Quarterly Estimated Tax Calculator (2026)
Work out what to send the IRS each quarter for 2026, including self-employment tax, and check whether you meet a safe harbour that protects you from the underpayment penalty.
Reviewed by Teja K, CPA ·
Net of business expenses
Enter 0 if fully self-employed
From salary, across the whole year
Line 24 of last year's Form 1040 — unlocks the safe harbour
Determines whether the 110% rule applies
Your expected balance after withholding is under $1,000, so estimated payments are generally not required.
Federal estimate for tax year 2026. State estimated payments may also be required.
Your 2026 payment schedule
| Payment | Due date | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 | $0 | |
| Q2 | $0 | |
| Q3 | $0 | |
| Q4 | $0 |
Full calendar including business and FBAR dates on our US tax deadlines page.
Who has to make estimated payments
The US tax system is pay-as-you-go. An employee satisfies that through payroll withholding, but if you earn income with nothing withheld, you are expected to send the tax in yourself across the year rather than settling up at filing.
The trigger is simple: if you expect to owe $1,000 or more when you file, after subtracting withholding and refundable credits, estimated payments are generally required.
- Freelancers, contractors and gig workers receiving 1099 income.
- Sole proprietors, partners and S-corporation shareholders.
- Anyone with substantial investment income, rental income or capital gains.
- Employees whose withholding does not cover their full liability — often two-income households, or someone with a large bonus or vested equity.
The safe harbours that protect you from penalties
You do not have to predict your income perfectly. The rules give you two targets, and meeting either one avoids the underpayment penalty even if you end up owing more at filing.
- Pay 90% of your actual 2026 tax, or
- Pay 100% of the tax shown on your prior-year return — rising to 110% if your prior-year AGI was above $150,000 ($75,000 if filing separately).
The prior-year route is the practical one for most people, because the figure is already known and cannot move. It is particularly useful in a year when your income is rising: you pay based on last year, keep the difference in your own account, and settle at filing without penalty.
This calculator uses whichever target is lower, which is what the rules permit.
Withholding counts toward these targets. If you also have a salaried job, increasing your W-4 withholding is often simpler than making separate quarterly payments — and unlike estimated payments, withholding is treated as paid evenly across the year.
2026 estimated tax due dates
The four payments are not calendar quarters and are not evenly spaced. The second period covers only two months, and the fourth falls in the following January.
| Payment | Income period | Due date |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 | January 1 – March 31, 2026 | April 15, 2026 |
| Q2 | April 1 – May 31, 2026 | June 15, 2026 |
| Q3 | June 1 – August 31, 2026 | September 15, 2026 |
| Q4 | September 1 – December 31, 2026 | January 15, 2027 |
A deadline landing on a weekend or legal holiday moves to the next business day.
How to pay
The fastest route is IRS Direct Pay, which takes a payment straight from a bank account with no fee and no registration. You can also use EFTPS, pay by card for a processing fee, or mail a cheque with the Form 1040-ES voucher.
Keep a record of each payment and the date, because you report the total on your return. Missing payments you actually made is a surprisingly common reason for an incorrect balance at filing.
Sources
Frequently Asked Questions
How much should I pay in quarterly taxes?
Enough to reach a safe harbour: either 90% of your current-year tax or 100% of last year's (110% if your prior-year AGI exceeded $150,000), less anything already withheld, divided by four. A rough rule for freelancers is to set aside 25–30% of profit, which covers both income tax and the 15.3% self-employment tax, but the safe-harbour calculation is the one that actually protects you from penalties.
What happens if I miss a quarterly payment?
You may owe an underpayment penalty, which is calculated as interest on the shortfall from the date the payment was due. Paying the full amount later in the year does not erase a penalty for an earlier missed quarter, because each period is assessed separately. If you realise you are behind, paying as soon as possible limits the damage rather than waiting for the next deadline.
Can I just pay everything in one go at the end of the year?
You can, but it will generally cost you a penalty for the earlier quarters. The exception is if your income genuinely arrived late in the year — in that case the annualised income instalment method on Form 2210 lets you match payments to when you actually earned, which can eliminate the penalty. It is more work, but it is the correct treatment for lumpy income.
Do estimated payments cover self-employment tax too?
Yes. Estimated payments cover your total federal liability, which for the self-employed includes both income tax and the 15.3% self-employment tax. Budgeting only for income tax is the most common reason freelancers end up short, because the self-employment portion alone is around 14% of profit.
I have a W-2 job and freelance on the side. Do I need to pay quarterly?
Only if your withholding does not cover the extra liability. Often the simpler fix is to increase withholding on your salary using Form W-4 rather than making separate payments — withholding is credited as though paid evenly through the year, which sidesteps the per-quarter timing question entirely.
Do I need to make state estimated payments as well?
Usually yes if your state has an income tax, and the rules and dates often differ from the federal ones. This calculator covers federal tax only. States with no personal income tax, such as Texas, Florida and Washington, have no equivalent requirement.
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