Missed your quarterly estimates this year? You’re not alone. The IRS underpayment charge is nondeductible, compounds daily, and snowballs fast. Writing a big check today will stop new penalty accrual from this point forward, but it won’t erase the penalties tied to the quarters you already missed.

There is, however, a lawful way to make it as if you paid each quarter on time. It relies on how the tax code treats withholding from retirement distributions.