Quarterly Estimated Tax Calculator
Find your quarterly estimated tax payment.
Reviewed by the Calculation Machine team · Updated 24 October 2026 · How we check our maths
Your values
ⓘ Live results
- Self-employment tax
- $12,716.60
- Estimated income tax
- $16,200.00
- Total annual tax estimate
- $28,916.60
- Quarterly payment
- $7,229.15
Quick answer
Quarterly estimated tax is your projected annual income tax plus self-employment tax, divided by four. Self-employment tax is 15.3% of 92.35% of net earnings. On $90,000 of net self-employment income with an 18% effective income tax rate, that is $12,716.60 of SE tax plus $16,200 of income tax, or about $7,229 per quarter.
What the Quarterly Estimated Tax calculator does
If you are self-employed, freelance or have income with no tax withheld, the IRS expects you to pay tax through the year in four installments using Form 1040-ES. This calculator turns a projected annual net profit into a quarterly payment by adding self-employment tax (Social Security and Medicare) to an estimate of federal income tax.
Net income means profit after business expenses — roughly the bottom line of Schedule C. The income tax figure uses a single effective rate you supply, so it is only as good as that rate. A federal income tax estimate on your expected total income gives you a better number to enter, and the self-employment tax calculator breaks SE tax down further.
The result covers federal tax only. Most states with an income tax have their own estimated payment schedule. Treat this as a planning figure and check it with a tax professional if your income is uneven or high.
The formula
SE tax = net income × 92.35% × 15.3%; income tax = net income × effective rate; quarterly payment = (SE tax + income tax) ÷ 4
| Symbol | Meaning | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| net income | Projected annual self-employment profit after business expenses | $ |
| 92.35% | Share of net profit subject to SE tax (100% minus half of 15.3%, mirroring the employer-side deduction) | % |
| 15.3% | 12.4% Social Security plus 2.9% Medicare | % |
| effective rate | Your total federal income tax divided by income — not your top bracket | % |
The 92.35% and 15.3% figures come from IRS Schedule SE. Three things this simple model leaves out: the 12.4% Social Security part only applies up to the annual Social Security wage base ($176,100 for 2025), an extra 0.9% Additional Medicare Tax applies above $200,000 for single filers ($250,000 married filing jointly), and you can deduct half of your SE tax before income tax is worked out. Applying the income tax rate to the full net profit therefore slightly overstates income tax.
Worked examples
Full-time freelancer
A consultant expects $90,000 profit and estimates an 18% effective federal income tax rate.
Inputs
- Projected annual net self-employment income90000 $
- Estimated effective income tax rate18 %
- Self-employment tax rate15.3 %
- SE tax deduction adjustment92.35 % of net income subject to SE tax
Result
- Self-employment tax$12,716.60
- Estimated income tax$16,200.00
- Total annual tax estimate$28,916.60
- Quarterly payment$7,229.15
About $28,900 a year in federal tax, or roughly $7,230 a quarter. Setting aside around a third of each invoice would cover it, with state tax on top.
Side business in a low bracket
A part-time photographer expects $45,000 of profit and a 10% effective income tax rate.
Inputs
- Projected annual net self-employment income45000 $
- Estimated effective income tax rate10 %
- Self-employment tax rate15.3 %
- SE tax deduction adjustment92.35 % of net income subject to SE tax
Result
- Self-employment tax$6,358.30
- Estimated income tax$4,500.00
- Total annual tax estimate$10,858.30
- Quarterly payment$2,714.57
Self-employment tax ($6,358) is bigger than income tax ($4,500) here, which surprises many new freelancers. SE tax is due even when income tax is low.
High earner
A contractor projects $160,000 of profit at a 24% effective rate.
Inputs
- Projected annual net self-employment income160000 $
- Estimated effective income tax rate24 %
- Self-employment tax rate15.3 %
- SE tax deduction adjustment92.35 % of net income subject to SE tax
Result
- Self-employment tax$22,607.28
- Estimated income tax$38,400.00
- Total annual tax estimate$61,007.28
- Quarterly payment$15,251.82
About $15,250 a quarter. At this income the 92.35% base ($147,760) is still under the 2025 Social Security wage base, so the full 15.3% applies; much above it, this calculator would start to overstate SE tax.
Estimated tax due dates
Each payment covers income earned in the period before it. When a date falls on a weekend or legal holiday, the deadline moves to the next business day.
| Payment | Income earned | Due |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | January 1 – March 31 | April 15 |
| 2nd | April 1 – May 31 | June 15 |
| 3rd | June 1 – August 31 | September 15 |
| 4th | September 1 – December 31 | January 15 of the following year |
How to avoid the underpayment penalty
You generally need to make estimated payments if you expect to owe $1,000 or more when you file, after withholding and credits. You avoid the underpayment penalty if your withholding and timely estimated payments add up to at least the smaller of:
- 90% of this year's total tax, or
- 100% of last year's total tax — 110% if last year's adjusted gross income was over $150,000 ($75,000 if married filing separately).
The prior-year safe harbor is the easiest to hit when income is rising: take last year's total tax from your Form 1040, multiply by 100% or 110%, and divide by four. If your income is seasonal, the annualized income installment method (Form 2210, Schedule AI) lets you pay less in quiet quarters.
Finding your effective income tax rate
Do not enter your top tax bracket — that overstates the tax. Use your effective rate: last year's total federal income tax (Form 1040) divided by your income, adjusted if this year will be very different.
- If you also have a salaried job, your paycheck withholding already covers part of the income tax. You can raise your W-4 withholding instead of paying quarterly — withholding is treated as paid evenly through the year.
- Retirement contributions such as a SEP-IRA or solo 401(k) reduce income tax, but not SE tax.
- The qualified business income deduction can lower the effective rate for many sole proprietors.
How to use the Quarterly Estimated Tax Calculator
- 1Project your annual net profit: expected business income minus deductible expenses.
- 2Enter your effective federal income tax rate — total income tax divided by income on last year's return is a good starting point.
- 3Leave the SE tax rate at 15.3% and the adjustment at 92.35% unless the rules change.
- 4Pay the quarterly figure by each due date through IRS Direct Pay, EFTPS or your IRS online account, and re-run the numbers mid-year if income changes.
Frequently asked questions
Who has to pay quarterly estimated taxes?
Anyone who expects to owe at least $1,000 in federal tax for the year after withholding and credits, typically the self-employed, freelancers, landlords and investors. Self-employment tax applies once net earnings reach $400.
What happens if I miss a quarterly payment?
The IRS charges an underpayment penalty that works like interest on the amount that was late, for the number of days it was late. Paying as soon as you can limits it; there is no extra penalty for paying the next installment early.
Can I pay all my estimated tax at once?
Yes. Paying the full year's estimate by April 15 satisfies all four installments. Paying it all in January of the following year, however, would leave the first three quarters underpaid.
How much should I set aside for taxes as a freelancer?
Many freelancers set aside 25–35% of profit for federal and state tax combined. Running your own numbers here gives a more accurate percentage: divide the total annual estimate by your net income.
Is self-employment tax the same as income tax?
No. Self-employment tax funds Social Security and Medicare and is a flat 15.3% on 92.35% of profit (subject to the wage base), while income tax depends on your bracket, deductions and credits. You pay both.
References
- Form 1040-ES, Estimated Tax for Individuals — Internal Revenue Service
- Publication 505, Tax Withholding and Estimated Tax — Internal Revenue Service
- Schedule SE (Form 1040), Self-Employment Tax — Internal Revenue Service
About this calculator
- Built and reviewed by the Calculation Machine team · How we build and test calculators
- Last reviewed: October 24, 2026
- Report an error