Estimated payments for next year

Forum|Forum|4 months ago
March 13, 2026
6 replies
115 views

After filing CA income tax, there is a schedule for making estimated taxes for next year. The recommended payments are different for each payment and only 3 payments instead of 4. The schedule is for Voucher Numbers 1, 2 and 4. Why did turbo tax created a schedule of three uniquely different payments instead of four for estimated state income tax?

Best answer by SteamTrain

@psdeckers

Yeah...CA is a bit strange for quarterly estimated payments:

IF you scroll down this CA FTB page

Estimated tax payments | FTB.ca.gov

You'll find this:

______________________________

When to pay

Your tax payments are due in 4 payments. California differs from federal. To avoid a penalty, you must pay on or before the below dates.

Payment Amount Due date

1	30%	April 15, 2026
2	40%	June 15, 2026
3	0%	September 15, 2026
4	30%	January 15, 2027

SteamTrainAnswer

Level 15

@psdeckers

Yeah...CA is a bit strange for quarterly estimated payments:

IF you scroll down this CA FTB page

Estimated tax payments | FTB.ca.gov

You'll find this:

______________________________

When to pay

Your tax payments are due in 4 payments. California differs from federal. To avoid a penalty, you must pay on or before the below dates.

Payment Amount Due date

1	30%	April 15, 2026
2	40%	June 15, 2026
3	0%	September 15, 2026
4	30%	January 15, 2027

____________*Answers are correct to the best of my knowledge when posted, but should not be considered to be legal or official tax advice.*

psdeckersAuthor

Level 3

Thank you. Any idea why the 3rd payment is 0%?

VolvoGirl

Level 15

I'm in Calfornia. We don't know why they want it that way.

https://www.ftb.ca.gov/forms/2025/2025-540-es-instructions.html

Installment Payments – Installments due shall be 30% of the required annual payment for the 1st required installment, 40% of the required annual payment for the 2nd required installment, no installment is due for the 3rd required installment, and 30% of the required annual payment for the 4th required installment.