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New Member
posted Oct 21, 2020 6:13:59 PM

Should I pay taxes on stock sales during the year?

I don't want to pay penalties due to a high tax bill.  I have some in gains that I made this year on stocks I sold and want to avoid penalties next year when I file taxes.

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3 Replies
Level 15
Oct 21, 2020 7:06:06 PM

Send in an estimated payment.  

Here are the blank Estimates and instructions…..

http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f1040es.pdf

 

The 1040ES quarterly estimates are due April 15, 2020, June 15, Sept 15 and Jan 15, 2021.   Your state will also have their own estimate forms.

 

Or you can pay directly on the IRS website https://www.irs.gov/payments

Be sure to pick the right kind of payment and year.....2020 Estimate

Not applicable
Oct 21, 2020 7:34:43 PM

do you receive wages from which Federal Income Taxes are withheld?

Level 15
Oct 23, 2020 5:04:15 AM

Q.  Should I pay taxes on stock sales during the year?

A. Only if you want to.

 


An underpayment penalty will only be due, for the current tax year (2020), if both of the following apply:
- 1. You expect to owe at least $1,000 in tax for the current tax year, after subtracting your withholding and credits. 
- 2. You expect your withholding and credits to be less than the smaller of: 90% of the tax to be shown on your current year’s tax return, or  100%* of the tax shown on your prior year’s tax return (2019). 

  

If your goal is just to avoid the underpayment penalty, then paying 100%* of the prior year tax liability is the “safe haven”

 

TurboTax (TT) can prepare the quarterly payment vouchers. In your 2019 software, enter at:

 

Federal Taxes or Personal (H&B version)

 

-Other Tax Situations

 

  -Other Tax Forms

 

    -Form W-4 and Estimated Taxes - Click the Start or Update button

 

On the next screen answer No to the W-4 question

 

*This rule is altered slightly for high-income taxpayers. If the adjusted gross income on your previous year’s return is over $150,000 (over $75,000 if you are married filing separately), you must pay the lower of 90% of the tax shown on the current year’s return or 110% of the tax shown on the return for the previous year.  Your prior year tax return must cover all 12 months.