax planning](https://wallacecpa.multisites.ai/services/tax-planning) for individuals and business owners. Call (877) 682-1171 or use the form at [/contact](https://wallacecpa.multisites.ai/contact) to talk through your payments. This post is general information, not advice for your situation. Talk to a CPA about your own situation before you decide how much to pay. ## Frequently asked questions ### Do I make estimated tax payments to Texas? Texas has no state personal income tax, according to the Texas Comptroller. Estimated payments for income tax go to the IRS. ### Can I pay more than four times a year? The IRS Form 1040-ES instructions say you can make more than four payments. What matters is that the total paid by each due date is enough. ### What if my income comes in uneven amounts? The IRS says you may be able to vary your payments with the annualized installment method. A CPA can tell you whether it fits your year. ## Terms on this page - [Estimated tax payments](https://wallacecpa.multisites.ai/glossary/estimated-tax-payments) - [Self-employment tax](https://wallacecpa.multisites.ai/glossary/self-employment-tax) - [Texas franchise tax](https://wallacecpa.multisites.ai/glossary/texas-franchise-tax) - [Capital gains](https://wallacecpa.multisites.ai/glossary/capital-gains) - [Bookkeeping](https://wallacecpa.multisites.ai/glossary/bookkeeping) ## Sources 1. [IRS: Estimated taxes](https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/estimated-taxes) 2. [IRS Topic no. 306: Penalty for underpayment of estimated tax](https://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc306) 3. [IRS: Third quarter tax calendar (2026)](https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/third-quarter-tax-calendar) 4. [Texas Comptroller: Texas is open for small business](https://comptroller.texas.gov/economy/fiscal-notes/industry/2025/small-biz-info/) 5. [IRS: Estimated tax FAQs](https://www.irs.gov/faqs/estimated-tax) 6. [IRS: 2026 Form 1040-ES](https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f1040es.pdf) Written by Wallace CPA and checked against the sources above on August 10, 2026. Tax rules and dates change, so check the linked page before you act. General information, not advice for your situation. ## Keep reading - [How long to keep tax records, and which onesThe IRS says to keep records that support your tax return until the period of limitations runs out. For most returns that is 3 years.](https://wallacecpa.multisites.ai/guides/how-long-to-keep-tax-records) - [The small business tax and bookkeeping year, month by monthA small business tax year has fixed dates for returns, estimated tax, payroll reports and Texas franchise and sales tax.](https://wallacecpa.multisites.ai/guides/small-business-tax-calendar) - [Texas business taxes, explained for small business ownersTexas has no state income tax, but a business can still owe several others. The main ones are the franchise tax, sales and use tax, property tax on business...](https://wallacecpa.multisites.ai/guides/texas-business-taxes) - [Taxes for Texas individuals and familiesTexas has no state income tax, so most Texas families file only a federal income tax return. They still deal with property tax, sales tax and life events that...](https://wallacecpa.multisites.ai/guides/texas-family-tax-guide) - [Got an IRS notice? How to read it and what to do firstRead the whole notice, find its CP or LTR number, and note the reply date. A CP2000 is a proposal to change your return, not a bill.](https://wallacecpa.multisites.ai/guides/irs-notice-what-to-do) - [IRS payment plans and offers in compromise: what each one isAn IRS payment plan lets you pay a tax bill over time. An offer in compromise asks the IRS to accept less than the full amount. The IRS decides each case.](https://wallacecpa.multisites.ai/guides/irs-payment-plans-and-offers-in-compromise) ## Talk to Wallace CPA Call the Southlake office and say what you need: a return, an IRS letter, your books or a new business. Have the notice or last year's return nearby if you have one. [Call (877) 682-1171](tel:+1-877-682-1171)[Send a message](https://wallacecpa.multisites.ai/contact) 180 State Street, Suite 225, Southlake, TX 76092