Entering estimated tax on a multi-state individual return in Lacerte

For more estimated tax resources, check out our Tax topics page on Estimated Tax payments where you'll find answers to the most commonly asked questions.

In this article, you can find information on how to enter each state's amounts of estimated tax when preparing a multi-state individual return for at least two different states.

Disaster area tax relief available:

Filing deadlines and estimated tax due dates may be extended for taxpayers in parts of Alabama, Alaska, California, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and IRS for taxpayers living abroad. See here for more details.

To allocate each state correctly: 

1. Go to Screen 7, 2025 Estimates (1040-ES, W-4, W-4P).
2. In General Information, under the State column, select the empty box next to the state dropdown menu.
3. In the Allocate Multi-State Amounts window, enter the payment estimates for each state in the Amount field.
4. Select the state initial from the State dropdown menu.
   • Don't enter a Source code or the amounts won't flow to the state form.
5. Select OK.

While the above steps will let the program allocate to each state correctly, you may want different amounts to be paid in each quarter than what the program calculates.

To enter the desired amount for each quarter: 

1. Go to Screen 7.1, 2025 Estimates (1040-ES, W-4, W-4P).
2. Scroll to the section Overrides.
3. In the State column, select the empty box in the middle.
4. In the Allocate Multi-State Amounts window, enter the payment estimates for each state in the Amount field.
   • Don't enter a Source code or the amounts won't flow to the state form.
5. Select OK.