# How much estimated tax do I pay?

Works out 2026 quarterly estimated tax payments with the Form 1040-ES worksheet: the expected tax, the safe harbor from last year’s tax, withholding, and the four due dates.

- Page: https://www.acalculator.org/finance/estimated-tax-calculator
- JSON spec: https://www.acalculator.org/finance/estimated-tax-calculator.json
- Version: 10b91cbed2ce

## Default answer

Example with the default inputs (Filing status Single, Self-employment profit $60,000.00, Wages $0.00, Children under 17 0, Federal tax withheld $0.00, Tax year 2,026): With an expected tax of $12,036.73, pay $2,708.26 each quarter, starting April 15, 2026.

## Inputs

| Key | Label | Description |
| --- | --- | --- |
| status | Filing status | Your expected federal filing status for the year. |
| se | Self-employment profit | Expected net profit from self-employment for the year. |
| wages | Wages | Expected wages for the year (Form W-2 box 1). |
| invest | Investment income | Expected interest, dividends, capital gains, and rents, taxed at ordinary rates here (EIC limit, 3.8% NIIT). |
| other | Other income | Expected pensions, unemployment, and other taxable income that is not investment income. |
| adj | Adjustments to income | Expected IRA, HSA, and other adjustments (half of self-employment tax is added for you). |
| children | Children under 17 | Qualifying children under 17 for the child tax credit. |
| withheld | Federal tax withheld | Federal income tax you expect to be withheld during the year. |
| prior | Last year’s total tax | The total tax on last year’s return (Form 1040 line 24 minus refundable credits), for the safe harbor. |
| priorAgi | Last year’s AGI | Adjusted gross income on last year’s return; above $150,000 the safe harbor is 110%. |
| year | Tax year | The year you pay estimated tax for. A year with no published rates uses the latest year this site has. |

## Outputs

| Key | Label | Description |
| --- | --- | --- |
| quarterly | Each quarterly payment | The required annual payment less withholding, divided by four (Form 1040-ES worksheet line 15). |
| annual | Estimated tax to pay for the year | The required annual payment minus the tax withheld (line 14a); 0 when no payments are needed. |
| required | Required annual payment | The smaller of 90% of this year’s expected tax and 100% or 110% of last year’s tax (line 12c). |
| expectedTax | Expected tax for the year | This year’s expected federal tax after credits, including self-employment tax (line 11c). |
| currentSafeHarbor | 90% of this year’s tax | Line 12a. |
| priorSafeHarbor | Last year’s tax safe harbor | 100% of last year’s tax, or 110% when last year’s AGI was over $150,000 ($75,000 separately) (line 12b). |
| basis | Based on | Which rule set the required annual payment. |
| q1 | 1st payment due | April 15, or the next business day. |
| q2 | 2nd payment due | June 15, or the next business day. |
| q3 | 3rd payment due | September 15, or the next business day. |
| q4 | 4th payment due | January 15 of the next year, or the next business day. |
| ratesYear | Rates of tax year | The tax year whose rates were used. |
| notice | Note | A note when no payments are needed, or another year’s rates were used. |

## Method

Expected tax = this year’s Form 1040 tax after credits. Required = min(90% × expected tax, 100% × last year’s tax, or 110% when last year’s AGI > $150,000). Annual payment = required − withholding (0 when expected tax − withholding < $1,000). Each quarter = annual ÷ 4, due April 15, June 15, September 15, and January 15.

## Assumptions

- An estimate for tax year 2026 with the Form 1040-ES worksheet, not tax advice.
- Income comes evenly through the year (no annualized income installment method), and payments are four equal amounts.
- The expected tax uses the standard deduction; investment and other income are taxed at ordinary rates, and investment income over $12,200 rules out the earned income credit (IRC 32(i)). The limits of the income tax calculator apply (no AMT, no premium tax credit, no education credits).
- The last-year safe harbor needs a 12-month return for last year; farmers and fishers (66⅔% rule) are not modelled.
- A due date on a weekend, DC Emancipation Day, or Martin Luther King Jr. Day moves to the next business day; the Patriots’ Day extension for Maine and Massachusetts is not modelled.

## Worked examples

1. status = single, se = $60,000.00, prior = $8,000.00, priorAgi = $50,000.00, year = 2,026 gives expectedTax = $12,036.73, required = $8,000.00, annual = $8,000.00, quarterly = $2,000.00, basis = 100% of last year’s tax, q1 = 2026-04-15, q4 = 2027-01-15. Source: Form 1040-ES (2026) Estimated Tax Worksheet lines 12a to 15; expected tax from Schedule SE, Form 8995, and the Tax Table.
2. status = mfj, wages = $150,000.00, se = $50,000.00, withheld = $15,000.00, prior = $25,000.00, priorAgi = $190,000.00 gives expectedTax = $29,262.77, required = $26,336.50, quarterly = $2,834.12, basis = 90% of this year’s tax. Source: Form 1040-ES line 12b: 110% of 25,000 = 27,500 is more than 90% of 29,262.77, so 90% applies.
3. status = single, wages = $80,000.00, other = $5,000.00, withheld = $9,000.00, prior = $9,000.00 gives expectedTax = $9,876.00, annual = $0.00, quarterly = $0.00. Source: Form 1040-ES line 14b: 9,876 − 9,000 = 876 is under $1,000, so no payments are required.
4. status = single, se = $60,000.00, year = 2,027 gives q1 = 2027-04-15, q2 = 2027-06-15, q3 = 2027-09-15, q4 = 2028-01-18. Source: IRC 7503: January 15, 2028 is a Saturday and Monday January 17 is Martin Luther King Jr. Day, so the 4th payment is due Tuesday January 18, 2028.

## FAQ

### Who has to pay estimated tax?

You generally must if you expect to owe at least $1,000 of federal tax for the year after withholding and refundable credits, and your withholding will cover less than the smaller of 90% of this year's tax and 100% of last year's tax. Freelancers, landlords, and investors usually do.

### How is the quarterly payment calculated?

Figure this year's expected tax. The required annual payment is the smaller of 90% of it and 100% of last year's tax (110% if last year's AGI was over $150,000, or $75,000 married filing separately). Subtract expected withholding and divide by four.

### What is the safe harbor?

If you pay at least 100% of last year's tax (110% for higher incomes) on time, you owe no underpayment penalty even if this year's tax is much higher. It only works if last year's return covered 12 months.

### When are the 2026 estimated tax payments due?

April 15, 2026; June 15, 2026; September 15, 2026; and January 15, 2027. A date on a weekend or legal holiday moves to the next business day.

### What happens if I pay too little?

The IRS charges an underpayment penalty (Form 2210), which works like interest at the IRS underpayment rate on each late or short payment. See the IRS late payment penalty calculator for the rates.

### Does withholding count?

Yes. Tax withheld from wages counts as paid evenly through the year, whenever it was withheld. Raising withholding at a job is another way to cover tax on side income.

### What does this calculator leave out?

The annualized income installment method for uneven income, the farmer and fisher rules, state estimated tax, the alternative minimum tax, and some credits. It is an estimate, not tax advice.

## Sources

- IRS, Form 1040-ES (2026), Estimated Tax for Individuals, with the 2026 Estimated Tax Worksheet and payment due dates. https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f1040es.pdf
- IRS, Publication 505, Tax Withholding and Estimated Tax. https://www.irs.gov/publications/p505
- IRS, Rev. Proc. 2025-32 (Internal Revenue Bulletin 2025-45), section 4: 2026 amounts. https://www.irs.gov/irb/2025-45_IRB
- 26 U.S.C. 7503: a deadline on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday moves to the next business day. https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/26/7503