Can you pay federal and state taxes without a form? (credit, charge)

[ncole1]

Is it possible to just pay your taxes (on, for instance, investment income) early in the year without bothering with paperwork at all, and then file by the next year's deadline? A lot of us have time-consuming careers and are sick of all those forms they keep asking for, and just would rather pay and get it over with for a while. As long as one never owes anything, can this be done without penalty?

[Pitt Chick]

Are you referring to quarterly estimates?

[ncole1]

Originally Posted by Pitt Chick

Are you referring to quarterly estimates?

Yes.

[Thepreacherswife]

You can pay estimated federal tax online whenever you want using EFTPS. No additional cost for EFT payments, small charge for credit card payments. For state, check your state's department of revenue site. Some may allow you to pay online for a small fee (to cover the credit card processing).

Generally, as long as you don't have a balance due, and pay in enough each quarter to cover the tax liability (i.e., avoiding estimated tax penalties), there's no penalty for late filing of income tax forms.

[John7777]

You can always just send the IRS check with your name and Social Security number. Specify the tax year, for example, year 2012 form 1040. Send more than you owe and file when you finally stop procrastinating.