Freelancers, contractors and anyone with income that has no withholding usually pay tax in four installments. Enter your expected income, deductions and tax rates to estimate your yearly tax, the safe-harbor minimum and how much to send each quarter, with due dates you can edit.
Last updated:
Income & tax rates
$
Net self-employment profit or other income without withholding.
$
Standard or itemized deduction, retirement contributions, etc.
%
%
15.3% in the US (Social Security + Medicare); 0 if not self-employed.
Payments & safe harbor
$
$
$
Pay toward
Due dates (editable)
Payments due on or after this date are treated as remaining.
Enter your values to see the result.
Advertisement
Advertisement
How to use the Quarterly Estimated Tax Calculator
Enter your expected income for the year and your deductions.
Type your effective income tax rate and the self-employment tax rate (15.3% in the US, 0 if it does not apply).
Add withholding and payments you already made, and optionally last year's total tax for the safe-harbor test.
Check the due dates and adjust them if they move for weekends, holidays or your local rules.
Read the payment for each remaining quarter and download the schedule.
How the estimate is calculated
Self-employment tax = income × 92.35% × SE rate (15.3%)
Taxable income = income − deductions − ½ × SE tax
Income tax = taxable income × effective rate
Amount to cover = income tax + SE tax − withholding and credits
Safe harbor = lower of 90% of this year's tax or 100% (110%) of last year's tax
Payment per remaining quarter = (target − payments made) ÷ quarters left
Example: $85,000 profit, $15,000 deductions, 12% effective rate. SE tax = 85,000 × 0.9235 × 0.153 = $12,010.12. Taxable income = 85,000 − 15,000 − 6,005.06 = $63,994.94, income tax = $7,679.39. Total ≈ $19,689.51, or about $4,922.38 per quarter.
US estimated tax due dates
Payment
Income earned
Usual due date
1st quarter
January 1 – March 31
April 15
2nd quarter
April 1 – May 31
June 15
3rd quarter
June 1 – August 31
September 15
4th quarter
September 1 – December 31
January 15 (next year)
If a due date falls on a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday, the payment is due the next business day. Other countries use different schedules; edit the dates to match yours.
Frequently asked questions
How are quarterly estimated taxes calculated?
Estimate the total tax for the year (income tax on taxable income plus self-employment tax), subtract withholding and credits, and divide the rest into four payments. If you start late or skipped a payment, spread what is left over the remaining due dates, which is what the catch-up plan shows.
When are quarterly estimated taxes due in the US?
Normally April 15, June 15, September 15 and January 15 of the following year, covering income earned January–March, April–May, June–August and September–December. When a date falls on a weekend or legal holiday it moves to the next business day, so the dates are editable.
How is self-employment tax calculated?
In the US the self-employment tax rate is 15.3% (12.4% Social Security plus 2.9% Medicare) applied to 92.35% of net self-employment earnings. Half of it is deductible when figuring income tax. Very high earners have a Social Security wage cap and an extra 0.9% Medicare tax, which this simple estimate does not model.
What is the safe harbor for estimated taxes?
You generally avoid the federal underpayment penalty if your withholding and timely estimates cover the smaller of 90% of this year's tax or 100% of last year's tax (110% if last year's AGI was over $150,000, or $75,000 if married filing separately). You may still owe a balance when you file.
What effective tax rate should I enter?
Your effective rate is total income tax divided by taxable income. Last year's return is a good starting point. If unsure, a tax bracket table or tax software can estimate it; using a slightly higher rate is safer than underpaying.
Do I need to pay estimated tax if I have a job?
If your paycheck withholding covers your tax, you may not. Generally you must make estimated payments when you expect to owe $1,000 or more after withholding and credits. Increasing withholding at your job is an alternative to quarterly payments.
Is this tax advice?
No. It is an estimate based on the rates you enter and a simplified model. State taxes, credits and special situations vary; check the official instructions (Form 1040-ES in the US) or a tax professional.
Are all the tools on FreeToolCabin tested for quality and accuracy?
Yes! Every tool on our site undergoes automated Q/A testing in real browser environments to ensure high precision, correct output, and zero errors. If you happen to spot a bug or have a suggestion, please contact us at [email protected] and our team will review it right away.