The second estimated tax payment is due June 17, 2024 (or the next business day if that falls on a weekend or holiday)
If you owe federal income tax on self-employment income, investment gains, or other money not subject to withholding, the IRS expects four estimated tax payments spread across the year. The second payment covers income earned April through May. The exact due date shifts each year because the IRS aligns it with business days, but it always falls in mid-June.
You send this payment directly to the IRS using one of their approved channels — not to your bank or credit card company. The payment is separate from your regular tax return and separate from any other bills you pay. Missing the due date triggers a penalty, even if you end up overpaying when you file your full return in April.
Key Takeaways
- The second estimated tax payment is due in mid-June each year; check IRS.gov for the exact date because it shifts based on weekends and holidays.
- You owe this payment only if you expect to owe $1,000 or more in federal income tax after accounting for any withholding from wages or other sources.
- Send the payment directly to the IRS through their website, by phone, by mail, or through an approved payment processor — not through your bank's bill pay.
- Paying late triggers a penalty and interest charge, even if you overpaid overall when you file your return in April of the following year.
- If you cannot pay the full amount by the due date, sending any payment before the deadline reduces the penalty on the unpaid balance.
Who actually owes the second estimated payment
You owe estimated tax payments if your income is not subject to withholding — that is, if no employer or payer is automatically removing tax from your paychecks. This includes self-employed people, freelancers, gig workers, investors, and anyone with rental income or business profit.
You also owe estimated payments if your withholding is too low. For example, if you have a W-2 job but also run a side business, your employer withholds tax only on your W-2 wages. The IRS expects you to cover the tax on your business income through estimated payments.
The IRS does not require estimated payments if you expect to owe less than $1,000 in federal income tax for the year. If you are unsure whether you cross that threshold, use Form 1040-ES (the estimated tax worksheet) to calculate what you owe.
How to send your payment to the IRS
The IRS offers four ways to send your second estimated payment. Each method is equally valid; choose whichever fits your routine.
Online through IRS Direct Pay is free and the fastest route. Go to IRS.gov, select "Pay Now," then "IRS Direct Pay," and follow the prompts. You enter your Social Security number or EIN, the tax year, and the payment amount. The money moves from your bank account to the IRS, and you receive a confirmation number immediately. The payment posts within one business day.
By phone through EFTPS (Electronic Federal Tax Payment System) is also free. Call 1-800-555-4477, enter your information, and authorize the payment. You must enroll in EFTPS at least one business day before you want to pay, so this works if you are a repeat user.
By mail takes longer but requires no account. Print Form 1040-ES, include a check or money order, and mail it to the IRS address listed in the form instructions (the address varies by state). Mail your payment at least one week before the due date to account for postal delays. The IRS considers the payment on time if the postmark date is on or before the due date, not the arrival date.
Through a third-party payment processor (such as PayPal, Square Cash, or your bank's bill pay service) is possible but often carries a fee. If you use this route, confirm that the processor sends the payment to the IRS, not to a tax preparation company. Some processors label estimated tax payments as "tax payments" but route them incorrectly.
What happens if you miss the June deadline
Paying after the due date triggers two separate charges: a failure-to-pay penalty and interest. The penalty is 0.5% of the unpaid tax per month (or part of a month) that the payment is late. Interest compounds daily and changes quarterly; the current rate is set by the IRS each quarter.
These charges accumulate even if you end up overpaying when you file your full return in April. For example, if you owe $4,000 in estimated tax for the year and pay only $3,000 by the June deadline, you owe a penalty and interest on the $1,000 shortfall. When you file your return and discover you actually owed only $3,500 total, the IRS refunds the $500 overpayment but does not refund the penalty and interest on the late $1,000.
If you cannot pay the full amount by June 17, send whatever you can. Paying even a partial amount before the deadline reduces the penalty on the unpaid balance. A $1,000 late payment is better than a $4,000 late payment.
Adjusting your payment if your income changes
Estimated tax payments are based on your income projection for the year. If your income drops sharply after you make the first or second payment, you can recalculate and pay less for the remaining quarters. Use Form 1040-ES to work out a new estimate based on your actual income through June.
If you overpay across all four quarters, you do not lose the money. When you file your return in April, the IRS credits the overpayment toward your next year's tax or refunds it to you, depending on what you request on your return.
If your income is highly seasonal or unpredictable, the IRS allows you to use the annualized installment method on Form 2210. This method lets you pay more in quarters when you earn more and less in quarters when you earn less, rather than paying the same amount each quarter. This approach requires more calculation but can reduce or eliminate penalties if your income is uneven.
Tracking your payment and getting proof
Keep the confirmation number or receipt from whichever method you use. If you pay online through IRS Direct Pay, the confirmation number appears on screen and in your email. If you pay by phone through EFTPS, you receive a confirmation number during the call. If you mail a check, keep a copy of the front and back of the cancelled check or a bank statement showing the payment.
You do not need to attach proof of payment to your tax return. The IRS has its own record of payments made through Direct Pay and EFTPS. If you mail a check, the IRS records it when it arrives. However, keeping your own copy protects you if a payment goes missing in the mail or if there is ever a dispute about whether you paid on time.
You can check the status of your payment on IRS.gov under "Where's My Payment?" This tool shows payments made through Direct Pay and EFTPS within one to two business days. Mailed payments take longer to appear in the system.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use my credit card to pay estimated tax?
No, the IRS does not accept credit cards directly. You can use a third-party payment processor that accepts credit cards, but they charge a fee (usually 1.87% to 2.35% of the payment). For a $1,000 payment, that fee is $19 to $24. Direct Pay and EFTPS are free and pull money from your bank account instead.
What if June 17 falls on a weekend?
The IRS moves the due date to the next business day. If June 17 is a Saturday, the due date becomes Monday, June 19. If it is a Sunday, the due date becomes Monday, June 18. Check IRS.gov each year for the exact date because it varies.
Do I have to make all four estimated payments, or can I pay twice a year?
The IRS expects four payments spread across the year. If you pay only twice (for example, in June and December), you owe a penalty on the underpayment for the months when you did not pay, even if you catch up later. Stick to the four-payment schedule to avoid penalties.
What if I did not know I owed estimated tax until after June 17?
Pay as soon as you realize you owe. The penalty starts from the due date, not from when you discover the obligation. Paying late is better than not paying at all, because the penalty is smaller the sooner you pay.
Can the IRS take my payment if I owe back taxes from a previous year?
Yes. If you owe back taxes, the IRS may apply your estimated tax payment to that older debt instead of crediting it to the current year. Contact the IRS before you pay if you know you have an outstanding balance from a prior year.