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Quarterly Estimated Taxes: Due Today (September 15, 2025) Thumbnail

Quarterly Estimated Taxes: Due Today (September 15, 2025)

Insights

If you make quarterly estimated tax payments, today is the deadline for the third installment of 2025. A timely payment helps you avoid underpayment penalties and keeps your cash-flow plan on track through year-end.

Who should be paying estimates?

You likely owe a quarterly payment if any of these apply:

  • You’re self-employed or own a pass-through business with significant profits.
  • You expect meaningful interest, dividends, RSU vesting, stock option exercises, or capital gains this year.
  • You’re retired and withholding from Social Security, pensions, or RMDs won’t cover your 2025 tax.
  • You had a major income change (bonus, real estate sale, business windfall) that isn’t fully covered by withholding.

How much should I pay?

Use one of the IRS “safe harbor” targets to minimize penalties:

  • 90% of your 2025 total tax, or
  • 100% of your 2024 total tax (shown on last year’s return), 110% if your 2024 AGI was over $150,000 (MFJ; $75,000 if MFS).

Practical ways to estimate today’s payment:

  • Start with last year’s total tax and divide into four equal installments, then true-up for year-to-date changes (big gains, business swings, etc.).
  • Use your tax software’s Form 1040-ES worksheet or ask your CPA/CFP® to run a year-to-date tax projection.

Tip for high-income investors: If you realized large gains in 2025 (portfolio rebalancing, asset sales, business liquidity), consider an add-on to today’s payment to avoid a surprise in April.

How to pay (fastest options first)

  • IRS Direct Pay (from checking/savings). Keep your confirmation for records.
  • EFTPS (Electronic Federal Tax Payment System) for enrolled users; schedule the payment for today.
  • Check + 1040-ES voucher (mail—only if you’re certain it will be timely and track delivery).
  • Don’t forget state estimated taxes if they apply—deadlines often mirror the federal date but can vary.

Missed it or short on cash?

  • Pay as soon as possible. Penalties/interest generally accrue only on the shortfall and for the time it’s outstanding.
  • Consider a withholding adjustment from wages, pensions, or RMDs in Q4—IRS treats withholding as paid evenly through the year, which can reduce penalties.
  • If your income is highly uneven, your CPA may use annualized income methods to lessen or eliminate penalties.

Quick pre-payment checklist

  • Verify your YTD income and realized gains.
  • Confirm payments already made (Q1 + Q2).
  • Choose safe harbor (100%/110% of 2024) or project 2025 tax.
  • Submit payment and save the confirmation.
  • Update your cash-flow plan for Q4 (Roth conversions, harvesting gains/losses, charitable giving, Q4 withholding).

Need help sizing today’s payment—or coordinating it with moves like Roth conversions, charitable bunching, or year-end rebalancing? Heritage Wealth Management can run a quick projection and align your estimate with your broader plan.