Quarterly estimated tax calculator
See what to pay each quarter in 2026, and the lowest payment that avoids an IRS penalty. It’s an estimate from your numbers, not advice; Krystal checks the real picture on a call.
Net income after business expenses, as on Schedule C.
W-2 income
If you also have a job, your expected W-2 wages for the year.
Federal tax already withheld from your paychecks (Box 2 of your W-2).
Last year’s return (for safe harbor)Used to find the lowest payment that avoids a penalty.
Over $150,000, the prior-year safe harbor is 110% of last year’s tax.
Estimated quarterly payment
Illustrative$5,000 / quarter
Strategy: 100% of Prior Year.
- Annual tax
- $26,036
- Gross income
- $100,000
- AGI
- $92,935
- Effective rate
- 26.0%
Based on 2026 tax rates · 4 assumptionsHigh confidence
Uses IRS-published rates and thresholds.
- Four equal quarterly payments
- 15.3% self-employment tax rate
- Standard deduction
- Safe harbor based on prior-year tax
How the tax adds up
Comparison
Self-employment tax: $14,130
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Self-employment tax | $14,130 |
| Federal income tax | $11,906 |
| Self-employment tax | Amount |
|---|---|
| Taxable SE income (92.35%) | $92,350 |
| Social Security (12.4%) | $11,451 |
| Medicare (2.9%) | $2,678 |
| Deductible half (reduces AGI) | −$7,065 |
| Self-employment tax | $14,130 |
| Federal income tax | Amount |
|---|---|
| Adjusted gross income | $92,935 |
| Standard deduction | −$15,700 |
| Taxable income | $77,235 |
| 10% on $11,925 | $1,193 |
| 12% on $36,550 | $4,386 |
| 22% on $28,760 | $6,327 |
| Marginal rate | 22.0% |
| Federal income tax | $11,906 |
| Summary | Amount |
|---|---|
| Total estimated tax | $26,036 |
| Net tax to pay through estimates | $26,036 |
Safe harbor options
The lowest payment that avoids an underpayment penalty.
90% of Current Year
Pay 90% of your 2026 estimated tax liability
$5,858 / quarter
$23,432 / year
Medium risk$3,432 more than the recommended option100% of Prior Year
Pay 100% of your 2025 tax
$5,000 / quarter
$20,000 / year
RecommendedLow riskGuaranteed penalty-free regardless of actual tax owed.
Under $1,000 Owed
Keep balance due under $1,000 at filing
$6,259 / quarter
$25,037 / year
Not availableLow risk
The IRS doesn’t charge an underpayment penalty if you pay at least 90% of this year’s tax or 100% of last year’s. The recommended option is the lowest payment that meets one of the rules.
Payment schedule
2026 due dates.
| Quarter | Amount | |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 (Jan - Mar)Due April 15, 2026Date passed | $5,000 | $5,000 |
| Q2 (Apr - May)Due June 15, 2026Date passed | $5,000 | $10,000 |
| Q3 (Jun - Aug)Due September 15, 2026Date passed | $5,000 | $15,000 |
| Q4 (Sep - Dec)Due January 15, 202775 days to go | $5,000 | $20,000 |
Dates passed
Some due dates have passed. Paying a missed amount soon keeps any penalty smaller.
How to pay
- IRS Direct Pay (opens in a new tab) free, from a bank account
- EFTPS (opens in a new tab) schedule payments ahead
Keep each confirmation number with your tax records.
Tax year 2026. Federal income tax and self-employment tax only; credits, itemized deductions and state tax are left out. Results vary. This is not tax advice.
What to do next
See it across several years
The multi-year tax planner starts from these numbers and shows the wider picture.
Method
How the estimate works.
What the calculator adds up
Self-employment tax on your net self-employment income, plus federal income tax on your total income after the standard deduction. Any W-2 withholding is subtracted, and the rest is split into four equal payments.
- Self-employment tax: 15.3% on 92.35% of net earnings (Social Security 12.4%, Medicare 2.9%)
- Half of self-employment tax is deducted when figuring AGI
- Federal brackets and standard deduction for tax year 2026
The safe harbor rules
The IRS doesn’t charge an underpayment penalty if you meet one of these:
- You pay at least 90% of this year’s tax.
- You pay at least 100% of last year’s tax, or 110% if last year’s AGI was over $150,000 ($75,000 married filing separately).
- You owe less than $1,000 when you file.
The calculator shows the lowest payment that meets one of them.
2026 due dates
- Q1 (Jan - Mar)April 15, 2026
- Q2 (Apr - May)June 15, 2026
- Q3 (Jun - Aug)September 15, 2026
- Q4 (Sep - Dec)January 15, 2027
What it leaves out
- Itemized deductions, credits and the QBI deduction.
- Investment income, the net investment income tax and state income tax.
- The annualized income method for uneven income during the year.
Krystal covers those on a call.
FAQ
Quarterly tax questions.
Who needs to pay quarterly estimated taxes?
You typically need to pay quarterly estimated taxes if you expect to owe $1,000 or more in taxes after subtracting withholding and credits. This commonly applies to self-employed individuals, freelancers, independent contractors, and those with significant investment income.
What are the quarterly estimated tax due dates?
For tax year 2026, quarterly estimated tax payments are due: Q1 (Jan-Mar) on April 15, Q2 (Apr-May) on June 15, Q3 (Jun-Aug) on September 15, and Q4 (Sep-Dec) on January 15 of the following year.
What is the safe harbor rule for estimated taxes?
The IRS won't charge an underpayment penalty if you pay at least 90% of your current year's tax liability OR 100% of your prior year's tax. If last year's AGI was over $150,000 ($75,000 if married filing separately), the prior-year safe harbor is 110% of last year's tax. Meeting either threshold keeps you penalty-free.
How do I calculate self-employment tax?
Self-employment tax is 15.3% of your net self-employment earnings (Social Security at 12.4% plus Medicare at 2.9%). However, you only pay SE tax on 92.35% of your net earnings, and you can deduct half of the SE tax from your income.
What happens if I miss a quarterly payment?
Missing a quarterly payment may result in an underpayment penalty from the IRS. The penalty is calculated based on the federal short-term interest rate plus 3 percentage points. However, you can avoid penalties by meeting safe harbor requirements or owing less than $1,000 at filing.
Keep reading
Related.
IRS penalty calculator
Already underpaid? Estimate the penalty and check the safe harbor rules.
Self-employment tax calculator
Social Security and Medicare on your business income, line by line.
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