Estimated Tax Calculator

Project your annual self-employment income, subtract business expenses, then add up your self-employment tax (15.3% on 92.35% of net earnings) and your federal income tax on what is left. Your required annual payment is the lesser of 90% of that projected tax or 100% of last year's tax. Subtract any withholding, then divide the rest by four for each quarterly payment.

The safe harbor lets you avoid the IRS underpayment penalty even if you owe more at filing. You meet it by paying the smaller of 90% of this year's total tax or 100% of last year's total tax. If your prior-year adjusted gross income topped $150,000 (or $75,000 if married filing separately), the prior-year figure rises to 110%. This calculator picks whichever target is lower for you.

For a calendar-year filer, the four federal due dates are roughly April 15, June 15, September 15, and January 15 of the following year. The periods are not evenly spaced, but this calculator splits your required payment into four equal amounts as a planning baseline. Confirm the exact dates each year, since they shift when the 15th falls on a weekend or holiday.

Often no, because the tax withheld from your W2 paychecks counts toward your required annual payment. Enter your expected withholding and the calculator subtracts it before splitting the remainder into quarters. If your withholding already covers the safe-harbor amount, the quarterly payment drops to zero.

Under the IRS de-minimis rule, you do not owe estimated tax payments if the balance due at filing (your total tax minus withholding) is under $1,000. The calculator flags this for you. You can still pay quarterly if you prefer to spread the cost out and avoid a single large bill in April.

No. This tool gives an estimate based on 2026 federal brackets, the $184,500 Social Security wage base, and the standard safe-harbor rule. It does not model state income tax, the 0.9% additional Medicare surtax, the 20% QBI deduction, or the annualized-income method for uneven earnings. Treat the result as a planning figure, not financial or tax advice, and confirm with a tax professional.