04/09/2026
Hello there!
We want to send a quick reminder that April 15th isn’t just Tax Day for federal returns. It’s also the deadline for your 2026 Q1 estimated tax payments. Make sure you’ve got both covered! The information below will help you stay on track and avoid any surprises:
Making quarterly estimated payments is important to avoid penalties. Below is a quick overview of the 2026 due dates:
Q1: April 15, 2026 (January 1 – March 31)
Q2: June 15, 2026 (April 1 – May 31)
Q3: September 15, 2026 (June 1 – August 31)
Q4: January 15, 2027 (September 1 – December 31)
If a due date falls on a weekend or holiday, it will move to the next business day.
If payments are missed or underpaid, the IRS will assess penalties. These are calculated each quarter based on the amount underpaid.
To ensure that you are not subject to any underpayment penalties, the IRS requires you to pay 110% of the previous year’s tax or 90% of the current year’s tax in timely and equal installments. *Depending on your income, the required payments may be 100% of the previous year’s tax.
To remain in a federal estimated tax safe harbor position, your withholding and/or timely estimated tax payments should generally equal the lesser of 100% of your prior year total tax liability (110% if your prior year AGI exceeded $150,000, or $75,000 if married filing separately) or 90% of your current year projected total tax liability and those amounts generally must be paid in timely installments during the year.
If your income fluctuates throughout the year, there are strategies (like annualizing income) that can help better align payments and reduce penalties.
Also, if you opted to make payments on your own, the IRS is in the process of phasing out paper checks. If you choose to send a paper check, you may receive a follow-up notice from the IRS, so electronic payment is generally the smoother option. This can be done here: https://www.irs.gov/payments
If you have any questions or would like help determining your payment, please don’t hesitate to reach out, we’re happy to help.
Thank you,
~Your Team at BC&V
