Form 2220 Instructions
Instructions for Form 2220, Underpayment of Estimated Tax by Corporations
Rev. 2023
Related Forms
Department of the Treasury
Internal Revenue Service
2023
Instructions for Form 2220
Underpayment of Estimated Tax by Corporations
Section references are to the Internal Revenue Code unless
Who Must Pay the Underpayment
Penalty
otherwise noted.
Generally, a corporation is subject to the penalty if it did not
timely pay at least the smaller of:
Future Developments
For the latest information about developments affecting Form
2220 and its instructions, such as legislation enacted after
1. The tax shown on its 2023 return, or
2. The tax shown on its 2022 return (if it filed a 2022
return showing at least some amount of tax and the return
was for a full 12 months). However, a large corporation can
base only its first required installment on the prior year's tax.
What’s New
Relief from additions to tax for underpayments applica-
ble to the new corporate alternative minimum tax
(CAMT). For tax year 2023, the IRS will waive the penalty for
failure to make estimated tax payments for taxes attributable
to a corporate alternative minimum tax (CAMT) tax liability.
Affected corporations must still file the 2023 Form 2220, even
if they owe no estimated tax penalty. However, affected
corporations may exclude the CAMT tax liability when
calculating the required annual payment on Form 2220.
Affected corporations must also include an amount of
estimated tax penalty on Line 34 of Form 1120, U.S.
Corporation Income Tax Return (or other appropriate line of
the corporation's income tax return), even if that amount is
zero. Failure to follow these instructions could result in
affected corporations receiving a penalty notice that will
require an abatement request to apply the relief provided by
Notice 2023-42. See Notice 2023-42, 2023-26 I.R.B. 1085,
In these instructions, “return” generally refers to the
corporation's original return. However, an amended return is
considered the original return if the amended return is filed by
the due date (including extensions) of the original return.
Also, for purposes of determining a required installment of a
corporation’s estimated tax, if an amended return is filed for
the prior tax year, then the return for the “prior tax year”
includes the amended return, but only if the amended return
is filed before the applicable installment due date.
The penalty is figured separately for each installment due
date. Therefore, the corporation may owe a penalty for an
earlier due date even if it paid enough tax later to make up
the underpayment. This is true even if the corporation is due
a refund when its return is filed. However, the corporation
may be able to reduce or eliminate the penalty by using the
annualized income installment method or the adjusted
seasonal installment method. See the instructions for Part II
for details.
Exception to the Penalty
General Instructions
A corporation will not have to pay a penalty if the tax shown
on the corporation's 2023 return (the Form 2220, Part I,
line 3, amount) is less than $500.
Purpose of Form
Corporations (including S corporations), tax-exempt
organizations subject to the unrelated business income tax,
and private foundations use Form 2220 to determine:
How To Use Form 2220
Complete Part I, lines 1 through 3. If line 3 is $500 or more,
Whether they are subject to the penalty for underpayment
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complete the rest of Part I to determine the required annual
payment. Then, go to Part II.
of estimated tax and, if so,
The amount of the underpayment penalty for the period
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Check one or more boxes in Part II if the corporation uses
that applies.
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the adjusted seasonal installment method, the annualized
income installment method, or if the corporation is a large
corporation.
Who Must File
Generally, the corporation does not have to file this form with
its income tax return because the IRS will figure the amount
of any penalty and notify the corporation of any amount due.
However, even if the corporation does not owe a penalty,
complete and attach this form to the corporation's tax return if
the Part I, line 3, amount is $500 or more and any of the
following apply.
If the corporation checked a box in Part II, attach Form
2220 to the income tax return. Be sure to check the box on
Form 1120, page 1, line 34; or the comparable line of any
other income tax return the corporation is required to file (for
example, Form 1120-C, 1120-L, or 1120-S).
Complete Part III to determine the underpayment for any of
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the installment due dates.
If there is an underpayment on Part III, line 17 (column (a),
1. The adjusted seasonal installment method is used.
2. The annualized income installment method is used.
3. The corporation is a large corporation (as defined in
the instructions for Part II, line 8) figuring its first required
installment based on the prior year's tax.
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(b), (c), or (d)), go to Part IV to figure the penalty.
Complete Schedule A if the corporation uses the adjusted
•
seasonal installment method and/or the annualized income
installment method.
