Quarterly Estimated Tax Calculator 2026: How Much to Pay and When
If you earn money that nobody withholds tax from — freelance work, 1099 contracting, gig apps, a side business — the IRS expects you to pay as you go, through quarterly estimated tax payments. This guide walks you through the 2026 numbers and the payment that's coming up next: January 15, 2027.
Who has to pay estimated tax in 2026?
According to the IRS, individuals — including sole proprietors, partners and S corporation shareholders — generally have to make estimated tax payments if they expect to owe $1,000 or more when they file their return (IRS: Estimated taxes). Estimated tax covers not only income tax but also self-employment tax.
There is one important exception for first-timers: if you had no tax liability for the prior year, were a U.S. citizen or resident the whole year, and that year covered 12 months, you don't have to pay estimated tax for the current year (Form 1040-ES instructions). "No liability" means zero total tax — not "I got a refund."
The 2026 estimated tax due dates
The IRS splits the year into four uneven payment periods (IRS FAQ: Estimated tax):
| Income earned | Due date |
|---|---|
| Jan 1 – Mar 31, 2026 | April 15, 2026 |
| Apr 1 – May 31, 2026 | June 15, 2026 |
| Jun 1 – Aug 31, 2026 | September 15, 2026 |
| Sep 1 – Dec 31, 2026 | January 15, 2027 |
Notice the second period covers only two months and the fourth covers four. If a date falls on a weekend or legal holiday, the payment is on time on the next business day.
You also don't have to make the January 15, 2027 payment if you file your 2026 return by February 1, 2027 and pay the entire balance with it (Form 1040-ES).
How to calculate your quarterly payment, step by step
- Estimate your 2026 net self-employment profit. That's gross 1099/business income minus ordinary and necessary business expenses (Schedule C).
- Compute self-employment tax. SE tax is 15.3% (12.4% Social Security + 2.9% Medicare) applied to 92.35% of your net earnings (IRS: Self-employment tax). The Social Security part stops at the annual wage base.
- Compute income tax. Add other income (W-2 wages, interest), subtract half of your SE tax, your standard or itemized deduction and any qualified business income deduction, then apply the 2026 brackets.
- Subtract withholding and credits. W-2 withholding counts toward what you owe.
- Pick your target. To avoid an underpayment penalty you need to pay the smaller of 90% of your 2026 tax or 100% of your 2025 tax (110% if 2025 AGI was over $150,000). That's the safe harbor — see our safe harbor guide.
- Divide by four and pay each installment by its due date, minus anything already paid.
The 1040-ES package includes an Estimated Tax Worksheet that follows exactly these steps.
A simplified example
Illustration only, not a real filing. Maya is a single freelance designer. She expects $60,000 of net profit in 2026 and has no other income.
- Net earnings for SE tax: $60,000 × 92.35% = $55,410
- SE tax: $55,410 × 15.3% ≈ $8,478
- Income tax: computed on $60,000 minus half her SE tax, the standard deduction and the QBI deduction, using 2026 brackets.
Her SE tax alone is about 14% of her profit — before a single dollar of income tax. That's why new freelancers are so often surprised in April.
If Maya's 2025 total tax (line 24 of her Form 1040) was lower than 90% of her projected 2026 tax, paying one quarter of the 2025 number on each date keeps her penalty-free.
Paying the Q4 payment on January 15, 2027
You can pay through your IRS Online Account, IRS Direct Pay from a bank account, EFTPS, by card, or by mailing a 1040-ES voucher (IRS: Make a payment). Choose "Estimated tax – 1040ES" and tax year 2026. Mailed payments count as paid on the postmark date.
If you missed an earlier payment, pay it as soon as possible: the penalty works like interest and is figured separately for each period, so a large January payment does not erase penalties that already built up on earlier installments (IRS: Underpayment penalty).
Common mistakes
- Forgetting self-employment tax. It's often the bigger part of the bill for lower and middle incomes.
- Assuming the quarters are equal. They're not.
- Ignoring state tax. Most states with an income tax have their own estimated payments.
- Treating income as earned when invoiced. Most freelancers are cash-basis: income counts when you receive it.
Run your own numbers
TaxQuarterly is a free, in-browser planner that does steps 1–6 for you: federal income tax + SE tax, a set-aside percentage, your safe-harbor amount and each 1040-ES payment with its due date. No signup.
FAQ
Can I pay monthly instead of quarterly? Yes. The IRS only cares that enough is paid by each due date.
What if my income is uneven? The annualized income installment method (Form 2210, Schedule AI) can reduce early installments. See Publication 505.
This article is general information, not tax advice. Check IRS sources or a tax professional for your situation.