Estimated Tax Payments Guide
Understand when and how to make quarterly estimated tax payments for both federal (IRS) and Arizona, whether you’re an individual, self-employed, or running a business.
Who needs to pay estimated taxes?
- Self-employed / freelancers / gig workers with untaxed income
- S-corp/LLC/partnership owners with pass-through income
- Investors with significant interest, dividends, or capital gains
- Landlords with rental income
- W-2 earners who are under-withheld (big balances due last year)
Rule of thumb: If you expect to owe at least $1,000 in federal tax (after withholding/credits), you likely need estimated payments.
Federal (IRS) Estimated Payments
Due Dates (Quarterly)
- Q1: April 15
- Q2: June 15
- Q3: September 15
- Q4: January 15 (of next year)
If a date falls on a weekend/holiday, the deadline moves to the next business day.
Safe Harbor (to avoid penalties)
- Pay 90% of your current year total tax, or
- Pay 100% of your prior year total tax (110% if prior-year AGI > $150k MFJ / $75k single)
Arizona Estimated Payments
Due Dates (Quarterly)
- Q1: April 15
- Q2: June 15
- Q3: September 15
- Q4: January 15 (of next year)
How to Pay (AZ)
Arizona Notes
- Arizona generally mirrors federal quarterly due dates.
- Use your prior-year Arizona tax as a baseline if income is stable.
- Adjust for Arizona-specific credits/deductions (e.g., school credits) when estimating.
How to estimate your payments
- Project your annual income (wages, self-employment, rentals, investments).
- Subtract deductions (standard or itemized) and applicable credits.
- Apply federal and state tax rates; include SE tax if self-employed.
- Subtract expected withholding (W-2, 1099 withholding).
- Divide the remaining balance over four quarterly payments (or use safe harbor amounts).
Tip: If income is uneven through the year, use the annualized installment method to reduce penalties.
Business vs. Individual considerations
- Self-employed: Include SE tax, deduct SE health insurance and half of SE tax.
- S-corps/LLCs: Owners may need estimates on pass-through income; adjust W-2 withholding or pay estimates.
- Investors: Plan for capital gains distributions and sales; consider harvesting losses.
- Rental owners: Include depreciation, interest, taxes, insurance, and repairs in projections.
Want us to calculate your estimates?
We’ll project your income, apply safe harbors, and prepare federal and Arizona vouchers or electronic payments.