How to prepare to pay estimated taxes
If you earn income from sources like interest, dividends, capital gains, prizes and awards, or self-employment income where taxes aren’t withheld, you may owe quarterly estimated tax payments. These payments are important to help avoid penalties for underpayment.
These payments are for each quarter of the year and are typically due on the 15th of the month after each quarter ends. You can mark your calendar accordingly:
- January 1 to March 31; due April 15
- April 1 to May 31; due June 15
- June 1 to August 31; due September 15
- September 1 to December 31; due January 15 of the following year
If these due dates fall on a weekend or federal holiday, payments are due the next business day.
Individuals generally use Form 1040-ES to calculate their estimated tax. Once you know how much you are going to owe each quarter, you can start to plan accordingly.
Looking to make sure you’re prepared for these estimated tax payments? We’re sharing some tips on how to set yourself up for success if you’re expecting to pay the same amount each quarter throughout the year.
Set aside money for IRS estimated tax payments throughout each quarter
One way to make sure you have enough money to cover your estimated tax by its due date is to take the amount you owe each quarter and divide it by 13 — the number of weeks each quarter. Focus on putting this much in a high-yield savings account or money market deposit account each week throughout the quarter.
Using a platform like Raisin, you can open no-fee accounts across a network of banks and credit unions and earn market-leading interest rates.
Your estimated tax fund will grow throughout the quarter so, if you keep making weekly deposits, not only will you have enough to cover your bill but you should have a little left over in interest earnings to either put toward next quarter’s bill or to put toward another savings goal.
To get started, select an account below, sign up in just a few minutes, and initiate your first deposit today:
Bank
Product
APY
Raisin is not an FDIC-insured bank or NCUA-insured credit union and does not hold any customer funds. FDIC deposit insurance covers the failure of an insured bank and NCUA deposit insurance coverage covers the failure of an insured credit union.
Set aside money for IRS estimated tax payments at the start of the year
Another way to prepare your IRS estimated tax payments is to store money for them in high-yield certificate of deposits, also known as CDs.
Using Raisin, you can find a CD with a term that lines up with just before each of your quarterly estimated tax payments are due. For instance, if it’s the start of the year, you’ll want to find:
- a three-month CD to align with April estimated taxes
- a six-month CD to align with June estimated taxes
- a nine-month CD to align with September estimated taxes
- a one-year CD to align with January estimated taxes
Similarly to a CD ladder, you’ll want to deposit equal amounts into each CD. Once you deposit funds, your money will grow at a fixed interest rate — allowing you to actually have extra money to pay estimated tax payments once each due date comes around.
Plus, with funds subject to early withdrawal penalties if accessed prior to maturity, you’ll still be able to access your money in case of emergency but otherwise can limit your temptation to spend it.
Then, as your CDs mature, you’ll be able to pay your estimated tax payments — plus you’ll have a little extra in interest earnings to treat yourself or put toward one of your savings goals.
On the Raisin platform, finding CDs that align with your specific timelines is simple. Best of all, there are no hidden fees.
Find the first CD that aligns with your goals in the table below, sign up for an account in as little as a few minutes, and get started today:
Bank
Product
APY
Maturity
Raisin is not an FDIC-insured bank or NCUA-insured credit union and does not hold any customer funds. FDIC deposit insurance covers the failure of an insured bank and NCUA deposit insurance coverage covers the failure of an insured credit union.
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The above article is intended to provide generalized financial information designed to educate a broad segment of the public; it does not give personalized tax, investment, legal, or other business and professional advice. Before taking any action, you should always seek the assistance of a professional who knows your particular situation for advice on taxes, your investments, the law, or any other business and professional matters that affect you and/or your business.
© 2026 Raisin SE. All rights reserved.
The Raisin name and logo are trademarks of Raisin SE. All other trademarks, logos, marks, and brand names are the property of their respective owners.
*APY means Annual Percentage Yield. APY is accurate as of April 8, 2026. Interest rate and APY may change after initial deposit depending on the terms of the specific product selected. Minimum opening deposit is $1.00.
Raisin is not an FDIC-insured bank, and FDIC deposit insurance only covers the failure of an insured bank.
Raisin is not an NCUA-insured credit union. NCUA deposit insurance only covers the failure of an insured credit union.
Raisin does not hold any customer funds. Customer funds are held in various custodial deposit accounts. Each customer authorizes the Custodial Bank to hold the customer’s funds in such accounts, in a custodial capacity, in order to effectuate the customer’s deposits to and withdrawals from the various bank and credit union products that the customer requests through Raisin.com. The Custodial Bank does not establish the terms of the bank or credit union products and provides no advice to customers about bank or credit union products offered by the applicable bank or credit union through Raisin.com. Each customer also authorizes the Service Bank to move funds among the various banks and credit unions at the customer’s request. First International Bank & Trust (FIBT), Member FDIC, is the Service Bank. Bell Bank and Starion Bank, each Member FDIC, are the Custodial Banks.
†Based on $250,000 in FDIC or NCUA insurance coverage per insurable category of ownership at each partner bank or credit union on the Raisin platform (each a "Product Bank"), when aggregated with all other deposits held by you at such Product Bank and in the same insurable category. Deposits made through Raisin will be eligible to receive deposit insurance from the FDIC or the NCUA (each a "Deposit Insurer") in accordance with and up to the maximum amount permitted by law at each Product Bank. Raisin is not a bank or credit union and does not hold any customer funds. Funds are held at FDIC-insured banks and NCUA-insured credit unions. Deposit insurance covers the failure of an insured bank or credit union. Certain conditions must be satisfied for pass through deposit insurance coverage to apply. Customers may choose to deposit funds with identically registered accounts at different Product Banks on the Raisin platform to be eligible for Deposit Insurer coverage up to $10 million for individual accounts and $20 million for joint accounts when at least 40 Product Banks are utilized. Please be aware, however, that any deposits you have at a Product Bank, whether through the Raisin platform or outside the Raisin platform, that you may hold in the same capacity (such as in an individual capacity or joint capacity) count toward the applicable Deposit Insurer's deposit insurance maximum amount, and any such amounts that you hold in the same capacity at a Product Bank that exceed the maximum insurance coverage by the applicable Deposit Insurer will not be insured. For more information on FDIC deposit insurance, please see here. For more information on the NCUA share insurance fund, please see here. You are solely responsible for monitoring the amount of funds you have on deposit at each a Product Bank, whether through the Raisin platform or outside the Raisin platform, to confirm that the deposits you hold in the same capacity at each Product Bank do not exceed the maximum deposit insurance coverage provided by the applicable Deposit Insurer.