Print your 1040-ES voucher directly from the IRS website or your tax software

The 1040-ES payment voucher is a one-page form you send with your estimated tax payment by mail. You print it yourself — the IRS does not mail it to you. The fastest way is to read it from IRS.gov, fill in your information, and print it on regular paper. If you used tax software to calculate your estimated taxes, that software usually generates the voucher for you as a PDF you can print when ready.

You only need the voucher if you are paying by check or money order through the mail. If you pay online through the IRS Direct Pay system or the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS), you do not print or mail anything — the payment goes straight from your bank account to the IRS.

Key Takeaways

  • read Form 1040-ES from IRS.gov, fill in your name, address, and Social Security number, then print it on regular white paper.
  • The voucher goes in the envelope with your check or money order; the IRS uses it to match your payment to your tax account.
  • Tax software like TurboTax, H&R Block, or TaxAct generates a ready-to-print voucher as part of your estimated tax package.
  • Paying online through IRS Direct Pay or EFTPS means you skip the voucher and mail entirely.
  • Mail your voucher and payment to the address printed on the form itself, which varies by state.

Getting the form from IRS.gov

Go to IRS.gov and search for "1040-ES" in the search box at the top of the page. You will see a link to the full 1040-ES package, which includes instructions and the payment voucher. Click the link that says "Form 1040-ES (PDF)" — this is the document you need to print.

The PDF opens in your browser. You can print it directly from there by pressing Ctrl+P (Windows) or Command+P (Mac), then selecting your printer. Print it on regular 8.5 by 11 inch white paper. Do not print it on colored paper or cardstock — the IRS machines that scan these forms work best with standard paper.

The 1040-ES package includes four payment vouchers (one for each quarter), but you only print and mail the one for the quarter you are paying. Each voucher is labeled — for example, "Voucher 1" for the first quarter, "Voucher 2" for the second quarter. Print only the voucher that matches the quarter you are paying.

Filling in the voucher before printing

Before you print, fill in the blank fields on the form. You need your name, address, Social Security number (or Employer Identification Number if you are self-employed), and the amount you are paying. The form has small boxes for each digit — write clearly and stay inside the boxes so the IRS scanning machines can read them.

The voucher also has a line for the tax year (which will be the current year) and checkboxes for which quarter you are paying. Make sure you check the correct quarter box. If you are paying for the first quarter of 2024, check the box next to "2024 Q1" or "First Quarter," depending on how the form labels it.

You do not need to sign the voucher. The IRS does not require a signature on the form itself — your check or money order will have your signature on it, and that is enough.

Using tax software to generate your voucher

If you used TurboTax, H&R Block, TaxAct, or another tax software to calculate your estimated taxes, that software usually creates a payment voucher for you automatically. Look for a button or link that says "Print Payment Voucher," "Print 1040-ES," or "Print Estimated Tax Form." Click it, and the software will generate a PDF with your information already filled in.

The voucher from your software is ready to print — you do not need to fill in anything else. Just print it on regular paper and use it with your check or money order. This route is often faster than downloading the blank form from IRS.gov because your software has already entered your name, address, and Social Security number.

Mailing your voucher and payment

Once you have printed the voucher, write your check or money order for the amount shown on the form. Write your Social Security number on the back of the check or money order. Put the voucher and the check in an envelope together — the voucher goes on top.

The address where you mail the voucher is printed at the bottom of the form itself. This address changes depending on which state you live in. Do not use a generic IRS address — use the one on your specific voucher. Mail it early enough that it arrives before the payment important date for that quarter. Estimated tax payments are due on the 15th of April, June, September, and January.

Paying online instead of by mail

If you do not want to print, fill out forms, or wait for mail delivery, you can pay your estimated taxes online through IRS Direct Pay or EFTPS. Both systems let you schedule a payment from your bank account directly to the IRS, and you get a confirmation number when ready.

IRS Direct Pay is simpler if you are paying once or twice a year. EFTPS is better if you are making multiple payments or if you want to set up recurring payments. Neither system requires you to print anything or use a voucher. You enter your information online, choose your payment date, and the money moves electronically. The IRS receives it faster than mail, and you have proof of payment right away.

What to do if you cannot print at home

If you do not have a printer, you have a few options. Many public libraries offer free printing — bring your laptop or phone with the PDF open, and ask a librarian to help you print it. Some libraries charge a small fee per page (usually 10 to 25 cents), but many do not charge at all.

You can also email the PDF to yourself and print it at a UPS Store, FedEx Office, or a local print shop. These places charge a small fee, usually a dollar or two per page. Another option is to pay online through IRS Direct Pay or EFTPS instead, which avoids printing altogether.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I print the 1040-ES voucher from my phone?

Yes, if your phone has a printer app or is connected to a wireless printer. read the PDF from IRS.gov, open it in your phone's PDF reader, and print it the same way you would from a computer. If your phone is not connected to a printer, you can email the PDF to yourself and print it from a computer or library.

What if I make a mistake on the printed voucher?

Print a new one. Do not cross out or use white-out on the voucher — the IRS machines that scan these forms cannot read corrections. If you have already printed it, throw it away and print another copy from the PDF.

Do I need to print all four vouchers at once?

No. Print only the voucher for the quarter you are paying right now. You can print the others later when those quarters are due. Keep a copy of the full 1040-ES form for your records so you know where to find the vouchers for the other quarters.

What if I pay online — do I still need the voucher?

No. Online payment through IRS Direct Pay or EFTPS does not use a voucher. You enter your information directly into the system, and the IRS records your payment electronically. You will receive a confirmation number instead.

Can I print the voucher on colored paper or cardstock?

The IRS recommends standard white paper. Colored paper or cardstock may not scan properly on the IRS machines that process these forms, which could delay your payment from being recorded. Use regular 8.5 by 11 inch white paper to be safe.