I just want to learn more about why I'm betting this penalty... it won't show me what exactly caused it, did my W-2 job not withhold enough or my freelancing? I have never had this happen before and I'd love some insight. Thanks!
It's not from any particular job or freelance. If you do not pay in enough tax from withholding and estimates, you may have to pay a penalty for underpayment of estimated tax. The penalty is an Estimated amount. Even if you are getting a refund you can still owe a penalty for not paying in evenly during the year. Generally, most taxpayers will avoid this penalty if they owe less than $1,000 in tax after subtracting their withholdings and credits, or if they paid at least 90% of the tax for the current year, or 100% of the tax shown on the return for the prior year, whichever is smaller. It is included in your tax due or reduces your refund.
If you get a penalty on 1040 line 38, you might be able to eliminate it or at least reduce it. You can go to Federal Taxes tab or Personal tab, under Other Tax Situations and select Start by the Underpayment Penalties. You will answer a series of questions that may reduce or eliminate the penalty. Or you can elect to have the IRS figure the penalty for you. It's form 2210.
How to add form 2210 for Underpayment Penalty
https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/tax-payments/help/how-do-i-add-form-2210/00/25703
It's under
Federal or Personal (for Home & Business Desktop)
Other Tax Situations
Additional Tax Payments
Underpayment Penalties - Click the Start or update button
The federal tax system is a pay as you go system. As you make money, you have to pay taxes on that money. You may have an underpayment penalty if you didn't have enough taxes withheld from your income throughout the year on your W-2 or if you're self-employed and you didn't pay enough estimated taxes.
To try to reduce or eliminate it, review the TurboTax article Why am I getting an underpayment penalty?
For more information, refer to the TurboTax help article Guide to IRS Tax Penalties: How to Avoid or Reduce Them for tips to use in the future.
You can contact the IRS to request a one-time abatement of your underpayment penalty. For individual tax returns, call 1-800-829-1040, 7 AM - 7 PM Monday through Friday local time.
It's not from any particular job or freelance. If you do not pay in enough tax from withholding and estimates, you may have to pay a penalty for underpayment of estimated tax. The penalty is an Estimated amount. Even if you are getting a refund you can still owe a penalty for not paying in evenly during the year. Generally, most taxpayers will avoid this penalty if they owe less than $1,000 in tax after subtracting their withholdings and credits, or if they paid at least 90% of the tax for the current year, or 100% of the tax shown on the return for the prior year, whichever is smaller. It is included in your tax due or reduces your refund.
If you get a penalty on 1040 line 38, you might be able to eliminate it or at least reduce it. You can go to Federal Taxes tab or Personal tab, under Other Tax Situations and select Start by the Underpayment Penalties. You will answer a series of questions that may reduce or eliminate the penalty. Or you can elect to have the IRS figure the penalty for you. It's form 2210.
How to add form 2210 for Underpayment Penalty
https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/tax-payments/help/how-do-i-add-form-2210/00/25703
It's under
Federal or Personal (for Home & Business Desktop)
Other Tax Situations
Additional Tax Payments
Underpayment Penalties - Click the Start or update button