Quarterly Estimated Tax Calculator
Work out what to send the IRS each quarter on your self-employment income, all four payments, each due date, federal and state, so you set the money aside before it’s due and dodge the underpayment penalty. Instant, no sign-up.
Tell us about your year
Enter your self-employment income to see your estimated federal + state tax, self-employment tax, and quarterly payments, instantly.
Why quarterly taxes trip people up
When you’re self-employed, no employer withholds tax from your pay, so the IRS asks you to send it in four times a year instead. The catch: the deadlines don’t match calendar quarters (the second “quarter” is only two months long), and if you under-pay, you can owe an underpayment penalty on top of the tax. The fix is boring but bulletproof, estimate the year, hit the safe harbor(90% of this year or 100-110% of last year), and move a fixed slice of every payment into savings so the money’s already there when the due date lands.
Frequently asked
Who has to pay quarterly estimated taxes?
Generally anyone who expects to owe $1,000 or more at filing time and doesn't have enough tax withheld, most freelancers, 1099 contractors, gig workers, sole proprietors, and small-business owners. If all your income is W-2 with adequate withholding, you usually don't need to.
When are quarterly estimated taxes due in 2026?
The four federal deadlines are roughly April 15, June 15, September 15, and January 15 of the following year. They don't line up with calendar quarters, Q2 covers only two months, so it's easy to under-save for the June payment. This calculator shows each due date with the amount to send.
How do I avoid the underpayment penalty?
The safe harbor: pay at least 90% of this year's tax, or 100% of last year's tax (110% if your prior-year AGI was over $150,000), spread across the four quarters. Hit the safe harbor and the IRS won't charge an underpayment penalty even if you owe more at filing.
How is each quarterly payment calculated?
Estimate your total tax for the year, self-employment tax plus federal and state income tax, minus credits and any withholding, then divide across the remaining quarters. This calculator does the full-year estimate first, then splits it into the four payments for you.