Dec 20, 2023
Cat. No. 64293P
Example. A ski shop, which receives most of its income
during the winter months, may benefit from using one or both
of these methods to figure its required installments. The
annualized income installment or adjusted seasonal
installment may be less than the required installment under
the regular method for one or more due dates. Using one or
both of these methods may reduce or eliminate the penalty
for those due dates.
Specific Instructions
Part I. Required Annual Payment
Complete lines 1 through 5 to figure the corporation's
required annual payment.
Line 1. Generally, enter the tax from Form 1120, line 31; or
the applicable line for other income tax returns. However, if
that amount includes any tax attributable to a sale described
in section 338(a)(1), do not include that tax on line 1. Instead,
write “Sec. 338 gain” and show the amount of tax in brackets
on the dotted line next to line 1. This exclusion from the line 1
amount does not apply if a section 338(h)(10) election is
made.
Also, for tax year 2023, if the amount from Form 1120,
line 31, includes any CAMT from Form 1120, Schedule J,
line 3 (or the applicable line for other income tax returns), do
not include that amount on line 1 of Form 2220. Instead write
"CAMT" and the amount and show the amount of tax in
brackets on the dotted line next to line 1.
Use Schedule A (Form 2220, pages 3 and 4) to figure one
or more required installments. If Schedule A is used for any
payment due date, it must be used for all payment due dates.
To arrive at the amount of each required installment,
Schedule A automatically selects the smallest of:
The adjusted seasonal installment (if applicable),
The annualized income installment (if applicable), or
The regular installment under section 6655(d)(1)
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•
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(increased by any recapture of a reduction in a required
installment under section 6655(e)(1)(B)).
Follow the steps below to determine which parts of the
form have to be completed.
If the corporation is using only the adjusted seasonal
•
installment method, check the box in Part II, line 6, and
complete Schedule A, Parts I and III.
For information on how to figure the total tax for estimated
tax purposes for other entities, see the following forms or their
instructions.
If the corporation is using only the annualized income
•
installment method, check the box in Part II, line 7, and
complete Schedule A, Parts II and III.
• 990-PF
• 990-T
• 1120-C
• 1120-F
• 1120-FSC
• 1120-L
• 1120-ND
• 1120-PC
• 1120-REIT
• 1120-RIC
• 1120-S
If the corporation is using both methods, check the boxes
•
in Part II, lines 6 and 7, and complete all three parts of
Schedule A.
• 1120-SF
Line 8. Large corporations. A large corporation is a
corporation (other than an S corporation) that had, or whose
predecessor had, taxable income (defined below) of $1
million or more for any of the 3 tax years immediately
preceding the 2023 tax year, or if less, the number of years
the corporation has been in existence. See Regulations
section 1.6655-4.
Taxable income, for this purpose, is modified to exclude
net operating loss and capital loss carrybacks and
carryovers. Members of a controlled group, as defined in
section 1563, must divide the $1 million amount among
themselves under rules similar to those in section 1561. If the
corporation is a large corporation figuring its first required
installment based on the prior year's tax, check the box on
Part II, line 8, and, if applicable, check the box(es) on Part II,
line 6 and/or line 7. Also, if applicable, complete Schedule A,
Parts I, II, and III, as discussed below in the instructions for
line 10.
Line 2c. Enter the amount from Form 1120, Schedule J, Part
II, line 20b, or the applicable line for other income tax returns.
Line 4. All filers (other than S corporations). Figure the
corporation's 2022 tax the same way the amount on line 3 of
this form was determined, using the taxes and credits from its
2022 tax return. However, skip line 4 and enter on line 5 the
amount from line 3 if either of the following applies.
The corporation did not file a tax return for 2022 that
•
showed a liability for at least some amount of tax.
The corporation had a 2022 tax year of less than 12
•
months.
S corporations. Enter on line 4 the sum of:
1. The total of the investment credit recapture tax and the
built-in gains tax shown on the return for the 2023 tax year,
and
Part III. Figuring the Underpayment
Line 9. Installment due dates. The corporation is generally
required to enter the 15th day of the 4th (Form 990-PF filers,
use the 5th month), 6th, 9th, and 12th months of its tax year.
2. Any excess net passive income tax shown on the S
corporation's return for the 2022 tax year.
If the 2022 tax year was less than 12 months, skip line 4
and enter on line 5 the amount from line 3.
Note. Multiple columns can have the same due date if the
due date has been extended by relief provided by the IRS (for
example, disaster relief).
