Tax Year 2026 — Q1 Notice

Financial planner reviewing tax documents and charts at a professional desk

Payment Deadline: April 15, 2026

Your Q1 2026 Estimated Tax Payment Is Due

Dear Alex Johnson,

This is an important notice from TaxWise Financial Services regarding your first-quarter estimated tax obligation for the 2026 tax year. The Internal Revenue Service requires self-employed individuals, freelancers, independent contractors, and taxpayers with income not subject to withholding to make quarterly estimated tax payments throughout the year.

Your Q1 estimated tax payment covers income earned from January 1, 2026 through March 31, 2026. Failure to pay by the April 15, 2026 deadline may result in underpayment penalties assessed by the IRS. Please review the details below carefully and take action before the deadline.

Your Estimated Amount Due

Q1 Federal Estimated Tax

$3,240.00

Q1 State Estimated Tax (CA)

$810.00

Self-Employment Tax (SE)

$920.00

Total Q1 Payment Due

$4,970.00

Account Reference: TW-2026-AJ-00847 — Tax Year 2026, Quarter 1. This estimate is based on your 2025 tax return and projected 2026 income. Amounts shown are estimates and may differ from your final tax liability.

How Your Payment Was Calculated

Your Q1 estimated tax payment is calculated using the IRS safe harbor method, which bases your current-year payments on 110% of your prior-year tax liability. This approach protects you from underpayment penalties even if your 2026 income turns out to be higher than expected.

The figures below reflect the key inputs used to arrive at your quarterly estimate. If your income or deductions have changed significantly since filing your 2025 return, we recommend contacting your tax advisor to adjust your quarterly payments accordingly.

2025 Adjusted Gross Income (AGI)

$142,500.00

2025 Total Federal Tax Liability

$29,680.00

Safe Harbor Multiplier (110%)

x 1.10

Annual Safe Harbor Target

$32,648.00

Quarterly Payment (divided by 4)

$8,162.00

Note: State and self-employment tax components are calculated separately based on California FTB requirements and IRS Schedule SE guidelines. Your effective federal tax rate used for this estimate is 22.3%.

Payment Options

The IRS and California FTB offer several methods to submit your estimated tax payment. Choose the option that works best for you. All payments must be received or postmarked by April 15, 2026 to avoid late penalties.

Option 1: Online Bank Transfer (ACH / Direct Pay)

Pay directly from your checking or savings account through the IRS Direct Pay portal at irs.gov/directpay or the California FTB Web Pay system. No registration required. Processing is immediate and there are no transaction fees. This is the fastest and most reliable method.

Option 2: Credit or Debit Card

Pay using a Visa, Mastercard, American Express, or Discover card through an IRS-authorized payment processor such as PayUSAtax, Pay1040, or ACI Payments. Please note that a convenience fee of approximately 1.85% to 1.98% of the payment amount will be charged by the processor. This fee is not refundable and is not paid to the IRS.

Option 3: Check or Money Order by Mail

Make your check or money order payable to the United States Treasury. Write your Social Security Number, the tax year (2026), and the notation "1040-ES Q1" in the memo line. Mail your payment with the enclosed Form 1040-ES payment voucher. Allow 7 to 10 business days for postal delivery and ensure your envelope is postmarked no later than April 15, 2026.

Mailing Address for Check Payments

If you choose to pay by check or money order, please mail your payment to the appropriate IRS processing center based on your state of residence. Since your account is registered in California, please use the following address:

Federal — IRS Mailing Address

Internal Revenue Service

P.O. Box 510000

San Francisco, CA 94151-5100

State — California FTB Mailing Address

Franchise Tax Board

P.O. Box 942867

Sacramento, CA 94267-0008

Do not send both federal and state payments in the same envelope. Each payment must be mailed separately with its corresponding voucher. Retain your postal receipt as proof of timely mailing.

Late Payment Penalties

If you do not pay your Q1 estimated taxes by April 15, 2026, the IRS will assess an underpayment penalty. This penalty is calculated based on the amount underpaid, the period during which the underpayment existed, and the current IRS underpayment interest rate, which is set quarterly.

For 2026, the IRS underpayment penalty rate is the federal short-term rate plus 3 percentage points, currently totaling approximately 7% per annum. The penalty accrues from the due date of each quarterly payment until the date the underpayment is satisfied.

Estimated Penalty If Payment Is Late

30 Days Late

approx. $28.70

60 Days Late

approx. $57.40

90 Days Late

approx. $86.10

Penalty estimates above are illustrative and based on the $4,970.00 Q1 federal tax amount at 7% per annum. Actual penalties may vary. California FTB assesses a separate underpayment penalty at 5% per annum on any underpaid state amounts.

Ready to Submit Your Payment?

Use one of the options below to complete your Q1 estimated tax payment before the April 15, 2026 deadline. If you have questions about your amount due or need to adjust your estimate, contact your TaxWise advisor directly.

Pay Online Now

Download Voucher

Payments processed through the TaxWise portal are transmitted securely via 256-bit SSL encryption. Your payment data is never stored on our servers.

Additional Resources

IRS Form 1040-ES Guide

Download the official IRS estimated tax worksheet and instructions for 2026.

View on IRS.gov

2026 Tax Calendar

View all four quarterly estimated tax deadlines and important filing dates for 2026.

View Tax Calendar

Adjust Your Withholding

If your income has changed, use our calculator to update your quarterly estimates for Q2 through Q4.

Open Calculator

Speak With an Advisor

Have questions about your tax situation? Schedule a call with your dedicated TaxWise advisor.

Schedule a Call

TaxWise Financial Services LLC — 888 Market Street, Suite 1200, San Francisco, CA 94102

Phone: (415) 555-0182 — Email: support@taxwise.example.com — Hours: Mon–Fri, 8am–6pm PT

This communication is sent to Alex Johnson (alex.johnson@example.com) as part of your TaxWise account notification service. TaxWise Financial Services LLC is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. The information in this email is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute tax advice. Please consult a qualified tax professional for advice specific to your situation. Copyright 2026 TaxWise Financial Services LLC. All rights reserved.

Q1 Tax Estimated Payment Due – Reminder