Free quarterly estimated tax calculator. Calculate how much to pay each quarter for self-employment, investment, or other income not subject to withholding.
The Quarterly Estimated Tax Calculator determines how much you should pay each quarter in estimated taxes. If you have income not subject to withholding — self-employment, freelance, investment, or rental income — the IRS requires quarterly payments to avoid underpayment penalties.
This calculator estimates your total annual tax liability (income tax plus self-employment tax), subtracts any W-2 withholding, and divides the remainder into four equal quarterly payments. It also shows due dates and safe harbor thresholds.
Quarterly payments are generally due April 15, June 15, September 15, and January 15 of the following year. Missing these deadlines triggers an underpayment penalty that accrues interest from the due date, even if you eventually pay the full amount. The IRS allows two safe harbor methods: pay 100% of your prior year tax liability (110% for higher-income filers) or 90% of your current year liability. This calculator computes your quarterly amounts using both methods, factors in any W-2 withholding you already have, and shows the payment due on each date so you can plan ahead.
Missing or underpaying quarterly taxes results in penalties that accrue over time. This calculator helps you compare a full-year estimate against the safe harbor so you can avoid surprises. It is especially useful for freelancers, gig workers, landlords, and investors who do not have enough tax withheld automatically.
Net SE Income = SE Gross – Business Expenses SE Tax = Net SE Income × 92.35% × 15.3% Income Tax = Bracket Calc on (Total Income – Deductions – 50% SE Tax) Total Liability = Income Tax + SE Tax Required Quarterly = (Total Liability – W-2 Withholding) / 4 Safe Harbor = min(90% of current year tax, 100% of prior year tax) [110% of prior year tax if AGI > $150K]
Result: Estimated quarterly payment: $4,279
With $120,000 of total income and $60,000 of self-employment income, the simplified estimate produces about $8,478 of SE tax and about $16,637 of federal income tax after the 2026 standard deduction and the deductible half of SE tax. Total projected liability is about $25,115. After $8,000 of W-2 withholding, the remaining balance is about $17,115, or about $4,279 per quarter. The prior-year safe harbor in this example is still lower at $2,500 per quarter.
Many freelancers use the "30% rule" — setting aside 30% of every payment received for taxes. This covers both income tax and self-employment tax for most taxpayers in the 22–24% bracket. High earners should set aside 35–40%.
The safest approach is to base payments on 100% of last year's tax (110% if AGI > $150K), divided by four. This guarantees zero penalties regardless of current-year income changes. If you expect significantly lower income this year, use 90% of estimated current-year tax instead.
Most states with income tax also require quarterly estimated payments, often with the same due dates. Check your state's tax authority for specific rules. California, New York, and other high-tax states can add 5–13% to your total estimated payment obligation.
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This page estimates a simplified annual federal tax liability by combining two pieces: ordinary federal income tax on the entered annual income after the 2026 standard deduction and the deductible half of self-employment tax, plus basic self-employment tax on the entered self-employment income after business expenses. It then subtracts the entered W-2 withholding, divides the remaining balance into four equal installments, and separately compares that full-year estimate with the safe-harbor amount based on the prior-year tax figure the user enters.
It is a planning worksheet, not a full Form 1040-ES engine. The page does not automatically model Additional Medicare Tax, NIIT, qualified dividends, capital-gain schedules, or the annualized-income installment method from Form 2210 Schedule AI, so users with uneven or complex income should treat it as a high-level estimate.
For tax year 2026, the standard federal due dates are April 15, 2026, June 15, 2026, September 15, 2026, and January 15, 2027. If a due date falls on a weekend or legal holiday, the deadline moves to the next business day.
Anyone who expects to owe $1,000 or more in tax after subtracting withholding and credits. This commonly includes freelancers, self-employed individuals, landlords, and investors with significant capital gains or dividends.
You can avoid underpayment penalties by paying at least: (1) 90% of the current year's tax, or (2) 100% of last year's tax (110% if your prior-year AGI exceeded $150,000). Meeting either threshold satisfies the safe harbor.
The IRS charges an underpayment penalty on the shortfall for each quarter. The penalty is calculated at the federal short-term rate plus 3%, compounded daily from the due date until the payment date or April 15 of the following year.
Yes. If your income is seasonal or irregular, you can use the annualized installment method to base each quarterly payment on actual income earned that quarter. This requires filing Form 2210 Schedule AI but can save you from overpaying early in the year.
Pay online via IRS Direct Pay (irs.gov), EFTPS, or by mailing a check with a Form 1040-ES voucher. Electronic payments are fastest and provide instant confirmation. You can also pay through tax preparation software.