When Are Quarterly Taxes Due for My LLC?

For most LLC owners, quarterly estimated tax payments are due April 15, June 15, September 15, and January 15. You need to make these payments if you expect to owe at least $1,000 in federal taxes for the year. Unlike employees, LLC owners don't have an employer withholding taxes on their behalf — that responsibility falls on you.

The IRS sets 4 estimated tax payment deadlines each year for calendar-year taxpayers. The due dates are April 15, June 15, September 15, and January 15 of the following year. These apply to LLC owners taxed as sole proprietors or partnerships — which covers most single-member and multi-member LLCs.

One thing that catches people off guard: the April 15 estimated tax deadline is separate from the April 15 deadline to file your annual individual tax return. They fall on the same date, but they're two different obligations. The April 15 estimated payment covers income earned in the first quarter of the current tax year — not the prior year's return.

If a due date falls on a weekend or federal holiday, the payment is due on the next business day. No penalties or interest accrue if you pay by that adjusted date.

• April 15 — covers income earned January 1 through March 31
• June 15 — covers income earned April 1 through May 31
• September 15 — covers income earned June 1 through August 31
• January 15 (following year) — covers income earned September 1 through December 31

It depends on how your LLC is taxed and how much you expect to owe. Most LLC owners do need to pay quarterly estimated taxes, but the rule isn't automatic — it's triggered by a threshold. If you expect to owe at least $1,000 in federal taxes for the year after subtracting any withholding and credits, you're required to make estimated payments.

Single-member LLC

A single-member LLC is taxed as a sole proprietorship by default. The LLC itself doesn't pay income tax — the income passes through to your personal return. You pay estimated taxes as an individual using Form 1040-ES, on the 4 standard quarterly due dates.

Multi-member LLC

A multi-member LLC is taxed as a partnership by default. Each member pays estimated taxes on their share of the LLC's income. The LLC files an informational return (Form 1065), but each member handles their own estimated payments using Form 1040-ES.

LLC taxed as an S Corporation

If your LLC elected S Corporation status, you're required to pay yourself a reasonable salary as a W-2 employee. Payroll taxes are withheld from that salary. You may still owe estimated taxes on any additional pass-through income beyond your salary — a tax professional can help you figure out the right amount.

There's no single percentage that works for every LLC owner — your tax liability depends on your total income, deductions, filing status, and the state you live in. That said, the IRS gives you a practical way to avoid underpayment penalties: pay at least 90% of what you owe for the current year, or 100% of what you owed last year (110% if your prior-year adjusted gross income exceeded $150,000).

For a rough working estimate, many self-employed business owners set aside somewhere between 25% and 35% of net business income to cover federal income tax and self-employment tax combined. Self-employment tax alone is 15.3% on net earnings up to the Social Security wage base. The right number for your situation depends on your deductions and your state's income tax rate — a tax professional can help you figure out a more precise target.

Using Form 1040-ES to calculate your estimated payments is the most reliable approach. The worksheet in the form walks you through your expected income, deductions, and credits to arrive at a payment amount for each quarter.

You have several options for making estimated tax payments to the IRS. The fastest is IRS Direct Pay at irs.gov/payments, which lets you pay directly from a bank account at no cost. You can also use the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS), which requires a one-time enrollment but gives you a full payment history and scheduling options.

If you prefer to pay by mail, use the payment vouchers included with Form 1040-ES. Make your check payable to "United States Treasury" and include your Social Security number, the tax year, and "1040-ES" in the memo line.

Most LLC owners find it easier to schedule all 4 payments at the start of the year through EFTPS so the deadlines don't sneak up on them. It's one of those small habits that saves a lot of scrambling later.

Missing a quarterly estimated tax payment doesn't mean you'll owe a large penalty — but it does mean you'll owe interest on the underpaid amount. The IRS charges an underpayment penalty calculated as a percentage of what you should have paid, applied from the due date through the date you actually pay.

You can avoid the penalty entirely if you meet one of the IRS safe harbor rules: pay at least 90% of your current-year tax liability, or pay 100% of what you owed last year (110% if your prior-year adjusted gross income was above $150,000). If you missed a payment, make it as soon as possible — the penalty accrues daily, so catching up early limits the damage.