I already filed my federal and state returns for 2019. Now I realize the estimated payments for next year are too high. How do I adjust them at this point?

[Critter]

If you have the paper forms you can simply change the amount you are sending ... scratch out the preprinted amount and enter whatever you want. 

If you have not printed the forms yet then open the program and recompute them before printing them.  Log in and scroll down and click on ADD A STATE to unlock the account. 

[mesquitebean]

Once you know the amount you want to pay, there are also a couple of electronic options to make Federal estimated payments that require no paperwork and no mail.

One easy way is to make 1040-ES quarterly payments by using IRS Direct Pay electronically, and nothing has to be filled out and mailed.

https://www.irs.gov/payments

If paying electronically at the IRS Direct Pay site, there is no fee to have it taken directly out of your bank account.  There is a service fee for paying by credit/debit card, however.   If you decide to make a payment there out of your bank account,  for "Reason for Payment" choose "Estimated tax".  For "Apply Payment To" choose "1040-ES".  Then choose the tax year you're paying.

Should you decide to pay there, then print out a confirmation for your records.

The advantage of IRS Direct Pay is that it doesn't require an initial pre-enrollment, unlike EFTPS which I'll explain in the next paragraph.

While you can use IRS Direct Pay each quarter, if desired, if you think you are going to be making quarterly payments for a long time into the future, then you may want to consider opening a free account at the US Treasury's EFTPS website (Electronic Federal Tax Payment System.)  You can even schedule quarterly payments in advance and make other types of Federal tax payments, such as a balance due on your Form 1040, etc.  For first time use, you have to set it up in advance with your banking info, and they send you a PIN in postal mail.  Once set up, you can then make online payments there at the EFTPS website, or payments can be made by phone with the PIN.   For more info on EFTPS, there is an extensive FAQ page in the left menu column at this link:

https://www.eftps.gov/eftps/

[pnberkowtaxes201]

Thanks.  That helps a lot.  You are saying that I can pay the estimated amounts that I want, and as long as the total amount meets the IRS minimum requirement, then I won't have a penalty next year.  Is this true?  Thanks again.

[mesquitebean]

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@ pnberkowtaxes201 wrote:

Thanks.  That helps a lot.  You are saying that I can pay the estimated amounts that I want, and as long as the total amount meets the IRS minimum requirement, then I won't have a penalty next year.  Is this true?  Thanks again.

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No, I'm a fellow user, not a tax person.  I wasn't saying anything at all about amounts and penalties.

  I was merely telling you the 2 methods to pay the estimated taxes electronically.   It's up to you to make sure you are making the minimum payment each quarter to avoid a penalty.    The TurboTax interview can help you calculate the amount.   There are some different methods that TurboTax shows and lets you choose which method to use. 

[mesquitebean]

Here's how to open your already-filed return back up to go through the estimated taxes interview, calculate estimated tax payments, and print out 2020 Form 1040-ES vouchers, if desired.

NOTE:  When you open your return back up, do not make any changes in the return itself since it's already been filed.   It's OK to go through the estimated taxes interview.

You can go through the section "W-4 and Estimated Taxes" to figure your customized 1040-ES quarterly tax payments for 2020.    There is also a place in that interview to enter what you have already paid for 2020 (if applicable), and it will let you include any expected income changes or any other changes you have for 2020.

• Log in, and here's how to open your return back up:
• At the Tax Home or in the section "Your Tax Returns & Documents" for tax year 2019, look for a link "Add a State."
• Click on "Add a State."  (you don't really add one; that's just to get the return to open back up.)
• Once the return is open, click in the left menu column on Federal.
• Then at the top choose tab "Other Tax Situations"
• You may then see a screen "Your uncommon Tax Situations"
• Look for a button to open up "All uncommon situations" to get a list of topics.
• Scroll way down to the last category "Other Tax Forms" and click "Show More."
  
• Find topic "Form W-4 and Estimated Taxes" and click Start or Update.
• If you need to adjust withholding, go through the W-4 interview.
• If you don't need the W-4 (withholding) interview, you can skip that part and go to the 2020 estimated taxes interview.
• You may get a screen that says "Review your Estimates for 2020?" and asks "Do you want to review your income or deductions".  Say YES (or Review Now), so you can get to the additional questions.
• You will go through a lot of screens asking about expected income and deductions.
• Finally, you will come to a screen that says "Enter Payments You Expect to Make."
• There are some boxes there that say "Enter estimated tax payments you've already made for 2020."
• Next screen will ask "which method" to use to calculate your 2020 estimated payments.
• Next screen will ask if you want to print vouchers.
• If you want to pay them electronically instead of mailing the vouchers and payment, I provided that info in my previous posting.