The 2026 estimated tax deadlines are April 15, 2026, June 15, 2026, September 15, 2026, and January 15, 2027. The "quarters" are not what most people expect. They cover 3, 2, 3, and 4 months. Here is what each payment covers and what actually happens if you miss one.
The 2026 deadlines
| Payment | Income earned | Due date |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 | January 1 to March 31 | April 15, 2026 |
| Q2 | April 1 to May 31 | June 15, 2026 |
| Q3 | June 1 to August 31 | September 15, 2026 |
| Q4 | September 1 to December 31 | January 15, 2027 |
Notice the uneven rhythm. Q2 covers only two months, so it arrives fast after Q1, and Q4 is due in January of the following year. When a deadline lands on a weekend or legal holiday, the IRS moves it to the next business day, and the dates above already reflect the published calendar.
What happens if you miss one
There is no late-filing form and no fixed fine. Instead, the IRS charges interest on the amount you should have paid, from the missed deadline until the day you actually pay it. It works like interest on a loan you did not ask for, and it keeps running even if you pay everything in April.
The practical advice is to pay as soon as you notice, because the interest accrues daily. And a missed quarter does not carry into the next one. Each installment is judged separately. The full mechanics are in our guide to the underpayment penalty, and the what-now steps are in what happens if I missed a quarterly payment.
How to actually pay
- IRS Direct Pay (free): pay from your bank account at irs.gov/payments. Choose "Estimated tax" as the reason.
- Your IRS online account: pay and see your full payment history in one place, which helps at filing time.
- EFTPS: the Treasury's system, useful if you also make business tax deposits.
- Check with a 1040-ES voucher: still accepted, postmark date counts.
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Source: IRS Form 1040-ES