fhydeaz .... The exact same wording (on form 2210) was on last year's Turbotax form 2210 but last year Turbotax chose Box "C" as the rationale for the estimated tax payments and filled out the applicable section. That year I paid the estimated tax in installments but the impact was not "due" until the 4th quarter so part IV and Schedule AI were invoked and calculated no penalty. I should note that it was 2016 Turbotax's vouchers that prodded me to pay over time. This year the program chose to use Box "A" instead for a nearly identical situation. If you look at what the form does, it's intended to penalize people for underpaying withholding or estimated taxes or paying estimated taxes later than due (presumably depriving the treasury of at least the equivalent of interest). It may be tempting to blame the furlough but I think historical evidence suggests "decisions" at Intuit. The Box "A" path is certainly less complicated.
