Transmitting electronic payments for California corporate and S-corporate estimated tax in ProConnect Tax

Starting in tax year 2018, California corporate and S-corporate Estimated Tax Payments can be transmitted electronically. This means that CA estimated payments will no longer be transmitted with the filing of the tax return for these filing types.

When California estimates are generated, the following critical diagnostics will appear:

• Corporate e-file: 100-ES estimated tax payments are not transmitted with the return.  The Estimated Payments Wizard must be used to e-file a single quarterly estimated payment at a time or multiple quarterly estimated payments simultaneously.  Select the box on Screen 4, Code 768 and use the Estimated Payments Wizard to e-file a single quarterly estimated payment or multiple quarterly estimated payments simultaneously. (ref. #50640)
• S-Corporate e-file: 100-ES estimated tax payments are not transmitted with the return.  The Estimated Payments Wizard must be used to e-file a single quarterly estimated payment at a time or multiple quarterly estimated payments simultaneously.  Select the box on Screen 3, Code 268 and use the Estimated Payments Wizard to e-file a single quarterly estimated payment or multiple quarterly estimated payments simultaneously. (ref. #50819)

If you receive an error message along the lines of You currently don't have permissions to [action]. Contact your firm's Admin for authorization either when trying to create new returns or when e-file roles have changed for tax year 2023, see here for how your firm Admin can resolve it.

How do I transmit CA estimated tax payments?

Corporate & S-Corporate Returns:

1. Go to the Profile tab.
2. Locate the section ESTIMATED PAYMENTS.
3. Select each applicable California Estimated Payment Quarter for E-File by checking the box.
4. To override the payment date which defaults to the due date, use the following input fields:
   1. From the Input Return tab, go to General ⮕ Miscellaneous Information.
   2. Go to the CA tab towards the top of the screen.
   3. Scroll down to 2023 Estimated Tax.
      • 1st quarter payment date [Override]
      • 2nd quarter payment date [Override]
      • 3rd quarter payment date [Override]
      • 4th quarter payment date [Override]

This will clear California Critical E-file Diagnostic Ref. #50640.