🗓️ Quarterly Estimated Tax Calculator
Estimate your 2026 quarterly tax payments (Form 1040-ES) as a freelancer or self-employed worker — income tax plus self-employment tax, with the safe harbor rule and due dates.
How the Quarterly Estimated Tax Calculator Works
If you are self-employed, no employer withholds tax from your income, so the IRS expects you to pay during the year through quarterly estimated tax payments. Each payment covers both federal income tax and self-employment tax (Social Security and Medicare for the self-employed).
This calculator estimates your total 2026 federal tax from your expected net profit and any W-2 wages, then applies the safe harbor rule: you generally avoid an underpayment penalty if your withholding and estimated payments cover at least 90% of this year's tax or 100% of last year's tax (110% if last year's adjusted gross income was over $150,000). The required amount, minus withholding and payments already made, is spread over the remaining due dates.
It uses the standard deduction and federal brackets for your filing status. State income tax, itemized deductions, tax credits and other income types are not included, so treat the result as a planning estimate.
Formula
SE tax base = net profit × 92.35% SE tax = 12.4% × min(base, wage base − W-2 wages) + 2.9% × base AGI = W-2 wages + net profit − ½ SE tax Income tax = brackets(AGI − standard deduction − optional 20% QBI deduction) Required = min(90% × this year's total tax, 100%/110% × last year's tax) Per payment = (Required − withholding − payments made) ÷ remaining due dates
Additional Medicare Tax (0.9%) is included above the threshold for your filing status. The QBI deduction is optional because eligibility depends on your income and business type.
How to Use It
- Choose your filing status.
- Enter your expected net self-employment profit for the year.
- Add W-2 wages and withholding if you also have a job.
- Optionally enter last year's total tax to apply the safe harbor.
- See your required total and the amount due on each remaining date.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who has to pay quarterly estimated taxes?
Generally anyone who expects to owe at least $1,000 in federal tax for the year after withholding and credits — most freelancers, independent contractors and small business owners with profit.
When are quarterly estimated taxes due?
For tax year 2026: April 15, 2026, June 15, 2026, September 15, 2026, January 15, 2027. When a date falls on a weekend or legal holiday, the deadline moves to the next business day.
What is the safe harbor rule?
You generally avoid the underpayment penalty if you pay at least 90% of this year's tax or 100% of last year's tax through withholding and estimated payments — 110% of last year's tax if your prior-year AGI was over $150,000.
Do quarterly payments include self-employment tax?
Yes. Estimated payments cover your total federal tax, including both income tax and self-employment tax.
Related Calculators
- 🧾 Self-Employment Tax Calculator — Estimate your Social Security and Medicare tax as a freelancer (2026 rates).
- 🧾 2026 Federal Tax Bracket Calculator — Calculate your federal income tax using official 2026 IRS brackets and standard deduction.
- 💼 Freelance Hourly Rate Calculator — Find the hourly rate you actually need to charge — it's not salary ÷ hours.
- 💰 Paycheck Calculator (2026) — Estimate your take-home pay using official 2026 federal tax brackets and FICA rates.
Formula and content last reviewed: January 2026. All calculations run in your browser — nothing you enter is sent to or stored on our servers.
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See all →✔ Reviewed by GelirLab Editöryal Ekibi · Last reviewed: January 2026 · How we check our calculators