Part II. Reasons for Filing
Lines 6 and 7. Adjusted seasonal installment method
and/or annualized income installment method. If the
corporation's income varied during the year because, for
example, it operated its business on a seasonal basis, it may
be able to lower or eliminate the amount of one or more
required installments by using the adjusted seasonal
installment method and/or the annualized income installment
method.
Line 10. Required installments. If the box on line 6 and/or
line 7 is checked, enter the amounts from Schedule A,
line 38.
Large corporations. Large corporations, follow the
instructions below.
1. If the box on line 8 (but not line 6 or line 7) is checked
and line 3 is smaller than line 4, enter 25% of line 3 in
columns (a) through (d) of line 10.
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Instructions for Form 2220 (2023)
2. If the box on line 8 (but not line 6 or line 7) is checked
and line 4 is smaller than line 3, enter 25% of line 4 in column
(a) of line 10. In column (b), figure the amount to enter as
follows:
in Part IV, line 35, attach a computation of the penalty for that
period. Include the penalty in the total for line 38.
Schedule A
a. Subtract line 4 from line 3,
b. Add the result to the amount on line 3, and
Extraordinary items. Generally, under the annualized
income installment method, extraordinary items must be
taken into account after annualizing the taxable income for
the annualization period. Similar rules apply in determining
taxable income under the adjusted seasonal installment
method. An extraordinary item includes:
c. Multiply the total in item b above by 25%, and enter the
result in column (b).
In columns (c) and (d), enter 25% of line 3.
Any item identified in Regulations section
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3. If the box on line 8 and the box on line 6 and/or line 7
are checked, follow the instructions in items 1 and 2 above
(substituting "Schedule A, line 35" for "line 10" in the
calculation). Enter the amounts from Schedule A, line 38, on
line 10.
1.1502-76(b)(2)(ii)(C)(1), (2), (3), (4), (7), and (8);
A net operating loss carryover;
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A section 481(a) adjustment;
Net gain or loss from the disposition of 25% or more of the
fair market value of the corporation's business assets during
the tax year;
Line 11. Enter the estimated tax payments made by the
corporation for its tax year as indicated below. Include any
overpayment from the corporation's 2022 tax return that was
credited to the corporation's 2023 estimated tax. If an
installment is due on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday,
payments made on the next day that is not a Saturday,
Sunday, or legal holiday are considered made timely to the
extent the payment is applied against that required
installment.
Column (a). Enter payments made by the date on line 9,
column (a).
Columns (b), (c), and (d). Enter payments made by the
date on line 9 for that column and after the date on line 9 of
the preceding column.
Any other item designated as an extraordinary item in the
•
Internal Revenue Bulletin.
These extraordinary items must be accounted for in the
appropriate annualization period. However, a net operating
loss deduction and a section 481(a) adjustment (unless the
corporation makes the alternative choice under Regulations
section 1.6655-2(f)(3)(ii)(C)) are treated as extraordinary
items occurring on the first day of the tax year in which the
item is taken into account in determining taxable income.
De minimis rule. Extraordinary items identified above that
are de minimis as described below (other than a net
operating loss carryover or a section 481(a) adjustment) may
be annualized using the general rules of Regulations section
1.6655-2(f), or, if the corporation chooses, may be taken into
account after annualizing the taxable income for the
annualization period. A de minimis extraordinary item is any
extraordinary item resulting from a transaction in which the
total extraordinary items resulting from such transaction is
less than $1 million.
In Schedule A, Part II, make the appropriate adjustments
to annualized taxable income before figuring the estimated
tax for each reporting period. Similar adjustments must be
made, if applicable, to Part I of Schedule A if the adjusted
seasonal installment method applies. See the instructions for
Schedule A, lines 2, 9b, 21, and 23b below. For more
information regarding extraordinary items, see Regulations
section 1.6655-2(f)(3)(ii) and the examples in Regulations
section 1.6655-2(f)(3)(vii).
Line 17. If any of the columns in line 17 shows an
underpayment, complete Part IV to figure the penalty.
Part IV. Figuring the Penalty
Complete lines 19 through 38 to determine the amount of the
penalty. The penalty is figured for the period of underpayment
using the underpayment rate determined under section 6621.
The period of underpayment generally runs from the
installment due date to the earlier of the date the
underpayment is actually paid or the 15th day of the 4th
month after the close of the tax year. C corporations with tax
years ending June 30 and S corporations, use the 3rd month
instead of the 4th month. Form 990-PF and 990-T filers use
the 5th month instead of the 4th month.
