Estimated taxes were based on projected income for 2024 and this projection is likely to be less than my final 2024 income. How do I correct the estimated tax payments?
If you make your payments online at www.irs.gov/payments, you can pay any amount you like, you don't need to send proof of your calculation. Just make sure to select "2024 form 1040-ES" from the menu as the reason for the payment.
If you want to mail a check, you can print a blank voucher and enter a different amount of your choosing.
Or if you already have the 1040ES slips you can just cross out the amount and write in what you want or even just skip making more estimated payments if the first 2 will be enough. The IRS is not expecting them or expecting a certain amount. They are optional to pay.
correction may be entirely up to you. under Federal law there will be no penalties for underpaying estimated tax if either:
1) withholding and timely estimates = 100% of 2023 tax. That jumps to 110% if your 2023 adjusted gross income was more than $150,000
2) withholding and timely estimated tax payments = 90% of your 2024 tax.
if you are not going to meet either test, then increased estimates are required. keep good records because the default for underestimation of tax penalties is that 1/4 of your taxes are due each tax period nu 4/15,6/15,9/15 and 1/15 of following year. With uneven income and payments, you may need to use the annualized income installment method to avoid/reduce penalties. see form 2210 page 3
https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f2210.pdf
There will also be no underpayment penalty if the payment due on your 2024 tax return is less than $1,000.