2023 California Estimated Tax Worksheet - Estimated Tax Payment Schedule and Filing Options

Sep 19, 2026

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2023 California estimated tax worksheet guidance explains how to calculate estimated tax, determine required payment amounts, and manage installment timing. It covers e-payment rules, penalties for noncompliance, and how credits and withholding affect estimated tax. The worksheet provides due dates, notes federal holiday timing, and describes options such as installment filing, annualization, farmers and fishermen relief, fiscal-year schedules, and the mental health services tax threshold.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryForms

FormatPDF

Pages2

Reading Time1 min

AccessFree to download

Installment Payment Schedule

Electronic Payment Requirements and Penalties

Required Forms and Calculation Basis

Estimated Tax Due Dates and Timing Rules

Options: Installment, Annualization, Farmers and Fishermen, Fiscal Year

Special Cases: Mental Health Services Tax

Payment Methods and Mailing Requirements

Basic California Tax Calculation Steps

2023 california estimated tax worksheet Installment payment schedule: 30% for the first installment, 40% for the second, no payment is due for the third, and 30% for the fourth. Mandatory electronic payments are required once a payment exceeds $20,000 or the total tax liability reaches $80,000 . This applies to subsequent payments regardless of amount or type. Failure to make electronic payments can result in a 1% noncompliance penalty. To determine if you owe estimated taxes and figure the required amounts, use Form 540-ES and the 2023 California Estimated Tax Worksheet. Estimated tax is the tax you expect to pay after subtracting credits and withholding. You may need to make separate payments for your 2022 tax liability or balance due on your 2022 tax return using Form FTB 3519 . Certain taxpayers have limitations when using their prior-year tax as a basis for estimated taxes. See Section C for more information. Check the status of your estimated payments at ftb.ca.gov and login or register for MyFTB. To avoid making a large payment with your tax return, consider increasing your withholding by completing Form DE 4, Employee’s Withholding Allowance Certificate, and giving it to your employer. You can download this form from edd.ca.gov or ftb.ca.gov. If married or filing separately with a combined income of $250 or less, you may owe taxes in 2023 after subtracting withholding and credits. You should make estimated tax payments if you expect your withholding and credits to be less than the smaller of 90% of the tax shown on your 2023 return or 100% of the tax shown on your 2022 return including Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) . Nonresident or new residents without a California tax liability in 2022 are exempt from making estimated payments. Military personnel not domiciled in California do not include military pay, and nonmilitary spouses may or may not need to include their pay. If you and your spouse/RDP paid joint estimated taxes but now filing separately, either of you can claim all the amount paid or split it. Notify the FTB before filing if you want to divide payments. Individuals with 2022 California adjusted gross income over $150,000 (or $75,000 if married/RDP filing separately) must use 90% of their tax for 2023 or 110% of their tax for 2022 including AMT. Farmers and fishermen are exempt from this rule. Taxpayers with 2023 California adjusted gross income over $1,000,000 (or $500,000 if married/RDP filing separately) must use their tax for 2023 . Make estimated payments by the following dates: April 18, 2023; June 15, 2023; September 15, 2023; and January 16, 2024 . Due to the federal Emancipation Day holiday on April 17, 2023, tax returns filed or payments mailed/submitted on April 18, 2023 will be considered timely. Installment Option-File your 2023 tax return by January 31, 2024, and pay the entire balance due to avoid making the last estimated tax payment and owing a penalty for the fourth installment. Annualization Option-If you don't receive income evenly throughout the year, consider annualizing your income to match estimated tax payments with actual income periods using the schedule included with the 2022 form FTB 5805 . Farmers and Fishermen-If at least two-thirds of your gross income is from farming or fishing in 2022 or 2023, you can either pay all estimated taxes by January 16, 2024, or file your tax return on or before March 1, 2024, and pay the total tax due. Use form FTB 5805F to determine if you've paid the required estimated tax and attach it to your tax return if necessary. Fiscal Year-If you file your tax return on a fiscal year basis, your due dates will be the 15th day of the 4th, 6th, and 9th months of your fiscal year and the 1st month of the following fiscal year. Mental Health Services Tax-If your taxable income or nonresident California source taxable income exceeds $1,000,000, complete the worksheet below to calculate the mental health services tax. Use form FTB 540-ES Payment Form to figur

FAQs

What is the required installment payment schedule for 2023 estimated taxes?

Payments are due 30% for the first installment, 40% for the second, none for the third, and 30% for the fourth.

When are electronic payments mandatory for California estimated tax?

Electronic payments are required when a payment exceeds $20,000 or when total tax liability reaches $80,000, and it applies to subsequent payments.

How can taxpayers avoid making the last estimated tax payment by using an alternative filing approach?

The Installment Option allows filing the 2023 tax return by January 31, 2024 and paying the full balance due, avoiding the fourth estimated payment and potential related penalties.

Sep 19, 2026

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