if you pay estimated tax evenly and it comes to 100% (110% for certain high income earners) of your last year's tax i.e. 2022 tax, you won't be penalized, even if your 2023 income is much larger.
April 15th is the first estimated tax payment date for 2023 estimated tax.
by then you will know exactly your prior year's tax, if you are filing on time.
this rule is for the simplified calculation of Form 2210, without resorting to Schedule AI.
the key point is Form 2210 requires even payments.
If you don't like this rule you can fill out Schedule AI next year.
I found it very confusing, so I use the rule.
the other rule is even payments of at least 90% of 2023 tax
If you overpay, you get it back.
if you underpay, you are susceptible to penalties.
again you could use Schedule AI, that is not guaranteed to eliminate the penalty,
@stevefenwick
you can use the rule that results in the smaller amount of total estimated tax
