Opens in a new tab

Pay your 3rd quarter estimated tax today!

September 17, 2012

A quick nag reminder about today's estimated tax payment deadline.

Your third 1040-ES of 2012 is due by midnight if you pay electronically. In this case you don't have to actually send in the Internal Revenue Service voucher, just the amount you owe via your credit or debit card or bank account transfer.


Estimated tax payment voucher 3 2012 Click for a larger view.

Or if you're mailing your payment via paper check or money order, you have until your post office closes. Estimated tax payments, just like your annual 1040 filing, are considered filed on time as long as the envelope is postmarked by the due date.

Which is today, Monday, Sept. 17, since the regular 15th deadline was Saturday.

Pay now or pay more later: If you need more than this friendly nag reminder, keep in mind that ignoring this tax deadline could cost your more money later.

Even if you end up getting a refund next year, if you should have paid estimated tax on some earnings that weren't subject to payroll withholding and didn't, you could end up owing the IRS a late-payment penalty.

That's because U.S. tax collection is a pay-as-you-earn system. Not getting your taxes in via withholding or estimated tax payments means you were late paying your due taxes.

And Uncle Sam charges for that.

So if you made money in June, July and August and taxes weren't taken out of that income, pay the proper amount.

Today!

You also might find these items of interest:

Share:

The More Tax Posts tab at the top of this page will take you to, well, more tax posts. You also can search below for a tax topic. 

Latest Posts
confused office worker
8 workplace benefits questions to ask this enrollment season

October 26, 2026

Millions of U.S. workers are now deciding what workplace benefits, some of which also offer…

Read More
TAX-SAVVY WAYS 
TO WRAP UP 2026

It’s over! With October’s extended filing deadline behind us, it is now time to focus on year-end moves to reduce your 2026 tax bill. 

You’ll find ways to do just that on the Tax Tips page (see the More Tax Posts drop-down menu at the top of the blog), as well as the separate tax tip pages for each month, notably October through December. If you’re on the Tax Tips page, you’ll find a monthly list at the end of this column. If you’re on another blog page, you can head straight to the October tips; at the bottom of that tips page you’ll find links to all the other 11 months’ collections of tax advice.

Not to spoil what you’ll find in that tax advice, but it does cover such things as tax deductions for charitable donations, investment moves that could reduce tax due, and ways to max out your tax-favored retirement savings. 

Finally, as the year winds down, things get hectic. There are lots of other things to occupy our time, like the much more fun upcoming holidays. But don’t lose sight of taxes, since timing is key. To be of use, most tax moves must be made by the end of the tax year. That’s Thursday, Dec. 31, which also is the last business day of the year. 

So that you don’t miss that final tax year deadline, also keep an eye on the countdown clock below. It will keep you on top of just how much time is left to make important, tax-saving moves. (Note: I’m in the Central Time Zone, so adjust accordingly for where you live.)

Credits/Deductions
Disasters
Family
Filing and Paying Taxes
Politics/Laws
Refunds
State Taxes
Tax Brackets/Inflation
Tax Tips
Comments
Leave your comment