Quarterly Estimated Tax Calculator
Enter your expected profit from self-employment, plus any wages, tax withheld and last year's tax if you know them, and see how much to pay in estimated tax for 2026. The tool adds income tax and self-employment tax, applies the safe harbor rule, and splits the amount into four payments with their due dates. Everything runs in your browser.
Payment schedule for 2026
| Payment | Due | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 15 April 2026 | 2,922.54 |
| 2 | 15 June 2026 | 2,922.54 |
| 3 | 15 September 2026 | 2,922.54 |
| 4 | 15 January 2027 | 2,922.54 |
If a date falls on a weekend or holiday, the payment is due the next business day. You can skip the January payment if you file your 2026 return by 1 February 2027 and pay the whole balance. If part of the year is already over, spread what is left across the payments still ahead of you.
An estimate of US federal estimated tax for 2026 for one business, using the standard deduction. The required payment is the smaller of 90% of this year's tax and last year's total tax when you enter it. If last year's adjusted gross income was high, special rules apply, which Form 1040-ES explains. It does not include state tax, credits, farm or fishing income, or the annualized method for uneven income. It is not tax advice.
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Math & MoneyAbout the Quarterly Estimated Tax Calculator
People with income that has no tax withheld, such as freelance profit, pay federal tax during the year in estimated payments. The IRS says you generally have to pay if you expect to owe 1,000 or more when you file. The tool works out income tax and self-employment tax for your expected year. For a single filer with 60,000 of profit in 2026, self-employment tax is 8,477.73 and income tax is 4,511.34, a total of 12,989.07. To avoid an underpayment penalty, you generally need to pay at least 90% of this year's tax or 100% of last year's tax, whichever is smaller. Here 90% is 11,690.16, and if last year's tax was 9,000 the required payment is 9,000, or 2,250 a payment. Withholding from a job counts toward the total, and if the tax left after withholding is under 1,000 no payments are needed. The 2026 due dates from Form 1040-ES are 15 April, 15 June and 15 September 2026 and 15 January 2027, and you can skip the January payment if you file your return by 1 February 2027 and pay the balance. If last year's income was high, special rules apply, and Form 1040-ES explains them. The tool is for one business, uses the standard deduction, and does not include state tax, credits or the annualized method. The income tax and self-employment tax follow the IRS tables and IRS Topics 306 and 554. Nothing is uploaded.
How do I calculate quarterly estimated taxes?▾
Estimate your tax for the whole year, which is income tax plus self-employment tax, work out the amount you must pay to be safe, subtract any withholding, and divide by four. For a single freelancer with 60,000 of profit in 2026, the estimate is 12,989.07 and the 90% safe harbor amount is 11,690.16.
When are 2026 estimated tax payments due?▾
15 April, 15 June and 15 September 2026, and 15 January 2027. A date that falls on a weekend or holiday moves to the next business day. You can skip the January payment if you file your 2026 return by 1 February 2027 and pay the whole balance.
What is the safe harbor rule?▾
You generally avoid the underpayment penalty if you owe under 1,000 after withholding, or if you paid at least 90% of this year's tax or 100% of last year's tax, whichever is smaller. Higher-income taxpayers have special rules described in Form 1040-ES.
Does withholding from my job count?▾
Yes. Tax withheld from your wages counts toward what you owe, so enter it and the tool subtracts it. If you have a job as well as a business, you may need little or no estimated tax.
Does the calculator include state tax?▾
No. It covers federal tax only. Many states have their own estimated tax rules, forms and due dates, so check your state tax agency as well.