Beyond Prepared®
Resources & how-to guides
Official IRS links and plain-English walkthroughs for the things clients ask us about most — making a payment, checking a refund, and staying ahead of deadlines.
Make a tax payment
Step by step
How to make an estimated tax payment
The most common payment clients ask about. Six steps, about five minutes.
Know your number
Use your prior-year return or this year’s projection. Not sure? We can compute a safe-harbor amount so you don’t under- or over-pay.
Go to IRS Direct Pay
Open irs.gov/payments/direct-pay and choose “Make a Payment.” No login or account is required for individuals.
Choose the right reason
Select Reason: “Estimated Tax,” Apply to: “1040-ES,” and the correct tax year. This is the step people most often get wrong.
Verify your identity
Confirm your identity using details from a prior-year return (filing status, name, address, SSN).
Enter amount & bank info
Enter the payment amount and your bank routing/account numbers, then review carefully.
Save the confirmation
Record the confirmation number and save the emailed receipt. Send it to us so it’s reflected in your plan.
Want us to handle estimated payments for you so you never have to think about it? Book a free strategy call →
Look something up
Know your deadlines
Our tax calendar always shows the next federal deadline coming up — estimated payments, filing dates, and extension cutoffs — filtered by your situation.
Open the Tax CalendarGot a notice you don’t understand? See how IRS resolution works →
These resources are for general information only and are not tax advice. Links to irs.gov are provided for convenience; TimTax does not control and is not responsible for external content. Always confirm details that affect you with a qualified advisor.