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Quarterly Estimated Tax Calculator

Estimate what to pay the IRS each quarter on your freelance income, including self-employment tax and safe-harbor amounts.

Updated · Tax year 2026 · By Volkan Eren · Sources & method

Freelance income minus business expenses, for the whole year.

Per year. Used for the self-employed health insurance deduction.

SEP-IRA or solo 401(k) contributions.

Form 1040 line 24. Paying 100% of it (110% if AGI was over $150,000) avoids the penalty even if you earn more this year.

Federal estimated payment per quarter

$4,346

Projected 2026 federal tax is $19,316 (income tax $6,599 + self-employment tax $12,717). Paying 90% of this year’s tax of $17,384 in four equal payments avoids the underpayment penalty.

2026 federal estimated tax payment schedule
Income earnedDuePay
Jan 1 – Mar 31, 2026April 15, 2026$4,346
Apr 1 – May 31, 2026June 15, 2026$4,346
Jun 1 – Aug 31, 2026September 15, 2026$4,346
Sep 1 – Dec 31, 2026January 15, 2027$4,346

Equal installments under the regular method (Form 1040-ES). If your income is uneven, you can use the annualized method on Form 2210. Estimate for tax year 2026. Not tax advice.

How much should I pay in quarterly taxes?

A single freelancer expecting $90,000 of 2026 net profit owes about $19,316 in federal income and self-employment tax. Paying 90% of that, $4,346 on each of the four due dates, avoids the IRS underpayment penalty. The last 2026 payment is due January 15, 2027.

How the estimate works

The calculator takes four steps:

  1. It projects your 2026 self-employment tax and federal income tax from your expected profit.
  2. It finds the safe-harbor amount: 90% of this year’s tax, or 100% (110%) of last year’s if you enter it.
  3. It subtracts any federal withholding from a spouse’s paycheck (married filing jointly).
  4. It splits the rest into four equal payments, as Form 1040-ES assumes.

How to pay federal and state estimated tax

Pay online through IRS Direct Pay, the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS), or your IRS Online Account. Each state that taxes income runs its own estimated-payment system. Find yours on the state pages.

Read the full guide to quarterly estimated taxes for freelancers, or check how much of each invoice to keep with the freelance rate calculator.

Frequently asked questions

When are 2026 quarterly estimated taxes due?

April 15, 2026, June 15, 2026, September 15, 2026, January 15, 2027. The last payment for 2026 income is due in January 2027.

Do I have to pay estimated taxes?

Generally yes, if you expect to owe at least $1,000 of federal tax for the year after withholding and refundable credits. Most full-time freelancers cross that line.

How do I avoid the underpayment penalty?

Pay at least the smaller of 90% of this year’s tax or 100% of last year’s tax (110% if last year’s AGI was over $150,000, or $75,000 married filing separately), spread across the four due dates.

Do estimated payments include self-employment tax?

Yes. Your estimated payments cover income tax and self-employment tax together, which is why freelancers often owe more than they expect.

Estimates for educational and planning purposes only. HourFloor does not provide tax, legal or financial advice. Verify your numbers with a qualified tax professional.

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