See exactly what to send the IRS each quarter — federal income tax + self-employment tax on freelance income.
Freelance income doesn't come with withholding — you owe the IRS quarterly. This calculator splits your annual federal + SE tax into four equal payments so you never get hit with the underpayment penalty.
Direct answers to the most common questions, in plain language. Skim if you're in a hurry; dig deeper below.
April 15, June 15, September 15, January 15.
For 2026 income, estimated taxes are due on April 15 (Q1), June 15 (Q2), September 15 (Q3), and January 15, 2027 (Q4). If a date falls on a weekend or holiday, the deadline shifts to the next business day.
Anyone expecting to owe $1,000+ in federal tax beyond withholding.
You generally need to pay quarterly if you're self-employed, freelance, or receive 1099 income — basically anyone whose tax isn't automatically withheld and who expects to owe $1,000+ for the year.
Roughly 25–35% of net self-employment income.
A safe starting rule: 30% of your net income (after deductions). This covers federal income tax (10–24% for most freelancers) + self-employment tax (15.3% on ~92.35% of net earnings).
IRS underpayment penalty, currently around 8% annualized.
The IRS charges interest on underpayments, usually around 8% annualized in 2026. To avoid the penalty, pay either 90% of current-year tax OR 100% of last year's tax (110% if AGI > $150k).
The mechanics in short answers — no jargon, no upsell.
The IRS expects taxes paid throughout the year, not just on April 15. Self-employed people pay it directly; W-2 employees have it withheld from paychecks.
Self-employment tax: 15.3% (12.4% Social Security + 2.9% Medicare) on 92.35% of net earnings. Federal income tax: standard brackets on your taxable income.
Pay either 90% of current year's total tax OR 100% of last year's total tax (110% if AGI > $150k) and you avoid the underpayment penalty regardless of how off your estimate is.
Q1 covers Jan–Mar (3 months). Q2 covers April–May only (2 months). Q3 covers June–Aug. Q4 covers Sept–Dec. Use this calculator to size each one correctly.
Designed so anyone can model their situation in under a minute, with or without a finance background.
Four exact dollar amounts to mail to the IRS — no guesswork.
15.3% on 92.35% of net earnings — built in, no separate calculation.
2026 brackets applied correctly across single, MFJ, HOH.
90% of current year OR 100% of last year — whichever protects you from penalty.
Currently ~8% annualized — this calculator keeps you above the safe harbor.
Clear visualization of when each payment is due.
Everything you might ask before, during, or after using this tool.
The IRS Direct Pay system (pay.gov) is free, fast, and works for individuals. EFTPS is also free but requires enrollment. You can also mail a check with Form 1040-ES. Most freelancers use Direct Pay for simplicity.
The IRS allows the "annualized income installment method" — you can pay based on what you actually earned each quarter rather than dividing evenly. Form 2210 handles this; it adds complexity but is fair for seasonal income.
Yes, if your state has income tax — most do. State quarterly deadlines usually match federal but check your state DOR. California, for example, has different installment percentages (30%, 40%, 0%, 30%).
You get a refund at tax time — no penalty for overpaying. Some people prefer overpaying as forced savings. Others find the lost interest annoying — at 5% money market rates, overpaying $5,000 by 6 months costs you ~$125.
You can pay less, but be careful — if you fall below the safe harbor for the year, you owe an underpayment penalty for the entire year. The annualized income method protects you legitimately if income is genuinely irregular.
You can either: (1) pay quarterly on the side income, or (2) ask your W-2 employer to withhold extra from your paycheck via a new W-4. Withholding is treated as paid evenly across the year — usually easier than tracking quarterly payments.
No — federal income tax + self-employment tax only. Add your state tax separately (use a state tax calculator). State rates vary from 0% (TX, FL, WA) to 13.3% (CA top bracket).
The Additional Medicare Tax of 0.9% kicks in on wages and self-employment income over $200k single / $250k MFJ. Not included in the headline 15.3% SE tax. This calculator does NOT model the surtax — add separately if you're a high earner.
Other Lazysmirk tools that pair well with this one.
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Estimate your state income tax in any of the 50 US states. Compare states side-by-side with effective and marginal rates.
The IRS requires quarterly estimated payments from anyone who expects to owe $1,000+ at tax time beyond withholding.
In practice that's: freelancers, sole proprietors, S-corp owners, gig workers, real estate investors with rental income, anyone with significant investment income, and W-2 workers with large side hustles.
If you're a W-2 employee with only modest side income, increasing your W-4 withholding is usually simpler than tracking quarterly payments.
Self-employment tax: 15.3% (12.4% Social Security + 2.9% Medicare) on 92.35% of your net earnings. This is BOTH halves of FICA — the half your employer would have paid plus your half. Easy to forget about and a frequent surprise.
Federal income tax: standard brackets (10/12/22/24/32/35/37%) on taxable income after deductions.
For most freelancers in the 22% bracket, the all-in marginal rate is roughly 22% + 15.3% × 0.9235 = ~36%. Save accordingly.
The IRS gives you two ways to avoid penalty: pay at least 90% of current year's tax OR 100% of last year's tax (110% if AGI > $150k).
Using last year as the safe harbor is powerful when current income is growing — you fix the payment based on last year and avoid penalty even if this year is huge.
For first-year freelancers, no prior year means you must estimate well — overpaying slightly is cheap insurance.
Q1: Jan 1 – March 31, due April 15. Three months.
Q2: April 1 – May 31, due June 15. TWO months.
Q3: June 1 – Aug 31, due September 15. Three months.
Q4: Sept 1 – Dec 31, due January 15. Four months.
If you simply divide your annual tax by 4, you'll over-pay early and under-pay late. The annualized income method (Form 2210) fixes this for irregular income.
Two short notes worth reading before you trust any number on this page.
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