Quarterly Estimated Tax Calculator
Enter your expected 2026 self-employment profit to estimate federal tax and what to pay each quarter. For a net profit of $80,000 as a single filer, the estimate is $4,707.56 per quarter.
How the quarterly estimated tax calculator works
If you work for yourself, no employer withholds tax from your pay, so the IRS expects you to pay during the year in four installments. This calculator estimates the two taxes that matter most for a sole proprietor or single-member LLC: self-employment (SE) tax and federal income tax. It then divides the total by four.
All amounts use tax year 2026. The standard deductions and tax brackets come from IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32. The Social Security wage base of $184,500 is shown on the 2026 Schedule SE and in the IRS page on self-employment tax.
The formulas
Example: A single filer with $80,000 of net profit and no other income owes SE tax of $11,303.64. After deducting half of that and the standard deduction, taxable income is $58,248.18 and federal income tax is $7,526.60. The total of $18,830.24 is 23.54% of profit, or $4,707.56 per quarter. This is an illustration, not a prediction for your return.
Safe harbor
You can generally avoid an underpayment penalty by paying the smaller of 90 percent of this year’s tax or 100 percent of last year’s tax, according to the IRS. Form 1040-ES says that if your 2025 adjusted gross income was more than $150,000 ($75,000 if married filing separately), you substitute 110 percent for 100 percent. The last two results show both safe harbor amounts per quarter. With the example inputs the prior-year method comes to $3,000.00 and the 90 percent method to $4,236.80. There is also no penalty if you owe less than $1,000 after withholding and credits.
2026 due dates
Form 1040-ES lists the payment dates: April 15, 2026, June 15, 2026, September 15, 2026 and January 15, 2027. The January payment is not required if you file your 2026 return by February 1, 2027 and pay the full balance. Dates that land on a weekend or holiday move to the next business day.
To use the result, set aside the quarterly figure each time you are paid, or move money into a separate savings account every month. If your income is uneven, you can run the calculator again after each quarter with updated profit and adjust the next payment.
What this estimate leaves out
It is a simplified estimate. It ignores the qualified business income deduction, itemized deductions, tax credits, the additional Medicare tax, state tax, and any W-2 wages that use up part of the Social Security wage base. Your actual bill will differ. It is not tax advice, so confirm figures with the Form 1040-ES worksheet or a tax professional. To see SE tax on its own, try our self-employment tax calculator.
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Frequently asked questions
How much should I pay in quarterly estimated taxes?
The calculator estimates $4,707.56 per quarter for the default inputs. Your amount depends on profit, filing status and deductions. Paying the safe harbor amount can protect you from a penalty even if the final bill is higher.
What are the 2026 estimated tax due dates?
Per Form 1040-ES: April 15, 2026, June 15, 2026, September 15, 2026 and January 15, 2027. A date that falls on a weekend or holiday moves to the next business day.
What is the safe harbor rule?
Generally you avoid the penalty if you pay the smaller of 90 percent of this year’s tax or 100 percent of last year’s tax. If last year’s AGI was above $150,000 ($75,000 if married filing separately), use 110 percent of last year’s tax.
How is self-employment tax calculated?
SE tax is 15.3 percent: 12.4 percent Social Security up to the $184,500 wage base for 2026 and 2.9 percent Medicare. It applies to 92.35 percent of net profit.
Is this calculator accurate enough to file with?
No. It is an estimate for planning. It skips deductions such as the qualified business income deduction, credits, state tax and other items. Use the IRS worksheet or a tax professional for final figures.
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