Quarterly Estimated Tax Calculator
How much to send the IRS each quarter, and the smallest amount that keeps you penalty-free. Built around Form 1040-ES for freelancers and 1099 contractors.
| Q1 · due April 15, 2026Covers Jan 1 – Mar 31 | $3,874 |
| Q2 · due June 15, 2026Covers Apr 1 – May 31 | $3,874 |
| Q3 · due September 15, 2026Covers Jun 1 – Aug 31 | $3,874 |
| Q4 · due January 15, 2027Covers Sep 1 – Dec 31 | $3,874 |
| Projected federal taxIncome tax $4,898 + SE tax $10,597 | $15,495 |
| 90% of this year | $13,945 |
| 100% of last yearPrior AGI $150k or less | $14,000 |
Which safe harbor is cheaper for you?
The penalty test uses whichever target is lower. When your income is rising, last year's tax is usually the smaller number; when it is falling, 90% of this year wins. Slide this year's income and watch the two targets cross.
90% OF THIS YEAR is your cheaper target: $13,945 for the year.
2026 estimated tax due dates
| Payment | Income earned | Due date |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 | Jan 1 – Mar 31 | April 15, 2026 |
| Q2 | Apr 1 – May 31 | June 15, 2026 |
| Q3 | Jun 1 – Aug 31 | September 15, 2026 |
| Q4 | Sep 1 – Dec 31 | January 15, 2027 |
The "quarters" are uneven: the second covers only two months and the third covers three. If you file your 2026 return and pay everything by February 1, 2027, you can skip the January payment.
Uneven income? Use the annualized method
If most of your income lands late in the year, equal payments overstate what you owed in spring. Form 2210 Schedule AI lets you base each payment on income actually earned by that point, which can remove an early-quarter penalty. Freelancers with one big project in the fall are the typical case.
How the underpayment penalty works
It is not a flat fine. The IRS charges the federal short-term rate plus 3 percentage points, per day, on the shortfall for each quarter separately. Being $2,000 short for three months costs far less than people fear, but it adds up across a year of skipped payments.
Questions freelancers ask
When are quarterly estimated taxes due in 2026?
April 15, 2026 (income Jan–Mar), June 15, 2026 (Apr–May), September 15, 2026 (Jun–Aug) and January 15, 2027 (Sep–Dec). If a date falls on a weekend or legal holiday, the deadline moves to the next business day.
How do I calculate quarterly estimated taxes as a freelancer?
Estimate your full-year federal tax (income tax plus self-employment tax), subtract any W-2 withholding, and divide by four. To avoid the underpayment penalty you only need to pay the smaller of 90% of this year's tax or 100% of last year's tax (110% if last year's AGI was above $150,000).
What is the safe harbor rule for estimated taxes?
If your payments (including withholding) equal at least 100% of the total tax on last year's return, or 110% when your prior-year AGI exceeded $150,000 ($75,000 married filing separately), the IRS will not charge an underpayment penalty even if you owe more in April. Paying 90% of the current year's tax also works.
What happens if I miss a quarterly payment?
The IRS charges an underpayment penalty that works like interest: the federal short-term rate plus 3 percentage points, calculated per day on the amount that was short, for each quarter separately (Form 2210). Paying late is still better than not paying; the penalty stops growing once you pay.
Do I need to pay estimated taxes in my first year of freelancing?
If you owe less than $1,000 at filing, no. If you had no tax liability last year and were a US citizen for the full year, you also owe no penalty for this year, but you will face a large bill in April, so setting money aside still pays off.
How do I pay estimated taxes?
Online through IRS Direct Pay or your IRS Online Account (free, from a bank account), through EFTPS, by debit or credit card through an IRS-approved processor (fees apply), or by mailing a check with a Form 1040-ES voucher.