Taxes

Quarterly Estimated Tax Calculator

Because no employer withholds tax from your freelance income, the IRS expects payments four times a year. This tool gives a rough per-quarter set-aside based on your expected net income.

Expected net self-employment income (year)

Your marginal income tax rate

Federal bracket (add your state rate if any).

Combines estimated self-employment tax with income tax on your profit (after the deductible half of SE tax), then splits the total across four payments.

Set aside per quarter

Self-employment tax
Estimated income tax
Total annual tax
Suggested set-aside

Estimated 2026 payment dates fall around Apr 15, Jun 15, Sep 15, and Jan 15. Many freelancers simply move the set-aside percentage to savings from every client payment.

This calculator gives a simplified estimate for educational purposes and uses approximate figures. It is not tax or financial advice and does not account for every rule, credit, or your full situation. Confirm specifics with a qualified professional. See our full disclaimer.

How the Quarterly Estimated Tax Calculator works

The United States runs on a "pay as you go" tax system. For employees, that happens automatically through paycheck withholding. Freelancers and the self-employed have no employer doing this for them, so the IRS asks them to estimate their tax and pay it in four installments across the year. This calculator gives you a realistic per-quarter figure to set aside, based on your expected net self-employment income and your marginal income-tax rate.

Under the hood it combines two separate taxes. First it estimates your self-employment tax — the 15.3% that funds Social Security and Medicare — on 92.35% of your net profit. Then it estimates your income tax on your profit after subtracting the deductible half of that SE tax. Adding the two together gives your total expected annual tax, which it divides by four to suggest a quarterly set-aside. It also shows the result as a percentage of income, which is the easiest number to act on day to day.

Who needs to pay, and when

As a general rule, if you expect to owe $1,000 or more in tax for the year after withholding and credits, you are expected to make estimated payments. Most full-time freelancers cross this line quickly. The four deadlines typically fall around April 15, June 15, September 15, and January 15 of the following year. A detail that trips up many people: these "quarters" are not evenly spaced, so it is worth putting all four dates in your calendar the moment you go full-time.

Two ways to size your payments

There are two accepted approaches. The safe-harbor method has you pay 100% of last year's total tax (110% if your income was high), split into four — and as long as you hit that number, you generally avoid penalties even if you end up owing more in April. The current-year method estimates this year's income directly, which is more accurate when your income swings a lot from year to year. This calculator uses the current-year approach; many freelancers lean on safe harbor for predictability and then true-up at filing time.

What the underpayment penalty really is

If you pay too little or too late, the IRS can charge an underpayment penalty. It is not a dramatic fine — it works essentially like interest on the tax you should have paid earlier. But it is avoidable money, and it compounds if you ignore it across multiple quarters. Paying something close to your obligation, on time, is almost always cheaper than perfect accuracy paid late.

The habit that makes this effortless

The freelancers who never stress about quarterly taxes almost all use the same trick: every time a client pays, they immediately move a fixed percentage — often 25–30% — into a separate savings account reserved only for tax. When a deadline arrives, the money is already sitting there. They are not scrambling to find cash; they are simply transferring it. Treating that reserve as money that was never yours to spend is the difference between a calm tax season and a stressful one.

Don't forget your state

This tool estimates federal tax. If your state has an income tax, it almost certainly expects its own estimated payments, with separate portals and deadlines. Add your state's marginal rate into the income-tax field for a fuller picture, and check your state tax authority for its specific schedule.

Frequently asked questions

Who has to pay quarterly estimated taxes?

Generally, if you expect to owe $1,000 or more in tax for the year after withholding and credits, the IRS expects estimated payments. Most full-time freelancers cross that threshold quickly.

When are quarterly taxes due?

The four estimated-tax deadlines typically fall around April 15, June 15, September 15, and January 15 of the following year. The "quarters" are not evenly spaced, which catches many people off guard.

What happens if I skip a payment?

You may owe an underpayment penalty, which is essentially interest on the tax you should have paid earlier. It is not catastrophic for small shortfalls but it is avoidable, and it compounds if ignored across several quarters.

How do I actually pay?

The simplest free options are IRS Direct Pay or EFTPS. If your state has an income tax, remember it has its own separate estimated-payment portal and deadlines.

How can I make this painless?

Move a fixed percentage — often 25–30% — of every client payment into a separate savings account the day it lands. When a deadline arrives, the money is already there and you are just transferring it.