Do I just mail the 1041-ES payment vouchers with a check OR do I need to mail the whole file with tax computation worksheets?

You only need to mail the small 1041-ES payment voucher with your check. The payment vouchers are designed to be separated from the worksheet portion specifically for this purpose. The worksheets are for your records - they help you calculate the correct amount, but the IRS doesn't need to see your calculations. Just keep those worksheets with your tax records in case there are any questions later. Make sure you write the EIN for the trust/estate on the check along with "2025 Form 1041-ES" in the memo line. Also verify you're sending it to the correct IRS address for your location - the addresses are listed in the 1041-ES instructions.

Last year I was in the same situation with my father's estate and was totally confused about those 1041-ES forms. I tried calling the IRS multiple times but couldn't get through to anyone who could help. Super frustrating! Then I found this service called taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) that saved me so much hassle. I uploaded all the 1041-ES forms, and within minutes they analyzed everything and gave me clear instructions for what to mail. Turns out you only need to send the payment voucher with the check, but it walked me through exactly how to fill it out correctly. They even caught a calculation error I had made on my worksheet that would have resulted in an underpayment penalty!

Just wanted to follow up - I tried taxr.ai for my grandparents' trust tax questions and it was incredibly helpful! I uploaded the 1041-ES forms and my calculation worksheets, and it immediately explained that I only needed to mail the voucher portion with my check. It also pointed out that I'd calculated the estimated tax using the wrong tax rate schedule! The service even generated a custom checklist for me with all the quarterly due dates for the trust payments and reminded me about the special January deadline that's different from individual estimated taxes. Honestly wish I'd found this earlier - would have saved me hours of confusion trying to decipher the IRS instructions!

If you're having trouble getting information about your 1041-ES filing requirements, you might want to try Claimyr (https://claimyr.com). I was in a similar situation with a family trust and had questions about whether I needed to include the worksheets with my payment. After waiting on hold with the IRS for over an hour twice and getting disconnected, I was ready to pull my hair out. I found Claimyr and they got me connected to an actual IRS representative in about 15 minutes. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c. The agent confirmed that I only needed to send the voucher with my check and explained exactly how to fill it out properly. Saved me so much time and stress!

I need to eat my words about Claimyr. After my skeptical comment, I was still desperate to talk to someone at the IRS about my trust's estimated payments, so I tried it anyway. Honestly shocked that it actually worked! Got connected to an IRS rep in about 20 minutes (which is LIGHT YEARS faster than my previous attempts). The agent confirmed I only need to mail the voucher with the check, not the worksheets. They also explained that I had been using the wrong payment address - apparently trusts have different mailing addresses than individuals in some states. Would have never known that otherwise. Definitely worth it just for the peace of mind knowing I'm doing it right. Never thought I'd be saying this, but thanks for the recommendation!

Just a tip from someone who's been filing these for years - make sure you write the EIN clearly on both the voucher AND the check, and include the tax year and "Form 1041-ES" on the memo line of the check. I learned this the hard way when one of my payments got misapplied to the wrong account and it was a nightmare to fix. Also, if the trust/estate has a name that's different from what's on the EIN registration, include both. Better to provide too much info than not enough!

Has anyone used the IRS's Direct Pay system for 1041-ES payments? The instructions seem to indicate you can pay online but when I tried to set it up, the system kept asking for an SSN rather than an EIN and I couldn't proceed.

Thank you everyone for all the helpful advice! This thread has been incredibly reassuring. I was definitely overthinking this - sounds like I just need to send the payment voucher with my check and keep the worksheets for my records. @Mohamed Anderson - your tip about writing the EIN clearly on both the voucher AND the check is exactly the kind of detail I needed to know. I'll make sure to include the tax year and "Form 1041-ES" in the memo line too. I'm also going to look into setting up EFTPS for future payments since it sounds like that might be easier than mailing checks every quarter. Better to get that set up now rather than scrambling before the next due date. Really appreciate everyone taking the time to share their experiences - being a first-time trustee is stressful enough without worrying about messing up the tax payments!

I went through this exact same situation last year when I became trustee for my grandmother's estate. The confusion is totally understandable - the IRS instructions for 1041-ES aren't the clearest! To confirm what others have said: you only mail the payment voucher (the detachable portion) with your check. Keep all the worksheets and calculations for your own records. The worksheets are just to help you figure out the right payment amount, but the IRS doesn't need to see your work. A few additional tips from my experience: - Make copies of everything before you mail it - Send it certified mail so you have proof it was delivered - Double-check the mailing address in the 1041-ES instructions - it varies by state and sometimes by the type of entity - If you're late on this first payment, don't panic. You can include the penalty when you file the final 1041 return The hardest part is that first payment when everything feels uncertain. After that, you'll have the routine down and it becomes much more manageable. Good luck with the estate administration!

Just wanted to add one more thing that might help - if you're ever unsure about whether your payment was processed correctly, you can call the IRS at 1-800-829-0115 and they can confirm receipt of your estimated payment. Have your EIN and the payment date ready when you call. I had a situation where I wasn't sure if my check had been cashed (it took almost 6 weeks to clear), and calling to confirm gave me peace of mind that the payment was properly credited to the trust's account. They can also tell you your current balance and any upcoming payment due dates. Also, keep in mind that if the estate closes before all four quarterly payments are made, you'll need to make a final estimated payment when you file the final 1041 return. The IRS doesn't automatically know when an estate is closed, so you're responsible for making sure all the tax obligations are met through the closing date. Hope this helps ease some of the anxiety around your first trustee experience!