When Are Quarterly Taxes Due in 2025? New York Deadlines

If you’re self-employed in New York, you’re making estimated tax payments to three separate agencies: the IRS, New York State, and (if you live in the five boroughs) New York City. The federal deadlines are the same everywhere, but New York’s state deadlines match the federal schedule, and the city tax gets bundled with the state payment. Here’s the full calendar for 2025 so you don’t miss any of them.

2025 Federal Estimated Tax Due Dates

The IRS requires estimated payments on Form 1040-ES if you expect to owe $1,000 or more when you file. The 2025 quarterly deadlines are:

Q1 (Jan 1 – Mar 31): due April 15, 2025
Q2 (Apr 1 – May 31): due June 16, 2025
Q3 (Jun 1 – Aug 31): due September 15, 2025
Q4 (Sep 1 – Dec 31): due January 15, 2026

Note that Q2 covers only two months while Q3 covers three. The IRS has always split the year unevenly, and it catches people off guard — especially freelancers whose income spikes in the summer.

New York State Estimated Tax Deadlines

New York State follows the same quarterly schedule as the federal government. You file estimated payments using Form IT-2105 (or pay online through the NYS Tax Department portal). The deadlines are identical:

Q1: April 15, 2025
Q2: June 16, 2025
Q3: September 15, 2025
Q4: January 15, 2026

With New York’s top marginal rate at 10.9%, underpaying state estimates can result in significant penalties. The state calculates interest on underpayments at a rate that’s typically higher than what most savings accounts pay, so there’s no benefit to holding the money.

NYC Income Tax: Bundled With the State

New York City’s income tax (up to 3.876%) doesn’t have a separate estimated payment form. When you calculate your IT-2105 payment, you include your NYC tax liability in that amount. The state and city estimates are paid together in one check or one online payment.

This is where NYC freelancers feel the squeeze. You’re paying federal estimated taxes, state estimated taxes, and city estimated taxes all on the same four dates. For someone earning $150,000 in self-employment income, that can mean writing a combined quarterly check of $12,000 to $15,000 across federal and state/city. Miss one and you’re facing penalties from both the IRS and the NYS Tax Department.

The MCTMT: One More Quarterly Payment

If your net self-employment earnings exceed $50,000 and you work in the MTA commuter district (all five NYC boroughs plus surrounding counties), you owe the Metropolitan Commuter Transportation Mobility Tax. The MCTMT is reported on Form MTA-6 and follows its own quarterly schedule:

Q1: due April 30, 2025
Q2: due July 31, 2025
Q3: due October 31, 2025
Q4: due January 31, 2026

The rate is 0.34% of net self-employment earnings. It’s a small amount, but the filing requirement is separate from your IT-2105, and missing it generates its own penalties.

How Much Should You Pay Each Quarter?

The safe harbor for federal estimated taxes: pay at least 100% of last year’s tax liability (110% if your AGI exceeded $150,000) split across four equal installments. New York State uses a similar safe harbor — 100% of prior year or 90% of current year.

Most CPAs recommend the prior-year method for clients whose income is unpredictable. It’s easier to calculate, and you avoid the penalty risk entirely even if your income jumps. If your income drops significantly, you can reduce payments using the annualized income installment method on Form 2210, but the math is more involved.

What Happens If You Pay Late

The IRS charges an underpayment penalty based on the federal short-term rate plus 3 percentage points. As of early 2025, that’s running around 8% annualized. New York adds its own underpayment penalty at a rate set quarterly by the NYS Tax Department — usually comparable to the federal rate.

Here’s the part people miss: even if you eventually pay the full amount when you file your return, the penalty still applies to each quarter you underpaid. Penalties are calculated quarter by quarter, not annually. Paying everything in Q4 doesn’t fix the fact that Q1, Q2, and Q3 were short.

Payment Methods for New York Filers

Federal payments go through IRS Direct Pay, EFTPS, or credit/debit card (with a processing fee). New York State accepts payments through their Online Services portal or by mailing a check with your IT-2105 voucher.

For the MCTMT, you pay through the NYS online system or by mail with Form MTA-6. Setting up autopay for the state and city portions isn’t as straightforward as the IRS’s system, so many NYC freelancers just set calendar reminders and pay manually each quarter.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the first quarterly tax payment due in 2025?

The first quarterly estimated tax payment for 2025 is due April 15, 2025, for both federal (Form 1040-ES) and New York State (Form IT-2105). NYC income tax estimates are included in the state payment.

Do I have to make separate payments for NYC and NY State taxes?

No. Your NYC estimated income tax is included in your New York State estimated payment on Form IT-2105. You make one combined payment to the NYS Tax Department that covers both state and city income tax. The MCTMT, however, is a separate filing on Form MTA-6.

What is the penalty for missing a quarterly payment in New York?

The IRS charges an underpayment penalty at the federal short-term rate plus 3% (roughly 8% annualized in early 2025). New York State adds its own underpayment penalty at a similar rate. Both penalties are calculated per quarter, not annually, so late payments accumulate interest from the date each installment was due.

How do I calculate my quarterly estimated tax for New York?

Take your expected 2025 income, calculate your federal tax, NY State tax (up to 10.9%), and NYC tax (up to 3.876%), subtract any withholding from W-2 jobs, and divide the remaining liability by four. The safe harbor: pay at least 100% of your 2024 total tax liability (110% if AGI exceeded $150,000) split across four quarters.

Can I skip quarterly payments if I had no income last year?

If you had zero tax liability in the prior year and were a U.S. citizen or resident for the entire year, you’re technically not required to make estimated payments. But if you expect to owe more than $1,000 federally (or $300 for NY State), you should still pay quarterly to avoid a surprise bill and potential penalties when you file.

Is the Q2 deadline really in June, not July?

Yes. The second quarter estimated payment covers only April and May income and is due June 16, 2025 (June 15 falls on a Sunday). Q3 then covers June through August. The IRS has always used this uneven split, and it trips up many first-time filers.

Related Tax Guides

Quarterly Tax Dates 2025 (National) Quarterly Taxes in Los Angeles Quarterly Taxes in Miami New York Tax Guide Self-Employment Tax Explained

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