Do I Need to Pay Quarterly Taxes?
By Casey Cheny·3 min read·Updated July 2026
According to the IRS, you generally must make estimated tax payments if you expect to owe $1,000 or more when you file. Payments go in four installments using Form 1040-ES, due roughly mid-April, mid-June, mid-September, and mid-January.
Why the government wants its money four times a year
Employees have tax taken out every paycheck. The self-employed do not, so once you earn enough on your own, you are generally expected to pay estimated tax through the year instead of one giant bill at the end. It is the same tax, just paid as you go.
What happens if you ignore it
Skip the estimated payments and you can face penalties on top of the tax, plus a brutal lump sum at filing time. The IRS charges an underpayment penalty that accrues like interest, and it applies even if you pay everything at filing. The standard safe harbor: pay at least 90 percent of this year's tax, or 100 percent of last year's, and you avoid the penalty.
Setting tax aside from each payment makes the quarterly payment painless, because the money is already waiting. A tax pro is worth it once your income is real.
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