Hello:
I make (4) estimated payments each year for both state and federal taxes. However the payments are made in April, June September and January of the next year. Which ones do I claim for the tax year?

example
January 15, 2010 -500 dollars
april 15, 2010 -500 dollars
June 15, 2010 -500 dollars
September 15, 2010 -500 dollars
January 15, 2011 -1000 dollars

As long as you itemize deductions on Sch A( I mean itemized deductions > standard deduction; if you do not itemize deductions, then you can't deduct them.), you can deuct your quarterly estimated taxes that you paid in 2010, January 15, 2010 -500 dollars
april 15, 2010 -500 dollars
June 15, 2010 -500 dollars
September 15, 2010 -500 dollars
on your 2010 return.If you itemize deductions, the state income taxes can be taken in the year actually paid. What year they were for does not matter, only the year in which actually paid; you can deduct the fourth payment that you paid in 2011 on your 2011 return.You can't deduct quarterly estimated federal income taxes on any year's return.