Free tool · updated for 2026
2026 Quarterly Estimated Tax Calculator for the Self-Employed
Enter your expected profit and get your quarterly payment, total federal tax, and the percentage to set aside from every client payment, YouTube payout, or brand deal.
Your 2026 estimate
Suggested quarterly payment
$0
Set aside about 0% of every payment you receive.
- Self-employment tax$0
- Federal income tax$0
- Total 2026 federal tax$0
- Less withholding & payments$0
- Still to pay for 2026$0
Estimate only, using 2026 IRS brackets, the $16,100 / $32,200 standard deduction, and the $184,500 Social Security wage base. Excludes state tax, credits, and other income. Not tax advice.
Quick answer Self-employed people pay 15.3% self-employment tax on 92.35% of net profit (Social Security only up to $184,500 in 2026), plus federal income tax on profit after the standard deduction ($16,100 single, $32,200 joint) and, for most, the 20% QBI deduction. Divide your total by four for each quarterly estimated payment.
How this calculator works
- Self-employment tax: 92.35% of your profit is taxed at 12.4% for Social Security (up to the $184,500 wage base, reduced by any W-2 wages) and 2.9% for Medicare, plus 0.9% Additional Medicare tax above $200,000 single / $250,000 joint.
- Income tax: Your profit plus wages, minus half of your self-employment tax, minus the 2026 standard deduction, minus the QBI deduction if checked, run through the 2026 tax brackets.
- Payments: Total tax minus withholding and estimates you’ve already paid shows what’s left for 2026. The quarterly figure is your total divided by four.
When are the payments due?
For 2026: April 15, June 15, September 15, 2026, and January 15, 2027. See the full 2026–2027 deadline calendar and add every date to your calendar in one click.
Avoiding the underpayment penalty
You’re generally safe if your 2026 payments and withholding cover at least 90% of your 2026 tax or 100% of your 2025 tax (110% if your 2025 AGI was over $150,000). Read more in Estimated Tax Deadlines 2026.
What this calculator doesn’t include
State income tax, tax credits (like the child tax credit), capital gains, retirement contributions, the self-employed health insurance deduction, and itemized deductions. Use it as a planning number, then confirm with your tax pro.
Frequently asked questions
Most self-employed people set aside 25–30% of profit. Use the calculator above for a number based on your 2026 income, filing status, and the 2026 tax brackets.
15.3% on 92.35% of net self-employment earnings: 12.4% Social Security (on earnings up to $184,500) plus 2.9% Medicare, with an extra 0.9% above $200,000 single or $250,000 joint.
Only if your withholding won’t cover what you owe. If you expect to owe $1,000 or more at filing, either make quarterly payments or increase W-4 withholding at your job.
Use IRS Direct Pay or your IRS Online Account for free bank transfers, or EFTPS. Select Form 1040-ES and the 2026 tax year.
This calculator is an educational estimate using 2026 IRS figures and isn’t tax advice. Need a precise number? Talk to a tax pro at TNT Tax Specialists.