Note. A corporation with a short tax year ending anytime in
Part I. Adjusted Seasonal Installment Method
June will be treated as if the short tax year ended on June 30.
The corporation can use the adjusted seasonal installment
method only if the corporation's base period percentage for
any 6 consecutive months of the tax year is 70% or more.
The base period percentage for any period of 6 consecutive
months is the average of the 3 percentages figured by
dividing the taxable income for the corresponding
A payment of estimated tax is applied against unpaid
required installments in the order in which installments are
required to be paid, regardless of the installment to which the
payment pertains.
Example. A corporation with a calendar tax year
underpaid the April 15 installment by $1,000. The June 15
installment requires a payment of $2,500. On June 10, the
corporation deposits $2,500 to cover the June 15 installment.
However, $1,000 of this payment is applied against the April
15 installment. The penalty for the April 15 installment is
figured from April 15 to June 10 (56 days). The remaining
$1,500 is applied to the June 15 installment.
6-consecutive-month period in each of the 3 preceding tax
years by the total taxable income for each of the 3 preceding
tax years, respectively. Figure the base period percentage
using the 6-month period in which the corporation normally
receives the largest part of its taxable income.
Example. An amusement park with a 2023 calendar tax
year receives the largest part of its taxable income during the
6-month period from May through October. To compute its
base period percentage for this 6-month period in 2023, the
amusement park figures its taxable income for each May–
October period in 2020, 2021, and 2022. It then divides the
taxable income for each May–October period by the total
If the corporation has made more than one payment for a
required installment, attach a separate computation for each
payment. Also, if the corporation has a fiscal tax year and has
an underpayment period that extends beyond the latest date
3
Instructions for Form 2220 (2023)
taxable income for that particular tax year. The resulting
percentages are 69% (0.69) for May–October 2020, 74%
(0.74) for May–October 2021, and 67% (0.67) for May–
October 2022. Because the average of 69%, 74%, and 67%
is 70%, the base period percentage for May–October 2023 is
70%. Therefore, the amusement park qualifies for the
adjusted seasonal installment method.
Corporations
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
Installment Installment Installment Installment
Standard option
Option 1
3
2
3
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
Option 2
Line 2. If the corporation has certain extraordinary items,
special rules apply. Do not include on line 2 the de minimis
items that the corporation chooses to include on line 9b. See
Extraordinary items, earlier.
Line 9b. If the corporation has extraordinary items that are
not de minimis, a net operating loss deduction, or a section
481(a) adjustment, special rules apply. Include these
amounts on line 9b for the appropriate period. Also include
on line 9b the de minimis items that the corporation chooses
to exclude from line 2. See Extraordinary items, earlier.
Line 15. Trusts liable for tax on unrelated business taxable
income may be liable for alternative minimum tax (AMT) on
certain adjustments and tax preference items. Form 990-T
filers compute AMT on Schedule I (Form 1041), Alternative
Minimum Tax—Estates and Trusts, if applicable. Figure
alternative minimum taxable income (AMTI) based on the
trust's income and deductions for the months shown in the
column headings directly above line 1.
Tax-Exempt Organizations and Private Foundations
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
Installment Installment Installment Installment
Standard option
Option 1
2
2
3
4
6
7
9
10
Line 21. Enter on line 21 the taxable income (line 30, Form
1120; or the applicable line for other income tax returns) that
the corporation received for the months entered for each
annualization period in columns (a) through (d) on line 20. If
the corporation has extraordinary items, special rules apply.
Do not include on line 21 the de minimis extraordinary items
that the corporation chooses to include on line 23b. See
Extraordinary items, earlier.
Line 22. Annualization amounts. Enter on line 22,
columns (a) through (d), respectively, the annualization
amounts shown in the tables below for the option used for
line 20 above. For example, if the corporation elected Option
1, enter on line 22 the annualization amounts 6, 3, 1.71429,
and 1.2, in columns (a) through (d), respectively.
Note. For tax year 2023, applicable corporations may
exclude the CAMT tax liability when calculating the required
annual tax payment on Form 2220. See Relief from additions
alternative minimum tax (CAMT), earlier.
