IRS Tax Tip 2020-115, September 8, 2020
Some taxpayers earn income not subject to withholding. For small business owners and self-employed people this can mean making quarterly estimated tax payments.
Here are some important things taxpayers should know about estimated tax payments:
- Taxpayers generally must make estimated tax payments if they expect to owe $1,000 or more when they file their 2020 tax return.
- Aside from business owners and self-employed individuals, people who might also need to make estimated payments includes sole proprietors, partners and S corporation shareholders. It also often includes people involved in the sharing economy.
- Estimated tax requirements are different for farmers and fishermen.
- Corporations generally must make these payments if they expect to owe $500 or more on their 2020 tax return.
- The remaining deadlines for paying 2020 estimated taxes are September 15, 2020 and January 15, 2021.
- Taxpayers can review these forms for help figuring their estimated payments:
- Taxpayers have options for paying estimated taxes. These include:
- Direct Pay from a bank account.
- Paying by credit or debit card or the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System.
- Mailing a check or money order to the IRS.
- Paying cash at a retail partner.
Taxpayers who don’t pay enough tax throughout the year may have to pay an underpayment penalty.
Taxpayers, who have a job or a pension with federal tax withholding should check their withholding using the Tax Withholding Estimator on IRS.gov. If the estimator suggests a change, the taxpayer can submit a new Form W-4 to their employer. The estimator handles multiple sources of income and multiple jobs provided the taxpayer has a W-2 income or a pension/annuity statement.