Tax planning can feel unpredictable when your income rises and falls throughout the year. A busy stretch of freelance work, seasonal commissions, or a growing side business may leave you unsure about how much to send in quarterly payments. Guess too low and you may face penalties. Send in too much and you tie up money you might need for everyday expenses or upcoming projects.
An IRS Online Account gives you a clearer view of where you stand. It shows your balance by tax year, lists past payments, and lets you submit or schedule estimated payments directly from your bank account.
Here’s a practical walkthrough of how to use that account to monitor estimated taxes and prepare for your next quarterly deadline under 2026 rules.
📌 Also read: How to File Taxes as a Sole Proprietorship (Forms, Deductions, And Deadlines)
What Your IRS Online Account Shows You About Estimated Tax
An IRS Online Account is a secure portal on IRS.gov that displays information pulled directly from your federal tax records. After identity verification, you see a year-by-year summary with your current balance and the activity posted to your account.
You can open each year to see how payments, credits, penalties, and interest were applied. This history helps you confirm whether a payment went through, the date it posted, and how the IRS categorized it.
For estimated tax planning, the payment section is the most important area to review. It displays up to several years of activity, including estimated tax payments, extension payments, and payments tied to filed returns. The system also shows payments you have scheduled for future dates.
📝 Note: Federal income tax is generally paid throughout the year through withholding or quarterly estimated payments. If payments are too low or too late, an underpayment penalty may apply, even if you later break even when you file.
Key Estimated Tax Info to Check Each Quarter
Here are the main items most people review each quarter. A short monthly check can help you stay prepared for the next due date.
✅ Total estimated payments for the year.
Look at your payment history for the current tax year. Add up all entries marked as estimated tax. This gives you a baseline for how much you have already paid toward your projected tax bill.
✅ Which quarter each payment was applied to.
Review the posting dates and descriptions. Compare them to IRS quarterly due dates. This helps you confirm whether payments were on time or if you made a catch-up payment later in the year.
✅ Any penalties or interest already posted.
If your account shows underpayment penalties or interest, the IRS may have determined that earlier payments did not meet the timing or amount required. This might mean your next quarterly payment needs adjustment or that your withholding needs a review.
✅ Your running balance for the current year.
Check for a balance due in the year that is still in progress. A rising balance may mean your estimated payments are trailing your actual income. A low or zero balance could show you are closer to even, but you still want to compare this to your projected full-year tax.
How to Use IRS Online Tools to Make and Schedule Estimated Tax Payments
Start on IRS.gov and open the sign-in page for individual IRS Online Accounts. If you already have an account, sign in with your current credentials. If this is your first time, you will complete identity verification. That process generally includes personal information checks and, in many situations, ID verification through a trusted third-party sign-in service.
Once you reach your account dashboard, look for the payment area. It is usually labeled “Make a Payment” or “Make and View Payments.” You can submit a payment from your bank account, choose the tax year, and select Estimated Tax as the payment reason. The system may let you schedule a future payment as well, often up to 365 days in advance. That scheduling feature can help you line payments up with upcoming quarterly deadlines.
📝 Note: You may also use the same steps to send money toward a balance due or to prepay an upcoming installment.
There are several IRS-approved tools for estimated payments. Each one works differently, so choosing the right option depends on how often you pay and how much scheduling control you want.
Choosing the Right Online Payment Option
✅ Online Account Payments
Paying from inside your online account keeps everything in one place. You can view your balance, confirm your year-to-date payments, and submit the next installment during one review session.
✅ IRS Direct Pay
IRS Direct Pay is a separate tool on IRS.gov that pulls money from a checking or savings account. There is no IRS fee. You select Estimated Tax, choose the tax year, enter your details, and confirm the amount and debit date. Many people use Direct Pay for occasional payments because it does not require logging in.
✅ EFTPS (Electronic Federal Tax Payment System)
EFTPS is operated by the U.S. Department of the Treasury. After enrollment, you can schedule payments in advance, manage different tax types, and view a detailed payment history. Individuals and businesses with large or recurring estimated payments often choose EFTPS because it supports long-term scheduling.
📝 Note: All three methods send payments directly to the IRS. None of them replace the need to project your annual tax or check your IRS account before each quarterly deadline.
Using Your Online Account to Plan Next Quarter’s Estimated Tax
Start with the data the IRS already displays in your Online Account. Review your year-to-date estimated payments, any balance showing for the current year, and your prior-year total tax from your latest return or transcript. These figures help you compare actual payments with IRS safe-harbor rules.
Next, use IRS guidance such as Publication 505 and the estimated tax worksheets to project your full-year tax. Estimate your income for the year, subtract deductions, apply the applicable tax rates, and include any credits you expect to claim. The result is your projected total tax.
Once you have your projection, calculate how much needs to be paid in through withholding and estimated payments to meet IRS thresholds. Many individuals use the higher of:
- a percentage of the current year’s projected tax, or
- a percentage of last year’s total tax.
Compare that annual target with the payments your Online Account shows for the year. The difference is the amount that may need to be covered by the remaining quarterly installments.
If your income varies from quarter to quarter, the annualized income installment method may be helpful. Form 2210 and Schedule AI let you recompute required payments based on income and deductions for each period. Higher-earning periods may require larger installments. Slower periods may require smaller ones. Once you calculate the correct installment for the upcoming quarter, return to your Online Account and schedule the payment.
📝 Note: This method is more involved. Many taxpayers use it when income is uneven, but the standard safe-harbor rules may still be a better fit for years with predictable income.
Monitoring and Adjusting During the Year
After each quarter closes, complete a quick review:
✅ Sign in to your Online Account.
Confirm that the estimated payments you intended to send have posted to the current tax year.
✅ Update your income and tax projection.
Use the IRS worksheets to enter your year-to-date income, deductions, and credits. Recalculate your projected total tax.
✅ Compare required payments to actual payments.
Based on IRS rules, compute what should have been paid in by the end of the quarter. Compare that figure with your Online Account totals.
✅ Adjust the next installment.
If income increases, increase the next payment or review your withholding. If income dropped, you may be able to reduce future installments, especially when using the annualized income method.
✅ Schedule the next quarterly payment.
Choose an IRS payment tool, enter the amount, set the date before the deadline, and save your confirmation.
Repeating this process each quarter can help you stay within IRS safe-harbor thresholds. It also helps reduce the likelihood of underpayment penalties or large balances at tax filing.
Wrapping It Up
Your IRS Online Account can be a practical way to keep estimated tax payments organized throughout the year. When you pair it with IRS worksheets and the available online payment tools, you can review past payments, plan upcoming installments, and adjust based on your current income.
A steady quarterly routine may help. Review your account, compare your payments with IRS guidance, and schedule the next installment before each deadline. This approach can make estimated tax planning feel more predictable.
If your situation is complex or you are unsure how much to send each quarter, you may want to speak with a qualified tax professional.
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