Get your taxes done using TurboTax

I think I was able to answer my own question.  In short, there is no need to file the 1040ES worksheet.  It's for my benefit and records.  I need only continue to try to estimate what I will owe and pay the appropriate amount per period.

 

Is Form 1040-ES required if I’m making my tax payments online?

You do not need to file Form 1040-ES if you opt to make estimated tax payments online. 

You may do so at any time through IRS Direct Pay or the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS). Creating an EFTPS account takes longer since it requires verification by mail, but offers a full suite of personal, business, and estate tax payment options. IRS Direct Pay is limited to personal income tax payments but offers a more expedited route to pay timely and accurate estimated tax payments since it does not require account creation.

Additionally, you can pay by the month or transaction by making online payments. While investment and rental income may be more likely to occur regularly, single large transactions such as winning the lottery may require an equally large single estimated tax payment.

Multiple payments made before the quarterly deadline are considered “one” sum for the quarter in question. For example, if you paid $1,000 per month in estimated taxes based on your January and February income and you received a sizable taxable legal settlement in March for which you paid $5,000 that month, your first quarter prepaid taxes would be considered one sum of $7,000 since all of the amounts were paid prior to April 15.

If you have income not subject to withholding, you are required to make estimated tax payments regardless of whether you pay online or file Form 1040-ES.