Skip to main content
Level 2
November 21, 2024
Question

I sold some company stock this year and need to know if I should file a quarterly tax return in this calendar year to avoid a penalty for underpayment?

  • November 21, 2024
  • 4 replies
  • 25 views
No text available

    4 replies

    Level 15
    November 21, 2024

    You do not "file a quarterly tax return."    You only file one tax return for the year.    2024 tax returns can be filed in early 2025.   If you want to make an estimated payment, you can do that, but you are not going to prepare a tax return with that payment.

     

    You can make a payment to the IRS online:

    https://www.irs.gov/payments

     

    **Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to offer the most correct information possible. The poster disclaims any legal responsibility for the accuracy of the information that is contained in this post.**
    Mike9241
    Level 15
    Level 15
    November 21, 2024

    There will be no federal penalties for not paying in enough taxes during the year if withholding and

    1. timely estimated tax payments equal or exceed 90% of your 2024 tax or
    2. timely estimated tax payments equal or exceed 100% of your 2023 tax (110% if your 2023 adjusted gross income was more than $150K) or
    3. the balance due after subtracting taxes withheld from 90% of your 2024 tax is less than $1,000 or
    4. your total taxes are less than $1,000

     

    you can allocate 1/4 of your withholding to each tax period or use actual. estimated tax payments only count as of the date made. 

    the period ends are 3/31,5/31,8/31 and 12/31

    estimates are due by the 15th day of the month following the end of the period though if the due date falls on a weekend or holiday the payment is due the following business day

     

     

     

    state laws differ

     

    if you don't meet any of the exceptions above you can make an estimated tax payment but depending on when those gains were realized, you may still have a penalty though the amount would be reduced

    Mike9241
    karenj900Author
    Level 2
    November 21, 2024

    So if I sold the Stock in August but didn't pay the tax until November, I am already screwed?

    Alumni - Champ
    November 21, 2024

    @karenj900 --

     

    IRS Form 2210 will allow you to annualize your income, which may reduce or even eliminate any penalty.  See this TurboTax help article:

    https://turbotax.intuit.com/tax-tips/irs-tax-forms/what-is-form-2210/L2z0haVWb

     

    IRS Form 2210 (see Section AI):

    https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f2210.pdf

    **Answers are correct to the best of my ability but do not constitute tax or legal advice.