{"id":441,"date":"2011-04-12T14:55:57","date_gmt":"2011-04-12T14:55:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/vhfinancialmanagement.com\/?p=441"},"modified":"2011-04-12T14:55:57","modified_gmt":"2011-04-12T14:55:57","slug":"estimated-tax-payments-should-i-pay-quarterly","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vhfinancialmanagement.com\/2011\/04\/12\/estimated-tax-payments-should-i-pay-quarterly","title":{"rendered":"Estimated Tax Payments: Should I Pay Quarterly?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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April 18th<\/sup> is drawing near, which means your 2010 taxes are due. Hopefully, your return is complete and you are basking in the glow of accomplishment. But don\u2019t relax just yet, for you may not be done. If you are required to make estimated payments for tax year 2011, your first payment is due April 18th<\/sup> as well.<\/p>\n

Our tax system is a pay-as-you-go system, which simply means the IRS likes to receive tax revenue throughout the year. If you chose not to pay into the system throughout the year, you may be assessed an underpayment penalty, so it\u2019s important to make estimated payments when required.<\/p>\n

Who has to make estimated payments?<\/p>\n

The IRS doesn\u2019t have a standard answer for this question because anyone could be subject to paying estimated payments if certain criteria are not met.\u00a0 Fortunately, for those who are w-2 employees, this is rare. Most often, estimated payments are reserved for those who are self-employed, receive alimony, have large amounts of interest income and capital gains, or those who have prize winnings or awards. \u00a0<\/p>\n

When are estimated payments due?<\/p>\n

The 2011 quarterly estimated tax payment due dates are:<\/p>\n

Quarter one: April 18, 2011<\/p>\n

Quarter two: June 15, 2011<\/p>\n

Quarter three: September 15, 2011<\/p>\n

Quarter four: January 17, 2012<\/p>\n

As I have stated many times throughout my blog postings, it\u2019s extremely important to manage taxes from a proactive standpoint. Estimated payments allow for proactive management of our tax liability by changing the amount of payment applied to each quarter. I should note that this should be handled carefully, because making estimated payments does not \u00a0eliminate the possibility of running into an underpayment penalty. The amounts paid quarterly need to meet certain minimums based on income. It\u2019s fairly complex. This is why it is important to work with a professional when it comes to tax planning.<\/p>\n

If your 2010 tax return is complete and you are required to make estimated payments, don\u2019t rest just yet. Send in your first quarterly payment, no later than April 18th<\/sup>, and position yourself for a successful 2011 by proactively managing your tax liability.<\/p>\n

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