The last estimated payment for tax year 2026 is due Friday, January 15, 2027. If you are self-employed, get 1099 income, sold investments or had a big year with too little withholding, this is the payment that decides whether you owe an underpayment penalty in April.
Book a Free 15-Minute ConsultationFederal: you generally need to pay estimated tax if you expect to owe at least $1,000 for 2026 after withholding and refundable credits, and your withholding and credits will cover less than the smaller of 90% of your 2026 tax or 100% of your 2025 tax.
New York: you generally need to pay if you expect to owe at least $300 of New York State, New York City or Yonkers tax for 2026 after withholding and credits. Self-employed people in the city with more than $150,000 of net earnings also owe the MCTMT, which is paid with the same estimates.
You avoid the underpayment penalty if your withholding plus on-time estimates add up to at least one of these:
The prior-year safe harbor is the easiest to hit in a year your income jumped, because you already know the number. The catch is that it only protects you from the penalty. If your 2026 income was much higher, the rest of the tax is still due in April.
There is no separate city estimate. New York City resident income tax is paid with your New York State estimate on Form IT-2105 or through your Online Services account at tax.ny.gov. The federal payment is separate and goes to the IRS.
The IRS says you do not have to make the January 15, 2027 payment if you file your 2026 return by February 1, 2027 and pay the full balance with it. The usual date is January 31, but that falls on a Sunday in 2027. New York's instructions give January 31, 2027 for the same option, so for the state we plan around filing by Friday, January 29. In practice this only works if all your W-2s, 1099s and brokerage statements are in hand by late January, which many are not. If you are not sure, make the payment.
The penalty is figured quarter by quarter, so a large January payment does not erase a shortfall from April, June or September. It does stop the penalty from growing. If your income came in unevenly, the annualized income method can lower or remove the penalty for the early quarters, and we use it when it helps.
| Quarterly estimated tax plan (federal, NY State, NYC) | starting at $200 a year |
| Personal tax return | starting at $300 |
| S corp owner payroll with withholding set to cover your tax | $275/mo |
Plans and returns are "from" prices. You get a written quote first. You get an exact quote in writing before any work starts. Full price list
You do if you expect to owe $1,000 or more in federal tax, or $300 or more in New York tax, for 2026 after withholding, and you have not already paid enough to meet a safe harbor. The safe harbors are 90% of your 2026 tax or 100% of your 2025 tax, or 110% of your 2025 tax if your 2025 AGI was over $150,000.
Yes for federal, if you file your 2026 return by February 1, 2027 and pay everything you owe with it. New York's instructions give January 31, 2027 for the same option, which is a Sunday, so file the state return by Friday, January 29 to be safe.
You pay it together with New York State estimated tax, on Form IT-2105 or online through your tax.ny.gov Online Services account. There is no separate city payment.
A quarterly estimated tax plan covering federal, New York State and New York City starts at $200 a year. Personal returns start at $300.
63-08 Woodhaven Blvd, Rego Park, NY 11374 · Get directions →