How Do I Confirm the Amount of Montana Estimated Tax I Paid?

February, 26 2025 by Jean Lee Scherkey, EA

How do I confirm the amount of 2024 Montana estimated tax paid?

-Ron, Montana



Dear Ron,

Time is a fickle friend indeed. Sometimes it feels like weeks are whizzing by in the breath of a day, and other times, each hour feels like an eternity. It’s no wonder that keeping track of all our to-do’s, appointments, payments, and bills has become a Herculean effort. And, during tax time, when we gather up documents and account for the tax year that passed, many of us can relate to Hulk’s penchant for smashing anything he can get his hands on. Perhaps this is why smash rooms have gained popularity? As we prepare our 2024 income tax returns, we especially want to ensure we’ve accounted for all of our tax payments, especially any estimated tax payments made throughout the year. This is why we are delighted you submitted your question on how to confirm the total amount of Montana estimated tax payments you made for 2024. Before we discuss the ways you can confirm the Montana estimated tax payments you made during 2024 and for how much, let’s go over some general information about estimated tax payments to ensure we are on the same page.

 

General Information About Estimated Tax Payments

In the U.S., we have a “pay-as-you-go” tax system, which means that income taxes must be paid as a person earns or receives income that is subject to tax. For many taxpayers, this is done through withholding on wages and retirement income, which are generally subject to withholding. Just as there is income that is subject to withholding, there is income that is not usually subject to withholding. When this happens, taxpayers must make estimated tax payments. Examples of income that typically require taxpayers to make estimated tax payments include investment income (interest, dividends, sales of assets such as stock, digital assets, collectibles, etc.), net income from self-employment activities, taxable legal settlements, net income from rental activities, and income from passthrough entities such as partnerships and trusts.

Generally, estimated tax payments are made on a quarterly basis, with the first quarter payment of the year usually due April 15th and the fourth payment for the tax year due on January 15th of the following year. While it is always important to make sure every payment is properly labeled, it is especially important that the first and fourth quarter payments are clearly labeled. During the month of April, federal and state tax agencies receive millions of payments, with some representing the balances due on prior year’s income tax returns that are being filed then, and also first quarter estimated tax payments for the current tax year. For example, this April, the Montana Department of Revenue will receive payments for the balances due on the 2024 Form 2, Montana Individual Income Tax Return, for Montana taxpayers, as well as the first quarter estimated tax payments for the 2025 tax year. There can be confusion with the fourth quarter estimated tax payment due in January of the following year because taxpayers sometimes mislabel the payment or do not account for the payment when they file their return, thinking the payment applies to next year’s return.

Quarterly estimated tax payments can be broken into smaller payments during the quarter. Taxpayers are not required to make one large quarterly payment if it is easier for them to make several smaller ones. As long as the total estimated tax payment is paid by the quarterly due date, the taxpayer should not incur an underpayment penalty. For example, instead of making one large $3,000 fourth quarter estimated tax payment on January 15, a taxpayer can choose to send a $1,000 fourth quarter estimated tax payment in October, November, and by January 15 of the following year. For more specific information about Montana estimated tax payments, you may want to check out the blog written by my colleague, Steve Banner, titled “Montana Estimated Tax Payments | What You Need to Know.”
 

Ways Estimated Tax Payments Can Be Confirmed

There are several methods taxpayers can choose from when making estimated tax payments, which include paying by check or money order, through automatic debit from their checking or savings account, by credit card (not available in all states), and via a secure portal set up by the tax agency. Another way taxpayers make estimated tax payments is by applying some or all of their prior year’s refund to next year’s return. For example, if you had a $500 refund on your 2023 Montana Form 2, you could have requested that the state of Montana keep the refund and apply it to your 2024 estimated taxes. Taxpayers who do not make regular estimated tax payments may forget about the refund they applied from their prior year’s return when they file their current year’s return. If this happens, the tax agency will usually send the taxpayer a letter explaining there is a payment mismatch on their return.

If you are not sure whether any estimated tax payments were made, the first thing you may want to do is gather information on any estimated tax payments you believe you made. You will want to know the payment method, the amount paid, and the date it was paid. You can usually determine these from your bank statements if they were direct debits, or from credit card statements if you paid them using a card. This may help speed up the payment confirmation process.

The fastest way to check the amount of 2024 Montana estimated taxes you already paid is through the Montana Department of Revenue’s (DOR) TransAction Portal (TAP). If you are a new user to the TAP, the Montana DOR has a webpage where you can create a new account. Once your online TAP account is established, you should be able to view your payment history.

Another way to confirm your 2024 Montana estimated tax payments is by contacting the Montana DOR online through their Contact webpage. On this webpage, taxpayers may ask general questions on select topics provided in a dropdown menu. Two of the topics in the dropdown mention are “TransAction Portal Help and Account Reset” and “Wage Withholding Account, Filing, and Payment Questions.” Taxpayers with general questions about withholding and payments or need assistance accessing their TransAction Portal, may ask their questions here. Keep in mind that you should not include your Social Security number in the message.

If you prefer to let your fingers do the walking and talk with a representative, the Montana DOR lists their telephone number on their Contact webpage: (406) 444-6900. Their hours are Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and they are not available on weekends or state holidays. The representative you speak with should be able to assist you.

If you have an idea of the payments you have already made, the method of payment, and the approximate amount, the Montana DOR may be able to trace the payments if they are not reflected in your account. This is especially helpful if it appears the payments were not applied to the 2024 tax year. For example, if you know you wrote a check in the amount of $350, dated September 15, 2024, and the check number was 120, the Montana DOR may be able to put a trace on the payment. This is especially true if you can obtain a copy of the cancelled check from the bank. The cancelled check will have information that will help the Montana DOR track the payment and get it applied to the correct tax year. When sending a check for your estimated tax payment, it is important to include Form IT, Montana Individual Income Tax Payment Voucher. The voucher notifies the Montana DOR what the payment is for (estimated tax payment, extension payment, tax due payment, etc.), the amount, and tax period the payment should be applied to. I hope this information gives you the tools you need to confirm the total 2024 Montana estimated tax payments you made.

Wishing you a successful 2024 tax filing and many happy returns,
Jean Lee Scherkey, EA