Quarterly Estimated Tax Payments

You do not have to make estimated tax payments until you have income on which you will owe the tax. If you have income subject to estimated tax payments during the first payment period, you must make your first payment by April 15.

Paying quarterly estimated tax payments or lumpsum payment

You can pay all your estimated tax at that time or you can pay it in four installments, quarterly. If you choose to pay your estimated tax payment quarterly in installments, make your first payment by April 15. You can pay all your estimated tax at that time, or you can pay it in four installments.

If you choose to pay in installments, make your first payment by April 15 and your remaining installment payments by the due date for each subsequent payment period. The table below shows  when to make estimated tax payment installments depending on when you first receive income on which tax is due.

When to make estimated tax payment installments

If you first have income on which you must pay estimated tax:	Make a payment by:	Make later installments by:
Before April 1	April 15	June 15, Sept 15, Jan 15 next year
After March 31 and before June 1	June 15	Sept 15, Jan 15 next year
After May 31 and before Sept 1	Sept 15	Jan 15 next year
After Aug 31	Jan 15 next year	None

Recalculating estimated tax payments

Changes in your income, tax filing status, tax adjustments, exemptions, etc., may make it necessary to refigure your estimated tax after the first payment. Pay any unpaid balance of your new estimated tax either by the next due date or in installments. Some events that could change your estimated tax payments or require you to begin making estimated payments include large capital gains from sales of stocks, an unexpected increase in the income from your business, divorce, or lower medical bills that reduce your itemized deductions.