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Self-employed & tax / Quarterly Estimated Tax Calculator

Quarterly Estimated Tax Calculator

US rates · checked 17 Oct 2026
$

Enter a number from -10000000 to 10000000

Business income minus business expenses for the whole year.

%

Enter a number from 0 to 60%

Total income tax ÷ income, not your top bracket. Last year's return is the best guide: divide total income tax by income.

$

Enter a number of at least 0

Withholding from a W-2 job or estimated payments you've already made.

Pick a date

Payments due before this date count as already made or missed; what's left is split over the payments still to come.

$

Enter a number of at least 0

$184,500 is the 2026 figure from the SSA. Check ssa.gov for the year you are filing.

Next payment · Fri, Jan 15, 2027
$22,455.87
$22,456total for the year
28.1%of profit
$0profit $80,000
  • Self-employment tax
  • Income tax
  • Yours after tax
Self-employment tax · 15.3% of 92.35% of profit, SS capped$11,303.64
Income tax · 15.0% of profit minus half SE tax$11,152.23
Total tax for the year$22,455.87
Already withheld or paid$0.00
Still to pay$22,455.87
Next payment · Fri, Jan 15, 2027$22,455.87

3 of the 4 2026 payment dates have passed. If you didn't pay then, the IRS may charge an underpayment penalty; paying the balance now keeps it small. Enter what you've paid above.

See breakdown

How the quarterly estimated tax calculation works

How much to pay the IRS each quarter, from expected profit and an effective income tax rate you choose, with self-employment tax figured the IRS way.

  1. Estimate the year's profit

    Use income minus business expenses for the full year. If you're halfway through, double what you've earned so far as a first guess.

  2. Self-employment tax uses the IRS method

    15.3% of 92.35% of profit, with the 12.4% Social Security part stopping at the wage base ($184,500 in 2026). On $80,000 that is $11,303.64.

  3. Income tax uses the rate you enter

    We don't apply tax brackets. You enter your expected effective rate for federal and state combined, and it is applied to profit minus half of SE tax.

  4. Subtract what's already paid, split over the payments left

    Withholding from a job and earlier payments count. Payments are due around April 15, June 15, September 15 and January 15; whatever is still owed is split over the dates that haven't passed yet. In October that's just the January payment.

Worked example. With $80,000 of profit and a 15% effective rate, SE tax is $11,303.64 and income tax is $11,152.23 on $74,348.18. The year's total is $22,455.87: starting in January that's four payments of $5,613.97. If you've paid $16,841.91 by October, the January payment is the remaining $5,613.96.

Quarterly Estimated Tax FAQ

How do I estimate my quarterly tax payments?

Add your expected self-employment tax and income tax for the year, subtract withholding and payments already made, and split the rest over the payment dates still ahead. Starting the year with $80,000 of profit and a 15% effective rate, that's about $5,614 a quarter.

When are quarterly estimated taxes due?

Usually April 15, June 15, September 15 and January 15 of the next year. When a date falls on a weekend or holiday it moves to the next business day.

Why doesn't this use tax brackets?

Your real income tax depends on filing status, deductions and credits. An effective rate you enter keeps the estimate honest; last year's total income tax divided by income is a good starting point.

How do I avoid an underpayment penalty?

Generally, pay at least 90% of this year's tax or 100% of last year's tax (110% if last year's AGI was over $150,000) through withholding and estimated payments.

Can I rely on this number?

It's an estimate for planning payments and isn't tax advice. Check Form 1040-ES or ask a tax professional before you file.

Sources: IRS: Estimated taxes · IRS: About Form 1040-ES · IRS: Self-employment tax · SSA: Contribution and benefit base

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