Quarterly estimated tax calculator for freelancers
What to send the IRS on each of the four dates, from the profit you expect this year. Federal only; add your state below if it has income tax.
Last updated 14 October 2026
How the estimate is worked out
- Self-employment tax. 92.35% of your net profit is taxed at 15.3%: 12.4% Social Security on the first $184,500 (the 2026 wage base) and 2.9% Medicare on all of it. Above $200,000 ($250,000 married) Medicare adds 0.9%.
- Income tax. Profit, minus half the self-employment tax, minus the standard deduction ($16,100 single, $32,200 married, $24,150 head of household in 2026), minus the 20% QBI deduction if you tick it, run through the 2026 brackets. Other household income sits underneath, so the freelance part is taxed at your marginal rate, not from zero.
- Quarterly payment. The total, minus anything already withheld from a W-2 job, split in four.
- Safe harbor. If you enter last year's tax, the calculator also shows 100% of it (110% if last year's AGI was over $150,000). Pay that across the four dates and the IRS cannot charge an underpayment penalty, however this year turns out.
State tax is a flat percentage of profit on top, because every state is different; the real figure uses your state's own brackets and deductions.
2026 figures used
| Rate | Single | Married filing jointly | Head of household |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10% | $0 to $12,400 | $0 to $24,800 | $0 to $17,700 |
| 12% | to $50,400 | to $100,800 | to $67,450 |
| 22% | to $105,700 | to $211,400 | to $105,700 |
| 24% | to $201,775 | to $403,550 | to $201,775 |
| 32% | to $256,225 | to $512,450 | to $256,200 |
| 35% | to $640,600 | to $768,700 | to $640,600 |
| 37% | above | above | above |
| Standard deduction | $16,100 | $32,200 | $24,150 |
Sources: IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32 (2026 brackets and standard deduction); Social Security Administration, 2026 contribution and benefit base $184,500; IRS Form 1040-ES instructions (due dates, safe harbor). Checked October 2026.
The four dates
| Payment | Income from | Due |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | January 1 to March 31 | April 15, 2026 |
| 2 | April 1 to May 31 | June 15, 2026 |
| 3 | June 1 to August 31 | September 15, 2026 |
| 4 | September 1 to December 31 | January 15, 2027 |
Pay at irs.gov/payments (Direct Pay, no account needed) or through your IRS online account. Keep the confirmation numbers; you enter the total paid on next year's return.
Questions people ask
Do I have to pay quarterly taxes as a freelancer?
If you expect to owe $1,000 or more for the year after withholding and credits, yes. Below that you can pay with your return in April. Most full-time freelancers cross $1,000 in their first quarter.
What happens if I miss a quarterly payment?
An underpayment penalty, calculated like interest on the late amount from the due date (about 7 to 8% a year lately). No criminal anything. Pay as soon as you notice; the penalty stops growing that day. Paying the safe harbor amount on time avoids it completely.
What is the safe harbor rule?
No penalty if your four payments plus withholding add up to at least 90% of this year's tax, or 100% of last year's tax (110% if last year's adjusted gross income was over $150,000). The second option is the useful one: it is a known number in January, whatever the year brings.
Why is self-employment tax so high?
An employee pays 7.65% for Social Security and Medicare and the employer pays the other 7.65%. Self-employed, you are both, so 15.3%. Two things soften it: it applies to 92.35% of profit, not 100%, and half of it is deducted before income tax.
Should I set aside a flat 30%?
For a single freelancer with no other income, 25 to 30% of profit covers federal and self-employment tax up to about $100,000 of profit; add your state. The calculator gives you the exact percentage for your numbers, which is usually lower than 30% at lower incomes and higher above $150,000.
Does this cover state and city taxes?
Only as a flat rate you type in. Nine states have no income tax. The rest, and cities like New York, have their own brackets and their own estimated payment rules, usually on the same four dates. Check your state's revenue site once and reuse the rate.
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