Quarterly Estimated Tax Calculator for Freelancers (2026)

Disclosure: This page contains an affiliate link (marked). We may earn a commission at no cost to you. Verdicts are our own.

Not tax advice. Results are estimates built from the assumptions shown. Your actual taxes depend on your full situation. Check with a tax professional. Nothing you type leaves your browser.

Your numbers

Filing status Expected 2026 net profit from freelancing $Revenue minus business expenses (Schedule C line 31) W-2 wages (you or spouse) $Leave 0 if none. Affects the Social Security cap. Federal tax already withheld $From W-2 paychecks, for the whole year Other taxable income $Interest, dividends, side income State income tax rate %Rough effective rate; 0 to skip Last year's total tax $Form 1040 line 24 for 2025; 0 if unknown Estimated payments already made for 2026 $ Payments left this year

Apply the 20% qualified business income deduction (if you qualify) My 2025 adjusted gross income was over $150,000 ($75,000 if married filing separately)

2027 dates (.ics)

How this calculator works

Self-employment tax: 92.35% of net profit, then 12.4% Social Security up to the $184,500 wage base (shared with any W-2 wages) and 2.9% Medicare, plus 0.9% Additional Medicare Tax above $200,000 single / $250,000 joint.
Adjusted gross income: profit + W-2 wages + other income, minus half of self-employment tax.
Deduction: the 2026 standard deduction ($16,100 single, $32,200 joint). Itemizing is not modeled.
Qualified business income deduction: 20% of the smaller of your qualified business income and your taxable income, if checked. Above roughly $200,000 single / $400,000 joint of taxable income the rules get complicated, so we leave it out and warn you.
Income tax: the 2026 federal brackets for single or joint filers. Head of household is not included.
Safe harbor: the smaller of 90% of this year's tax or 100% of last year's tax (110% if last year's AGI was above $150,000), minus withholding. If you'd owe under $1,000 after withholding, estimates generally aren't required.

What it does not include

Tax credits (child tax credit, education credits and so on), itemized deductions, the self-employed health insurance deduction, retirement contributions, capital gains and other adjustments. Each can lower your bill.
Uneven income. If most of your income arrives late in the year, the IRS annualized method (Form 2210, Schedule AI) can reduce early payments.
State and local taxes beyond the rough percentage you enter.

Sources: Form 1040-ES and IRS estimated taxes page; 2026 brackets and standard deduction from IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32 as summarized by KPMG (checked October 17, 2026). Pay online with IRS Direct Pay. For due dates and rules, read our estimated taxes guide.

Tools that help

Estimates are only as good as your profit number. To find write-offs that lower it, Keeper (affiliate link) scans your card and bank transactions for possible write-offs, and its tax plans include federal and state filing. Pricing is on Keeper's site; we last checked it on October 14, 2026 (14-day free trial).

FAQ

How accurate is this estimate?

It follows the same steps as the IRS worksheet for a simple self-employed return, so it is a reasonable planning number. Credits, itemized deductions and unusual income will change your real tax.

What is the safe harbor?

If your payments and withholding for the year reach the smaller of 90% of this year's tax or 100% of last year's tax (110% for higher earners), you generally avoid the underpayment penalty even if you owe more in April.

Does this include state tax?

Only as a rough percentage you enter. State rules and due dates differ, so check your state tax agency.

Is my data saved?

No. Everything is calculated in your browser and nothing is sent or stored.

Quarterly estimated tax calculator (2026)