Tax software for paying quarterly taxes?

ashleywc — Tue, 24 Feb 2026 07:04:22 GMT

Hello! Does TurboTax offer any software or programs where I can calculate my federal AND state (California) estimated payments? Or do I have to calculate and pay separately through the IRS and through CA's FTB?

Re: Tax software for paying quarterly taxes?

Sean Enrolled Agent — Wed, 30 Aug 2023 17:04:16 GMT

Great question!

Most independent contractors pay estimated taxes to the IRS and to their state during the year. That way, they are paying as they earn income.
You can use the IRS Tax Withholding Estimator calculator located at this website: https://apps.irs.gov/app/tax-withholding-estimator

Once you have an idea of how much you will owe for 2023, you would then want to make estimated payments to the IRS so that you are paying taxes as you are earning the income.
You can use the IRS website in order to make estimated payments here: https://www.irs.gov/payments/direct-pay

Our tax system is known as a "pay as you go" tax system. This means that the IRS expects taxes to be paid as income is earned. That was easy to do when you had a job and your employer paid taxes for you on each paycheck.
Now that you are an independent contractor, you will want to make sure that you take care of these payments during the year. If you wait until the end of the year, you could face some penalties and fines for not paying taxes during the year.

For more help with how to plan for paying taxes as an independent contractor, please feel free to use the following websites for some tips and tricks:
https://turbotax.intuit.com/personal-taxes/self-employment-taxes/
https://turbotax.intuit.com/tax-tips/self-employment-taxes/beginners-tax-guide-for-the-self-employed...
https://turbotax.intuit.com/tax-tips/irs-tax-forms/what-is-form-1099-nec/L5fbwIFSn

topic Tax software for paying quarterly taxes? in Self employed

Tax software for paying quarterly taxes?

Re: Tax software for paying quarterly taxes?