Free calculator · tax year 2026
Quarterly estimated tax calculator
A quick federal estimate for sole proprietors and freelancers: self-employment tax plus income tax on your expected 2026 profit, using the 2026 brackets and standard deduction, split into four payments.
How the estimate is worked out
- Self-employment tax: 15.3% of profit × 92.35%, with Social Security capped at $184,500 for 2026 (less W-2 wages).
- Adjusted gross income: profit + wages − half of the self-employment tax.
- Taxable income: AGI − the 2026 standard deduction − the 20% QBI deduction if ticked (20% of profit less the deductible half of SE tax, capped at 20% of taxable income).
- Income tax: the 2026 brackets for your filing status.
- Each payment: (income tax + SE tax + any Additional Medicare Tax − withholding) ÷ 4.
Worked example (single, $60,000 profit, no wages): SE tax $8,477.73; AGI $55,761.14; minus the $16,100 standard deduction leaves $39,661.14; the QBI deduction is $7,932.23, so taxable income is $31,728.91 and income tax is $3,559.47. Total $12,037.20, or $3,009.30 a quarter. Without the QBI deduction it is $12,989.07, or $3,247.27 a quarter.
2026 figures used
| Filing status | Standard deduction | 10% bracket up to | 12% up to | 22% up to | 24% up to | 32% up to | 35% up to |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single | $16,100 | $12,400 | $50,400 | $105,700 | $201,775 | $256,225 | $640,600 |
| Married filing jointly | $32,200 | $24,800 | $100,800 | $211,400 | $403,550 | $512,450 | $768,700 |
| Head of household | $24,150 | $17,700 | $67,450 | $105,700 | $201,750 | $256,200 | $640,600 |
| Married filing separately | $16,100 | $12,400 | $50,400 | $105,700 | $201,775 | $256,225 | $384,350 |
Income above the last figure is taxed at 37%. QBI threshold: $201,750 ($403,500 married filing jointly, $201,775 married filing separately). Social Security wage base: $184,500.
Checked on November 12, 2026 against IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32 (2026 brackets, standard deduction, QBI thresholds) and Form 1040-ES (2026) (due dates, wage base, who must pay).
Base your estimate on real numbers
An estimate is only as good as the profit you type in. Daily Invoice Maker tracks what you invoiced, what was paid, your expenses, receipts and mileage, so you can see your profit so far at any point in the year. At tax time, Tax Prep lays out the Schedule C figures for you or your accountant.
Free demo: Windows, Mac and Linux, no account and no card. It covers 7 invoices, 7 customers and 7 expenses, with a watermark on PDFs. Full version $149.95 once, $59.99 for one year on one computer, or $5.95 a month.
Questions
When are 2026 estimated tax payments due?
April 15, 2026; June 15, 2026; September 15, 2026; and January 15, 2027. You can skip the January payment if you file your 2026 return by February 1, 2027 and pay the full balance with it.
Do I have to make estimated payments?
Generally yes if you expect to owe at least $1,000 for 2026 after withholding and credits, and your withholding will cover less than the smaller of 90% of your 2026 tax or 100% of your 2025 tax (110% if your 2025 AGI was over $150,000, or $75,000 if married filing separately).
How do I avoid an underpayment penalty?
The usual safe harbor is to pay, through withholding and estimates on time, at least 100% of last year's total tax (110% at higher incomes) or 90% of this year's. Paying a quarter of last year's tax each quarter is the simplest way to hit it.
Why does the calculator subtract half of my self-employment tax?
Half of self-employment tax is an adjustment to income, so it lowers the income your income tax is figured on. It does not lower the self-employment tax itself.
What is the QBI deduction?
The qualified business income deduction lets many sole proprietors deduct up to 20% of their business income. Below $201,750 of taxable income ($403,500 joint) it is usually the simple 20%; above that, limits based on the type of business and wages paid can apply, so this calculator leaves it out there.
Does this include state tax?
No. It estimates federal tax only. Most states with an income tax also expect quarterly payments, often on the same dates.
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Related reading: Schedule C guide · Business tax deductions · How to track mileage between jobs