Stuck in estimated tax payments loop. How do I get out of this?

[3byTheSea]

Received vouchers however paid different amounts and missed payments. Paid in 2026 more than I owe. How do I enter these values and have Turbotax accept them despite my values not being what TurboTax expects?

[baldietax]

what loop are you referring to?  did you mean "Paid in 2025 more than I owe."?

the vouchers that TT generates during tax prep whether it was for 2025 when you filed last year, or for 2026 when you file this year, are just informational - they are not mandatory to follow and have no bearing on any of your returns. 

when you file for 2025 you enter what you actually paid for 2025 tax year, under Deductions & Credits / Estimates and Other Taxes Paid (some people have trouble finding this - you may have a screen saying "Your Tax Breaks" and need to select button to add another break etc).

[VolvoGirl]

Vouchers you got last year for 2025 or this year 2026?  Either way Turbo Tax isn't expecting them and doesn't enter them.   The IRS isn't expecting them either.   You have to manually enter the dates you paid and the acutal amounts yourself.

To enter Federal or State Estimated Taxes Paid, including a state estimated payment made in January for the prior year, go to

Federal on left or at top (Personal for Home & Business)

Deductions and Credits

Then scroll way down to Estimates and Other Taxes Paid

Estimates - click the Start or Update button
For a state estimated payment made in Jan 2025 for the prior year, go to 2024 state estimated taxes paid in 2025.

When you click in the left column tab for Deductions & Credits, it may take you to a page called "Your Tax Breaks. Lower on that same screen should be a button or link for "Add more tax breaks" or "Show more tax breaks" or similar wording. When clicked, then the screen should expand, and all the deduction topics are displayed including "Estimates and Other Taxes Paid." Then that topic can be expanded further to get the subtopic Estimated Tax Payments.