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Estimated Tax

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On December 22, 2017, The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act was signed into law. The information in this article predates the tax reform legislation and may not apply to tax returns starting in the 2018 tax year. You may wish to speak to your tax advisor about the latest tax law. This publication is provided for your convenience and does not constitute legal advice. This publication is protected by copyright.

Estimated Tax
If a taxpayer does not have sufficient withholding from wages and pensions to cover the tax liability for the year, he/she could be subject to underpayment penalties. Self-employed taxpayers and those with substantial investment or other income frequently find themselves in this position. Quarterly estimated tax payments provide a means of prepaying the anticipated tax liability as a way to avoid the penalties. Generally, penalties can be assessed if a taxpayer fails to prepay a safe harbor (minimum) amount.

Safe Harbor Payments – Federal law and most states have safe harbor rules. There are two Federal safe harbor amounts that apply when the payments are made evenly throughout the year:
  1. The first safe harbor is based on the tax owed in the current year. If your payments equal or exceed 90% of your current year's tax liability, you can escape a penalty. 
     
  2. The second safe harbor – and the one taxpayers rely on most often – is based on your tax in the immediately preceding tax year. If your current year's payments equal or exceed 100% of the amount of your prior year's tax, you can escape a penalty. However, if your prior year's adjusted gross income was more than $150,000 ($75,000 if you file married separate status), then your payments for the current year must be 110% of the prior year's tax to meet the safe harbor amount.
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