How to Fill Out and File IRS Form 1040ES

Many taxpayers who earn or receive income throughout the year but are not subject to tax withholding are required by the IRS to make estimated tax payments. With Form 1040ES the IRS provides a worksheet to calculate the amount of estimated tax a taxpayer must pay and four payment vouchers that must accompany the taxpayer's payments when they are due.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Previous year's tax return
• IRS Form 1040ES

Fill Out IRS Form 1040ES for Estimated Tax Payments

1. Project your income-earning activities and anticipated income for the current year and use your previous year's tax return to estimate your adjusted gross income for the current year on line 1 of the Estimated Tax Worksheet on Page 4 of IRS Form 1040ES.

2. Continue to fill out the Estimated Tax Worksheet and plan to file Form 1040ES if your anticipated tax liability for the current year on line 16b is $1,000 or more.

3. Use the amount on line 17 of your Estimated Tax Worksheet as the preliminary amount for each of the four payments you will make to meet your Estimated Tax obligations for the current year and fill out this amount in the "Dollars-and-cents" fields at the upper right corners of 1040ES Payment Vouchers 1, 2, 3 and 4.

4. Fill out the rest of each payment voucher with your name, Social Security number and address. Include the same information for your spouse if you will be making joint payments.

5. Check your Estimated Tax Worksheet on a quarterly basis throughout the year, amend your income and other calculations if necessary and make any necessary adjustments in your Form 1040ES voucher payments.

File IRS Form 1040ES With Your Payments

6. File your Estimated Tax Payment Vouchers with your payments by April 15, June 15, September 15 and January 15 by mailing them to the IRS mailing address that listed for your state of residence on Page 6 of IRS Form 1040ES.

7. Pay the amount shown in the box on each payment voucher by making a check or money order in that amount payable to "United States Treasury" and write "2007 Form 1040-ES" and your Social Security number on the memo line of each payment.

8. Maintain documentation of your payments throughout the year by using the Record of Estimated Tax Payments worksheet at the top of Page 6. You do not need to file this record with the IRS.

Tips & Warnings

• In addition to the option outlined here of paying your Form 1040ES Estimated Tax obligations through the mail with paper vouchers, the IRS also allows electronic filing and payment with Form 1040ES.
• If you prefer to pay electronically by credit cards, electronic funds withdrawal or use the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS), see the electronic filing instructions on Page 3 of IRS Form 1040ES.