If you don’t pay enough tax through withholding and estimated tax payments, you may be charged a penalty. You also may be charged a penalty if your estimated tax payments are late, even if you are due a refund when you file your tax return.

What if I overestimate my quarterly taxes?

If you underpay your estimated tax, you will have to write a bigger check to the IRS when you file your tax return, as well as pay penalty for underpayment. If you overpay your estimated tax, you will receive the excess amount as a tax refund (similar to how withholding tax on a paycheck works).

If at filing time, you have not paid enough income taxes through withholding or quarterly estimated payments, you may have to pay a penalty for underpayment. To determine whether you need to make quarterly estimates, answer these questions:

How are you taxed on the sale of land?

As with the sale of stocks or other financial investments, land can be taxed at either short-term or long-term rates, with long-term rates being more favorable. As of 2013, your income plays a role in determining your tax rate, with higher-income taxpayers more susceptible to a higher tax rate. Determine the holding period for your land.

When to pay 90 percent of your estimated tax bill?

If you expect your income this year to be less than last year and you don’t want to pay more taxes than you think you will owe at year end, you can choose to pay 90 percent of your estimated current year tax bill.

Do you have to pay estimated taxes every year?

If you answered “no” to all of these questions, you must make estimated tax payments using Form 1040-ES. To avoid a penalty, your total tax payments (estimated taxes plus withholding) during the year must satisfy one of the requirements we just covered.