Tax

Quarterly Estimated Tax Calculator

Avoid IRS underpayment penalties. Calculate exactly what you owe each quarter as a freelancer or business owner.

Expected Annual Net Self-Employment Income ($) After business deductions, before personal deductions

Other Annual Income (W-2, interest, etc.) ($)

Filing Status

Annual W-2 Tax Withholding ($) If you also have a day job

Self-Employment Tax

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Income Tax

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Total Annual Tax Owed

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Each Quarterly Payment

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Quarterly Tax Due Dates (2025)

Q1: April 15, 2025 (Jan 1 – Mar 31)
Q2: June 16, 2025 (Apr 1 – May 31)
Q3: September 15, 2025 (Jun 1 – Aug 31)
Q4: January 15, 2026 (Sep 1 – Dec 31)

SE Tax = Net SE Income × 0.9235 × 0.153
Taxable Income = Net SE Income + Other Income − SE Deduction − Standard Deduction
Quarterly Payment = (Total Tax − Withholding) ÷ 4

The Safe Harbor Rule

To avoid IRS penalties, pay either 90% of the current year's tax liability OR 100% of last year's tax bill (110% if your prior-year AGI exceeded $150,000) — whichever is smaller.

What happens if I miss a quarterly tax payment?

The IRS charges an underpayment penalty (currently ~8% annualized) on the amount you should have paid. It's not a huge amount, but it adds up — and paying on time avoids the headache of a penalty notice.

How do I pay quarterly estimated taxes?

Pay online at IRS.gov/payments using IRS Direct Pay (free) or EFTPS. You can also mail Form 1040-ES with a check. IRS Direct Pay is the fastest and easiest option.