Common questions about Form 1040-ES and estimated payment vouchers in ProSeries

Below are solutions to frequently asked questions about the Individual Estimated Tax Worksheet and 1040-ES Vouchers, and e-filing estimates in ProSeries.

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How do I set up electronic funds withdrawal of estimated tax?

When you file Form 1040 electronically, you may schedule up to 4 installments of estimated tax to be paid by electronic funds withdrawal in ProSeries. Keep in mind that the IRS doesn't allow electronic funds withdrawal of estimated tax payments to be sent with Form 4868.

Use the Estimated Tax Worksheet to calculate your estimated tax for the next tax year and set up the electronic withdrawal of estimated tax payments.

Follow these steps to set up the electronic funds withdrawal of estimated tax:

1. Go to the Federal Information Worksheet.
2. Scroll down to Part VI - Electronic Filing of Tax Return Information.
3. Mark the File federal return electronically checkbox.
4. Scroll down to Part VIII - Direct Deposit and Refund Disbursement Options.
5. Under the Direct Deposit section, complete the banking information:
   • Account type
   • Routing number
   • Account number

6. Scroll down to Part IX - Electronic Funds Withdrawal Options.
7. Click the QuickZoom to estimated tax worksheet to schedule electronic payment of estimated tax installment (EF only).
8. On the Electronic Funds Withdrawal of Estimated Tax Smart Worksheet (Electronic Filing Only), check the applicable boxes for the quarterly estimated tax payments that you want to make electronically. 
   • The IRS will reject the estimated tax payment if the due date for any installment to be paid electronically has passed.
   • If an Amount  is 0, that estimated payment(s) will not be set up for automatic withdrawal. 
   • All Amounts will display 0 when:
     • Form 1040-ES, Part I, box 3d is checked.
     • Form 1040-ES, Part III, box 2b is checked.

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How else can the client pay estimated tax payments?

The client can also pay estimated tax payments electronically through the IRS Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS).

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How do I prepare estimated tax payment vouchers?

Before preparing estimates, keep in mind that the Estimated Tax Worksheet will only compute estimates for basic tax scenarios. If more complex scenarios apply, you should use the Tax Planner to compute Estimated Tax Vouchers.

Follow these steps to prepare estimated tax payments for a federal or state return:

1. Open the client return.
2. Press F6 to bring up Open Forms.
3. Type ESW to highlight the 1040 ES Worksheet (for federal), or Estimated Wks (for states).
4. Select OK to open the worksheets.
5. Complete Part I - 2024Estimated Tax Amount Options:
   • Select estimated tax calculation option.
   • Select the estimated tax amount.
   • Select the estimated tax payment option.
6. Complete Part II - Overpayment Application Options:
   • Select the applying overpayment options.
   • Select the applying overpayment sequence.
7. Complete Part III - Rounding and Printing Options:
   • Select rounding options.
   • Select voucher printing options.

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How do I print a blank 1040-ES tax voucher?

1. Open the return.
2. Press F6 to bring up Open Forms.
3. Type ESW to highlight the 1040 ES Worksheet (for federal), or Estimated Wks (for states).
4. Select OK to open the worksheets.
5. Locate Part I - 2023 Estimated Tax Amount Options.
6. Check the box on line 3(d) labeled Do not calculate estimates.
   • Now you can go to each 1040-ES and print the voucher you want without the amount to pay showing.
   • Checking the box on line 3(c) labeled Calculate estimates regardless of amount will populate the taxpayer name and place a zero amount due.

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Why is the Taxpayer/Spouse Name, SSN and Mailing Address missing from Form 1040ES?

The Form 1040ES, Individual Estimated Tax Voucher, is blank due to the input on the Estimated Tax Worksheet. Check these areas of the Estimated Tax Worksheet:

• If Part I, box 1f is checked, enter the total amount you want to use for estimates.
• Confirm that line 3d Do not calculate estimates isn't checked.
• Confirm that Part III - Rounding and Printing Options, line 2(c) Do not print vouchers isn't marked.
• The vouchers may be be blank if the taxpayer isn't required to make estimated payments.  
• The vouchers will be blank for a single taxpayer who died during the year.

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How do I calculate and keep track of the estimated tax payments being sent for the current tax year?

Use the 1040-ES Estimated Tax Worksheet to calculate your client's current-year estimated tax payments, and to prepare their Form 1040-ES vouchers. The estimated tax amounts shown on line 6, Voucher amounts of Part IV - Estimated Tax Payment Summary will transfer to vouchers 1 through 4.

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How do I change the voucher amounts to most of the estimated tax in the first quarter?

When you change an Estimated Tax Voucher, you can change the payment amount—but not the required payment.

To change the voucher amount:

1. Open the applicable 1040 return.
2. Press F6 to bring up Open Forms.
3. Type ESW to highlight the 1040 ES Worksheet.
4. Select OK to open the worksheets.
5. Scroll down to Part IV, line 6.
6. Change the voucher amount:
   • On line 6, you'll see a figure in blue for each Quarter. Line 6 is what will print on the vouchers. To change this simply type in the new figures you want.
   • If you're trying to enter a zero dollar figure, enter 0 on the line. If you leave the line blank, it'll pull in the original number again.

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Where do I enter federal and state estimated payments made for the current tax year?

Estimated payments made for the current tax year may be entered on the Tax Payments Worksheet.

Follow these steps to open the Tax Payments Worksheet:

1. Press F6 to bring up Open Forms.
2. Type PAY to highlight the Tax Payments.
3. Select OK to open the Tax Payments Worksheet

On the Tax Payments Worksheet:

• Estimated payments can be entered under the Federal, State, and Local columns.
• ProSeries automatically generates the due dates for each of the quarterly payments.
• These dates may be changed if the payment was made on a day other than the quarterly due date.
• Additional payments made during the year can be entered on line 5 of the worksheet.

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Tax Year 2023 Filing Due Dates and Estimated Payments:

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Related topics

• Using the Tax Planner Worksheet in ProSeries (to create estimated vouchers)
• Can I cancel or change an electronic funds withdrawal payment after the return is sent?