I paid estimated taxes with IRS Direct Pay. The IRS sent a confirmation with a Submitted Date and Payment Date on the confirmation. Am I able to use the submitted date when recording the date of my estimated tax payment on my 1040 or do I have to use the payment date? The 2 day difference between the submitted date and payment date makes a large difference in the penalty I need to pay.

For federal tax purposes, the date that the IRS considers your payment to be made is typically the date the funds are actually transferred from your bank account, which is usually the "Payment Date" on your confirmation. The "Submitted Date" is often the date you entered the transaction into the IRS Direct Pay system, but it's not the date the payment is considered to have been made for tax purposes. If the payment date falls within the period for which the estimated tax payment is due, it should be considered timely. However, if the payment date is after the due date for the estimated tax installment, it may be considered late, and you might be subject to penalties. If the two-day difference is causing a significant penalty, you can try to explain the situation to the IRS and see if they would be willing to abate the penalty, especially if you can show that you initiated the payment process before the due date. However, there is no guarantee that they will waive the penalty, as the IRS typically goes by the payment date. When you fill out your Form 1040, you should use the payment date as the date of your estimated tax payment. If you believe there has been an error or if the penalty seems unjust, you can contact the IRS for clarification or to request penalty abatement. It may be helpful to keep all records of the transaction, including confirmation emails and bank statements, to support your case.

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