Your individual tax return and your first quarter estimated tax payment are both due on Wednesday, April 15, 2026. The April 15 deadline is a good time to review your tax position and make sure you are paying enough throughout the year.

What is due on the April 15 deadline?

You are required to withhold or prepay enough tax during the 2026 tax year. In general, that means paying at least one of these amounts:

• 90% of your 2025 total tax bill
• 100% of your 2026 federal tax bill
• If your income is more than $150,000, or $75,000 if married filing separately, you must pay 110% of your 2025 tax obligation to avoid an underpayment penalty on your 2026 tax return

A quick review of your 2025 tax return, along with a projection of your 2026 tax obligation, can help you decide whether you need to make a quarterly payment in addition to what is already being withheld from your paychecks.

What should I consider before paying the estimated tax?

• Underpayment penalty. If you do not have proper tax withholdings throughout the year, you could be subject to an underpayment penalty. A quick payment at the end of the year may not be enough to avoid the penalty.
• W-2 withholdings. A W-2 withholding payment can be made at any time during the year and be treated as if it were made throughout the year. If you do not have enough to pay the estimated quarterly payment now, you may be able to adjust your W-2 wage withholdings to make up the difference.
• Self-employment taxes. In addition to paying income taxes, self-employed workers must also pay Social Security and Medicare taxes. Creating and funding a savings account for this purpose can help avoid the cash flow hit each quarter to pay your estimated taxes.
• Your refund. An alternative way to pay your first quarter estimated tax is to apply some or all of your tax refund.
• Paying more in the first quarter. By paying a little more than necessary in the first quarter, you can be in a position to adjust future estimated tax payments downward later this year if your tax obligation trends lower than you originally thought.

Do I need to make a quarterly payment?

Take a quick look at your tax return to see the amount of tax you paid last year. Then:

1. Divide that amount by the number of paychecks you receive each year
2. Compare that number to your most recent paycheck
3. Check whether enough is being withheld from each paycheck

Talk to your employer if you decide you need to adjust your withholdings to cover next year’s tax bill. Contact our RRBB advisors if you have any questions or need assistance.