Quarterly Estimated Tax Calculator
Estimate what you owe the IRS every 3 months as a US freelancer or sole proprietor — including self-employment tax, federal income tax, and state tax. Built on 2026 IRS figures.
Your numbers
Estimates only — single-filer federal math, blended state rate.
Total invoiced to clients before expenses.
Deductible costs — software, home office, mileage, contractors.
Pick the closest preset.
Your estimate
Federal income + self-employment + state.
Send this to the IRS every 3 months.
of every dollar a client pays you. Move it to a separate savings account the day the payment lands.
Effective rate 28% of net profit.
- Q1 · Apr 15, 2026$5,256
- Q2 · Jun 15, 2026$5,256
- Q3 · Sep 15, 2026$5,256
- Q4 · Jan 15, 2027$5,256
Show the math
- Net SE earnings (×92.35%)
- $69,263
- Self-employment tax (15.3%)
- $10,597
- ½ SE tax deduction
- −$5,299
- Adjusted gross income
- $69,701
- Standard deduction
- −$15,750
- Taxable income
- $53,951
- Federal income tax
- $6,679
- State tax (5%)
- $3,750
- Total annual tax
- $21,025.97
- ÷ 4 quarters
- $5,256.49
Standard deduction shown is the 2026 single-filer figure ($15,750). Married filing jointly users — this calculator overestimates by ~5–15% because it uses single-filer brackets.
Want this calculated automatically?
Ledgentry tracks your income and expenses as they happen, then keeps your quarterly estimate updated in real time — no spreadsheet math, no surprises in April. $29/mo, 14-day free trial, no credit card required.
How this calculator works
The IRS expects freelancers to pay tax throughout the year, not in one lump on April 15. If you expect to owe more than $1,000 in federal tax, you have to make four quarterly estimated payments. Miss them and you owe an underpayment penalty (~6–8% annualized).
The math here uses three steps:
- Self-employment tax — 15.3% (12.4% Social Security + 2.9% Medicare) on 92.35% of your net earnings. Social Security portion caps at the 2026 wage base ($182,400).
- Federal income tax — your net income minus half your SE tax (the deductible portion) and the 2026 standard deduction ($15,750 single), then run through the 2026 progressive brackets.
- State income tax — a flat blended rate on your net earnings. Real state rules vary widely (some have brackets, some have local tax, some have separate SE deductions); pick the closest preset for a workable estimate.
Total it up, divide by 4, and you have your quarterly payment.
Things this calculator does NOT account for
- Married filing jointly — uses single-filer brackets, which overestimates joint filers by ~5–15%.
- QBI deduction — the 20% qualified business income deduction can knock 4–6% off your tax bill if you qualify. Not modeled.
- Retirement contributions — SEP-IRA, Solo 401(k), and SIMPLE IRA contributions reduce taxable income substantially. Add them as "expenses" for a rough adjustment (or build your retirement plan in the app).
- Self-employed health insurance — premiums are deductible (Schedule 1, line 17). Add to expenses for approximation.
- Additional Medicare Tax — +0.9% on income above $200k (single) / $250k (MFJ). Negligible below those thresholds.
- Other W-2 income — a side paycheck or spouse's W-2 changes the bracket math.
How to actually pay quarterlies
Three options, all free:
- IRS Direct Pay — bank transfer, no account required, no fee. Easiest. Choose "Estimated Tax" → "1040ES" → tax year.
- EFTPS — free, requires enrollment + mailed PIN. Worth it if you'll be paying for years.
- Credit/debit card via IRS-authorized processors — fast but adds 1.7–2% in fees.
Save the confirmation. The IRS occasionally loses payments and you'll need it to dispute.