Line 16. Enter on line 16 any other taxes the corporation
owed for the months shown in each column heading directly
above line 1. Include the same taxes used to figure Form
2220, Part I, line 1, including the base erosion minimum tax, if
applicable. Do not include the personal holding company tax
and interest due under the look-back method of section
460(b)(2) for completed long-term contracts or section 167(g)
(2) for property depreciated under the income forecast
method.
Corporations
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
Installment Installment Installment Installment
Standard option
Option 1
4
6
4
4
3
2
1.33333
1.71429 1.2
1.5 1.09091
Option 2
2.4
Tax-Exempt Organizations and Private Foundations
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
Installment Installment Installment Installment
Standard option
Option 1
6
6
4
3
2
1.33333
1.71429 1.2
Line 18. Enter the credits the corporation is entitled to for the
months shown in each column heading above line 1. Enter
the same type of credits that are allowed on Form 2220,
page 1, lines 1 and 2c.
Line 23b. If the corporation has extraordinary items that are
not de minimis, a net operating loss deduction, or a section
481(a) adjustment, special rules apply. Include these
amounts on line 23b. Also include on line 23b the de minimis
extraordinary items that the corporation chooses to exclude
from line 21. See Extraordinary items, earlier.
Part II. Annualized Income Installment Method
Line 20. Annualization periods. Enter on line 20, columns
(a) through (d), respectively, the annualization periods for the
option shown in the tables below. For example, if the
corporation elected Option 1, enter on line 20 the
annualization periods 2, 4, 7, and 10, in columns (a) through
(d), respectively.
Line 25. Trusts liable for tax on unrelated business taxable
income may be liable for alternative minimum tax (AMT) on
certain adjustments and tax preference items. Form 990-T
filers compute AMT on Schedule I (Form 1041). Figure AMTI
based on the trust's income and deductions for the
annualization period entered in each column on line 20.
Use Option 1 or Option 2 only if the corporation
Note. For tax year 2023, applicable corporations may
exclude the CAMT tax liability when calculating the required
annual tax payment on Form 2220. See Relief from additions
alternative minimum tax (CAMT), earlier.
Line 26. Enter any other taxes the corporation owed for the
months shown in each column on line 20. Include the same
taxes used to figure Form 2220, Part I, line 1, including the
base erosion minimum tax, if applicable. Do not include the
personal holding company tax and interest due under the
elected to do so by filing Form 8842, Election To Use
!
CAUTION
Different Annualization Periods for Corporate
Estimated Tax, by the due date of the first required
installment payment. Once made, the election is irrevocable
for the particular tax year. Option 2 is not available to
tax-exempt organizations and private foundations. For these
entities, see the options shown in the table in the instructions
for line 22.
4
Instructions for Form 2220 (2023)
look-back method of section 460(b)(2) for completed
long-term contracts or section 167(g)(2) for property
depreciated under the income forecast method.
information. We need it to ensure that you are complying with
these laws and to allow us to figure and collect the right
amount of tax.
Line 28. Enter the credits the corporation is entitled to for the
months shown in each column on line 20. Do not annualize
any credit. However, when figuring the credits, annualize any
item of income or deduction used to figure the credit.
You are not required to provide the information requested
on a form that is subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act
unless the form displays a valid OMB control number. Books
or records relating to a form or its instructions must be
retained as long as their contents can become material in the
administration of any Internal Revenue law. Generally, tax
returns and return information are confidential, as required by
section 6103.
Part III. Required Installments
Line 33. Before completing line 33 in columns (b) through
(d), complete lines 34 through 38 in each of the preceding
columns. For example, complete lines 34 through 38 in
column (a) before completing line 33 in column (b).
Line 35. Enter in each column of line 35, 25% of the amount
from page 1, Part I, line 5. Large corporations, see the
instructions for line 10 for the amounts to enter.
Line 38. For each installment, enter the smaller of line 34 or
line 37 on line 38. Also enter the result on page 1, Part III,
line 10.
The time needed to complete and file this form will vary
depending on individual circumstances. The estimated
burden for business taxpayers filing this form is approved
under OMB control number 1545-0123 and is included in the
estimates shown in the instructions for their business income
tax return.
If you have comments concerning the accuracy of these
time estimates or suggestions for making this form simpler,
we would be happy to hear from you. See the instructions for
the tax return with which this form is filed.
Paperwork Reduction Act Notice. We ask for the
information on this form to carry out the Internal Revenue
laws of the United States. You are required to give us the
5
Instructions for Form 2220 (2023)