Where To Find Federal IRS Form/Voucher 1040-ES For 2018

dep | Mar 4, 2018 | 12 posts since 2011

Would anyone know where the IRS might be hiding their downloadable on-line form 1040-ES for 2018 estimated tax payments for individuals via voucher and check? (The voucher to be mailed with check was a detachable part of the form in years past.) As of 4-Mar-2018, it appears that the official IRS website only has last year's (2017) 1040-ES form.

My tax preparation professional (H&R) provided pre-printed 1040-ES vouchers for quarterly 2018 estimated tax payments, but they have "Unapproved Form, Do Not File" boldly printed on top of the form. So I am reluctant to send those. Also, there are no boxes for critical identification info such as social security number on these H&R-provided 2018 vouchers, which seems strange and prone to not having one's payments recorded accurately.

Second related question: I'm curious if DA readers who pay estimated Federal taxes tend to elect to pay one single estimated tax amount for the entire year in the first quarter's payment, or if 4 quarterly payments throughout the calendar year are more popular?

Thanks.

21

Answers

dep | Mar 6, 2018 | 12 posts since 2011

I see that Federal IRS form 1040-ES(2018) is available as of today (6-Mar-2018) at the IRS website in PDF format, for individuals paying estimated 2018 income tax. URL:

https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f1040es.pdf

Many thanks for the suggestions and comments. Will probably be mailing my full year 2018 estimated tax payment via check and voucher this week.

13

CTM | Mar 4, 2018 | 179 posts since 2010

1. The 1040-ES is not yet available. The 1041-ES (for trusts/estates/businesses) just became available.
If you really want to pay your taxes this early, you can make the payment online at the IRS website: https://www.irs.gov/payments/direct-pay

2. "Unapproved Form, Do Not File" means exactly that. The IRS will return it to you.

3. Why would you want to give the IRS an interest free loan? Also, you might look at the 100% / 110% "safe harbor" rule which eliminates any underpayment penalties.

6

Bozo | Mar 5, 2018 | 1,375 posts since 2011

CTM, many have noted the wisdom of pushing tax payments to the end of the year by withholding (see below).

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Kirkland | Mar 5, 2018 | 374 posts since 2014

I mailed my 2018 estimated payment (1 payment for all 4 quarters) on the do NOT file form in January and the IRS cashed it... they did not return it.. I used the turbo tax form

4

Bozo | Mar 5, 2018 | 1,375 posts since 2011

Consider increasing your withholding from various sources. Withholding, even if taken in December, is deemed "spread" over the entire tax year.

Example: Joe is retired, and taking RMDs quarterly, withholding 10% Federal and 3% State.. Joe has multiple taxable investments which either cannot, or will not, withhold tax from his interest/dividend/capital gains distributions. Joe "guesstimates" his total tax burden at 18% Federal/7% State for the year. Doing the math, Joe figures he will owe (a) a shortfall on his Social Security withholding (currently withheld at 10%) and (b) a major shortfall on the distributions. Joe calculates the dollar amount of the shortfall at $20,000.

Solution: Joe increases the withholding on his December RMD to cover the $20,000. The withholding, even if collected in December, is deemed "spread" over the entire year. Joe gets the use of the money and doesn't have to mess with estimated tax forms. If, at the end of the year, Joe is a bit short on his calculation, he can always use Voucher 4 (due in January of the following year) to "top off".

5

Kaight | Mar 5, 2018 | 1,192 posts since 2011

I have been making estimated tax payments, both Federal and state four each per year, for well over thirty years. I did once use the forms mentioned by the OP, one form each quarter. But I could not make any money that way.

In recent years I have paid my estimated Federal tax payments online with a CC. Currently am pocketing slightly over 1% on each payment. OK, it's not a fortune. But every little bit helps. And there are no forms, nothing to mail, and the money remains in my savings account earning interest for an extra month.

3

paoli2 | Mar 7, 2018 | 2,641 posts since 2011

I never got my 2018 1040 ES and had already mailed my taxes for 2017 into the IRS. When I called the IRS about when they were mailing the estimated tax vouchers I was told to just pay it online with a credit card or they gave me a phone number to call to pay it. I don't like doing it this way since I pay it all in one lump sum. Since interest rates are so low, I don't care about any interest I may be losing by giving the IRS the money ahead of time.

To my surprise, recently I called to see how much they had listed for us as paying on 2018 Estimated taxes and they had the credit from 2017 going towards it and the total amount I paid with our credit card. So at least it got paid. I think they are not sending out the vouchers on time so more people will pay like this. This week (March!) I finally got the packet of forms we ordered on line and on the phone early January but no estimated tax vouchers! Glad I got it paid anyway.

3

alan1 | Mar 5, 2018 | 877 posts since 2015

IRS Direct Pay lets you electronically pay estimated tax from your bank account. No fee.
https://www.irs.gov/payments/direct-pay

As Kaight mentioned, you can pay electronically using a credit card using a payment processor. Fees apply
https://www.irs.gov/payments/pay-taxes-by-credit-or-debit-card

1

Kaight | Mar 5, 2018 | 1,192 posts since 2011

Thank you, alan1, for mentioning the fees. I should have done that. Obviously, at least I hope it was obvious but maybe not, my current CC reward is sufficiently high to pay the fee with slightly over 1% of the reward money left over for me to pocket.

CC rewards, whether received as a result of tax payments or for other things generally, are especially sweet because there is no taxation.

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