Quarterly Estimated Tax Calculator 2026

Work out your 2026 quarterly estimated tax payments for 1099 income, with the safe harbor that avoids the IRS penalty and the four due dates.

Filing status

Self-employment profit (1099, Schedule C)

W-2 wages

Other income (interest, dividends, rent)

Federal tax withheld this year

Last year's total tax (Form 1040, line 24; empty = no return)

Last year's AGI was over 150,000 (75,000 if married filing separately)

Pay per quarter

—Total federal tax for 2026

—Self-employment tax

—Withheld

—Required to avoid the penalty

—Per quarter to owe nothing

—Left to pay when you file

Due date	Payment	Paid so far

Uses the 2026 federal brackets, self-employment tax and the 20% QBI deduction. Withholding counts as paid evenly through the year. The penalty is interest at the IRS underpayment rate on each late quarter (Form 2210). Your state may also require estimated payments.

What it does

Taxes are pay-as-you-go: if no employer withholds tax from your income, you pay it in four estimated payments during the year. You avoid the underpayment penalty if you pay at least 90% of this year's tax or 100% of last year's (110% with a higher income). The calculator estimates your 2026 tax and the payments.

How to use it

Choose your filing status and type your expected profit as self-employed, wages and other income for 2026.
Type the tax withheld from wages and last year's total tax, and tick the box if last year's AGI was over 150,000.
See how much to pay each quarter, the due dates and what is left for the tax return.

The arithmetic runs in your browser. Nothing you type is sent anywhere and nothing is stored, so you can use these with real numbers.

Frequently asked questions

How much should I pay in quarterly estimated taxes?
Single freelancer with 80,000 of profit: the 2026 tax is about 16,647, including 11,304 of self-employment tax. With 9,000 of tax last year, 2,250 a quarter avoids the penalty, and 7,647 is left to pay when you file.

When are estimated taxes due in 2026?
April 15, June 15 and September 15, 2026, and January 15, 2027. Pay on IRS Direct Pay or EFTPS, or by mail with Form 1040-ES.

What is the safe harbor for estimated taxes?
No penalty if you owe less than 1,000 or pay at least the smaller of 90% of this year's tax or 100% of last year's (110% if last year's AGI was over 150,000). In the example, 110% means 2,475 a quarter.

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