Last year I paid advanced tax on July 14th. Why did IRS charge me a penalty for late payment when I think July 14th was the due date for the 1st quarter of 2020.

[rajunallappa-msn]

Last year I paid advanced tax on July 14th. Why did IRS charge me a penalty for late payment when I think July 14th was the due date for the 1st quarter of 2020. Due to the pandemic, I thought they had extended the date last year.

[Mike9241 · Accepted solution]

you are correct as to the due date.  how did you make the payment?. if it was not postmarked by 7/15 it was late. if you did it through a 7/14 e-payment, then it was timely. perhaps the payment was not sufficient to cover 45% of 2020 tax or 50% of 2019 tax. both the first and second estimated tax payments were due 7/15/2020

[rajunallappa-msn]

Thanks Mike for your prompt response. It was debited from my bank account on 7/14 and it was about 70% of my total tax bill for 2020. I think I need to challenge their decision.

[rajunallappa-msn]

I just finished talking with an agent at Illinois Tax department and she said for IL, the date for estimated tax payment wasn't changed last year and hence I was charged. This is very strange, I thought I had read it had changed for IL too