When and How Do I Actually Pay Quarterly Taxes?
You don't mail the IRS one check in April. You pay in four times a year — and it's easier and faster than most artists expect.
Quarterly estimated taxes are due four times a year — roughly April, June, September, and the following January. The easiest way to pay is online, directly to the IRS, in a couple of minutes — no forms in the mail.
The four due dates
The "quarters" aren't even three-month blocks — the calendar is a little lopsided, which trips people up. Here's the shape of the year:
If a due date falls on a weekend or holiday, it generally rolls to the next business day. Dates can shift slightly year to year, so confirm the current year's schedule on IRS.gov.
How to actually send it
- IRS Direct Pay. Free, online, straight from your bank account — the simplest option for most artists. No account to create.
- EFTPS. The government's free electronic payment system; good if you want to schedule payments ahead of time.
- Card or digital wallet. Works, but third-party processors usually add a fee.
- By mail. A paper voucher (Form 1040-ES) with a check still works if you prefer old-school.
Whichever you pick, choose "estimated tax" and the correct tax year when prompted, so it lands in the right bucket.
The move that makes it painless
Set four calendar reminders a few days before each date. When the reminder hits, pay from the separate tax account you've been feeding all along — the money's already sitting there, so you're just transferring the government's money back to the government. Keep the confirmation number for each payment; that's your receipt at filing time.
This is general education, not tax advice — Done Deal Digital isn't a CPA firm. Your exact situation depends on your income, your state, and your write-offs. For a real answer on your numbers, work it out with a qualified CPA.
That's the short version
Get the whole playbook — not just the taste
The full chapter in Don't Get the Surprise Bill walks you click-by-click through paying online, shows you how to split your year’s number across the four dates, and gives you the reminder-and-receipt system so you never miss a payment or lose a confirmation.
Get the Guide — $39 →Or get all seven tax guides in one — The Complete Tax & Money Guide, $99 →