# Does the IRS give you the option of paying all your taxes in one fell swoop? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 5, 2023, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-irs-give-you-the-option-of-paying-all-your-taxes-in-one-fell-swoop/985049 "2023-06-05T17:51:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2023, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-irs-give-you-the-option-of-paying-all-your-taxes-in-one-fell-swoop/985049/21 "2023-06-09T13:49:15Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > is there any IRS rule that would prohibit me from just loading the $40,000 all into one single payment No. I do my MIL’s taxes and do this for her every year. There is no maximum. They allow quarterly payments just because most people can’t manage that big a cash payment up front. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2023, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-irs-give-you-the-option-of-paying-all-your-taxes-in-one-fell-swoop/985049/22 "2023-06-09T13:51:32Z")
> [@Measure\_for\_Measure](#): > > State tax agencies are typically less efficient than the IRS. They can take 2-3 months to cash a check, IIRC I can’t dispute this as a generalization but government agencies are usually very conscious of cash flow and cash those checks ASAP. That has been my experience with the states I’ve lived in, as well as any business that has automated payment intake systems. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2023, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-irs-give-you-the-option-of-paying-all-your-taxes-in-one-fell-swoop/985049/23 "2023-06-09T13:56:18Z")
> [@RitterSport](#): > > If you’re retired, I guess you have to make quarterly payments on income? Or self-employed. ---
**Author:** ![LurkMeister](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3da27b/32.png) [@LurkMeister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkMeister)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2023, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-irs-give-you-the-option-of-paying-all-your-taxes-in-one-fell-swoop/985049/24 "2023-06-09T15:37:53Z")
I’m a retired federal employee, and I have Federal tax withheld from my pension payments so I don’t have to make quarterly estimated tax payments. If I had to pay state income tax, I could also have that deducted from my pension payments. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2023, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-irs-give-you-the-option-of-paying-all-your-taxes-in-one-fell-swoop/985049/25 "2023-06-09T15:54:49Z")
> [@CookingWithGas](#): > > They allow quarterly payments just because most people can’t manage that big a cash payment up front. The general idea is that you should be paying tax fairly soon after you receive the income, so that you are not treated significantly more favorably than earners who have withholding deducted. But you’re not expected to pay tax in advance on income that you haven’t yet received. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-irs-give-you-the-option-of-paying-all-your-taxes-in-one-fell-swoop/985049.md?page=1)