Estimated taxes are payments made to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) throughout the year to cover your income tax liability. They are due if you expect to owe more than $1,000 in taxes when you file your return. If you underpay your estimated taxes, you may be subject to a penalty.
There are a few ways to avoid the estimated tax penalty. One is to make sure that you are withholding enough taxes from your paycheck. You can use the IRS’s withholding calculator to determine how much you should be withholding. Another way to avoid the penalty is to make estimated tax payments throughout the year. You can make these payments online, by mail, or by phone.