topic If I missed paying one of my quarterly estimated tax payments should I go ahead and pay it late? Is there a penalty? in Get your taxes done using TurboTax

If I missed paying one of my quarterly estimated tax payments should I go ahead and pay it late? Is there a penalty?

robert-a-drew — Tue, 24 Feb 2026 07:07:01 GMT

I paid Q1, but forgot to pay Q2. TurboTax says those payments are optional. Should I pay Q2 late, or just skip it?

Re: If I missed paying one of my quarterly estimated tax payments should I go ahead and pay it late? Is there a penalty?

fanfare — Sun, 20 Aug 2023 05:15:21 GMT

If you make an Estimated Tax payment now, it will be a 3rd period payment.

You already skipped the 2nd period payment.

@robert-a-drew

Re: If I missed paying one of my quarterly estimated tax payments should I go ahead and pay it late? Is there a penalty?

Mike9241 — Sun, 20 Aug 2023 06:58:38 GMT

there is no way for us to know if it's necessary.

here are the rules to avoid penalties for underwithholding/under or late payment of estimated taxes:

There will be no federal penalties for not paying in enough taxes during the year if federal withholding and
1) timely estimated tax payments equal or exceed 90% of your 2023 tax or
2) timely estimated tax payments equal or exceed 100% of your 2022 tax (110% if your 2022 adjusted gross income was more than $150K) or
3) the balance due after subtracting taxes withheld from 90% of your 2023 tax is less than $1,000 or
4) your total taxes are less than $1,000

the lower of 1 or 2 is your required annual income tax payments. 1 is difficult to know until the year end so generally option 2 is the safer option. under the simplified method 25% of the estimate taxes must be paid in each quarter by 4/18, 6/15, 9/15 and 1/15/24. unless you can show otherwise 25% of you annual withholding is assumed to occur in each quarter.

if you need to pay estimates pay the second quarter ASAP since the penalty is computed based on the number of days late

Re: If I missed paying one of my quarterly estimated tax payments should I go ahead and pay it late? Is there a penalty?

NCperson — Sun, 20 Aug 2023 10:19:30 GMT

it is hard to tell if there is a penalty, however, you can always make a payment at the IRS website. If you feel compellted to make up the missing mayment, you can do it today.

https://directpay.irs.gov/directpay/payment?execution=e1s1