Your Income
Annual figures — divided into 4 payments
$
$
$
Safe Harbor (Optional)
$
Your 2026 Payment Schedule
Equal payments · dynamically updated by date
Total 2026 Estimated Tax
—
Effective rate: —
Per Quarter (Equal ÷4)
—
4 equal payments
Safe Harbor / Quarter
—
Pay ≥ this to avoid penalty
2026 Payment Schedule
Jan 1 – Mar 31, 2026
Q1 2026
Due: April 15, 2026
—
Apr 1 – May 31, 2026
Q2 2026
Due: June 16, 2026
—
Jun 1 – Aug 31, 2026
Q3 2026
Due: September 15, 2026
—
Sep 1 – Dec 31, 2026
Q4 2026
Due: January 15, 2027
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Tax Breakdown
Self-Employment Tax
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Federal Income Tax
—
State Income Tax
—
⚠️ Uses 2026 IRS brackets (Rev. Proc. 2025-32) and SS wage base $184,500 (SSA). Safe harbor = max(90% of current year tax, 100% of prior year tax). Not tax advice.
How It Works
Understanding quarterly estimated taxes
4×
Why four payments?
The IRS requires pay-as-you-go taxes. Self-employed workers must pay manually four times per year. Missing a payment triggers an underpayment penalty (~8% annualized on the unpaid amount) even if you pay everything when filing.
90%
The safe harbor rule
Avoid underpayment penalties by paying at least 90% of your current year tax, OR 100% of last year's tax bill (110% if prior AGI exceeded $150,000). Enter your prior year tax above to see your safe harbor quarterly amount.
÷4
Equal vs. annualized
The simplest method splits estimated annual tax into four equal payments. If your income is seasonal, the annualized installment method (Form 2210 Schedule AI) lets you pay based on actual income each period — useful for avoiding overpayment early in the year.
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FAQ
Common questions
What are the exact 2026 quarterly tax due dates?+
Q1 (Jan–Mar income): April 15, 2026. Q2 (Apr–May income): June 16, 2026. Q3 (Jun–Aug income): September 15, 2026. Q4 (Sep–Dec income): January 15, 2027. Note the quarters are not equal in length — Q2 covers only two months.
What happens if I miss a quarterly payment?+
The IRS charges an underpayment penalty at approximately 7–8% annualized on the unpaid amount, from the due date until you pay or file. This applies even if you get a refund when you file. You can avoid penalties using the safe harbor: pay 90% of current year tax, or 100% of last year's tax (110% if prior AGI > $150K).
I have both W-2 and 1099 income — do I need to pay quarterly?+
Possibly not. If your W-2 withholding covers your total tax (including SE tax on 1099 income), no quarterly payments are needed. A common strategy: increase W-4 withholding at your W-2 job to cover both your W-2 and 1099 obligations, eliminating separate quarterly payments. Enter your W-2 income above — our calculator models the correct SS wage base interaction.
Can I pay quarterly taxes online?+
Yes. IRS Direct Pay (free bank transfer, no registration) at irs.gov/payments is the easiest. EFTPS allows scheduled future payments. Credit/debit card payments are available through IRS-approved processors (1.85–1.98% fees apply). For state taxes, use your state's department of revenue online portal.