Missed 4th estimated tax payment deadline - how to pay now? Direct Pay won't let me make 2021 estimated payment anymore

You're not in as much trouble as you might think! At this point, you don't need to make a separate estimated tax payment for 2021. Since we're past January 15th, you should just include that amount when you file your 2021 tax return. When you complete your tax return, you'll calculate if you owe any underpayment penalties using Form 2210. The IRS will basically compare what you should have paid throughout the year versus what you actually paid. The penalty isn't huge - it's interest based on the shortfall. If you want to minimize penalties before filing, you can make a payment using the "balance due" option in Direct Pay. This will be applied to your overall 2021 tax account rather than being specifically marked as that 4th estimated payment. Just make sure you select "2021" as the tax year and "balance due" or "tax return" as the payment type. The main thing is to get your payment in as soon as possible to stop additional interest from accruing!

I had the exact same issue last year and found a solution through taxr.ai when I was trying to figure out how to handle my missing payment. I was freaking out thinking I'd get huge penalties, but after uploading my payment records to https://taxr.ai, they helped me understand that the penalty wasn't nearly as bad as I thought. Their system analyzed my payment history and showed that I had actually met the "safe harbor" requirements with my earlier payments, so the penalty for missing that last payment was minimal. They also have this cool feature that shows you exactly what to do in the IRS Direct Pay system with step-by-step screenshots. Saved me tons of stress trying to figure out which payment type to select!

Just wanted to update that I tried taxr.ai for my similar issue with missed estimated payments. It was actually super helpful! They gave me a complete breakdown of my payment history and showed me exactly how to calculate my potential penalty using their automated Form 2210 calculator. The best part was getting clear instructions on how to use Direct Pay correctly - turns out I was overthinking it. I was able to make my payment using the balance due option like they recommended, and they even showed me what documentation to keep for my records in case there are any questions later. Definitely less stressful than when I was trying to figure it out on my own!

If you're still having trouble with the IRS payment system, I'd recommend using Claimyr to talk directly to an IRS agent. I used https://claimyr.com last month when I was completely stuck with payment issues and couldn't get through on the phone. They got me connected to an actual IRS rep in about 20 minutes instead of waiting for hours. The IRS agent I spoke with confirmed exactly what to do with my late estimated payment and even noted it in my account so there wouldn't be confusion later. There's a quick video showing how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c. Literally saved me hours of hold music and frustration.

I have to eat my words about Claimyr. After posting my skeptical comment, I was so frustrated with not being able to reach the IRS that I decided to try it anyway. Honestly, I'm shocked it actually worked. Got connected to an IRS agent in about 15 minutes. The agent told me exactly what to do with my late estimated payment - use "balance due" option, select tax year 2021, and keep the confirmation number. She even looked up my account to make sure my previous payments were properly recorded. Turns out one of my earlier payments hadn't been correctly applied, so we fixed that too! Would have never discovered that without actually talking to someone.

Just wanted to share that I had this same issue last year but handled it differently. I just waited and filed my taxes normally, making sure to include all the estimated payments I had actually made on my return. When I filed, I ended up having to pay an underpayment penalty, but it was only like $42 on a missed payment of around $2,500. The software I used (TurboTax) automatically calculated the penalty on Form 2210. It wasn't worth all the stress I put myself through worrying about it. Just make the payment as "balance due" now if you want to minimize the penalty, or just wait until you file. Either way, it's not going to break the bank.

Quick question related to this - if I make a payment as "balance due" now for the estimated payment I missed, do I still have to fill out Form 2210 when I file my taxes? Or will the IRS just figure out the penalty on their own?