Estimated Tax Calculator

Project your annual self-employment income, subtract business expenses, then add self-employment tax, Additional Medicare Tax when applicable, and federal income tax. Your required annual payment is the lesser of 90% of that projected tax or the prior-year target. Subtract expected withholding, then divide the rest by four.

The safe harbor can avoid an underpayment penalty even if you owe more at filing. The current-year target is generally 90% of projected tax. A positive prior-year target is generally 100% of last year's tax, or 110% when prior-year adjusted gross income exceeded $150,000 ($75,000 if married filing separately), and the prior return must cover all 12 months. The condition that you were a US citizen or resident throughout the prior tax year applies to the separate zero-tax exception: eligible filers with no prior-year tax liability after a full 12-month year can have a zero required payment. Confirm your eligibility with Form 1040-ES or a tax professional.

For a calendar-year filer, the four federal due dates are roughly April 15, June 15, September 15, and January 15 of the following year. The periods are not evenly spaced, but this calculator splits your required payment into four equal amounts as a planning baseline. Confirm the exact dates each year, since they shift when the 15th falls on a weekend or holiday.

Often no, because W2 withholding counts toward your required annual payment. Enter Box 3 wages separately for the Social Security wage-base limit and Box 5 wages for Additional Medicare Tax. Add expected federal withholding separately so the calculator can subtract payments already covered before splitting the remainder into quarters.

Under the IRS de-minimis rule, you do not owe estimated tax payments if the balance due at filing (your total tax minus withholding) is under $1,000. The calculator flags this for you. You can still pay quarterly if you prefer to spread the cost out and avoid a single large bill in April.

No. This tool gives an estimate based on 2026 federal brackets, the $184,500 Social Security wage base, the 0.9% Additional Medicare Tax, and the standard safe-harbor rule. It does not model state income tax, the 20% QBI deduction, refundable credits, or the annualized-income method for uneven earnings. Treat the result as a planning figure and confirm it with Form 1040-ES or a tax professional.