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Quarterly Tax Calculator

Your four estimated quarterly payments.

Details

Results

Each quarterly payment,
Remaining tax to cover,
Due dates,

Splits what's left of your expected bill across the periods you pick above.

Priya Raman
By Priya Raman, writes on tax policy and filing mechanics
Reviewed July 2026

Short Answer

Pay whatever you haven't already covered through withholding or an earlier estimated payment, split evenly across however many quarters are left this year. The IRS treats each due date on its own for penalty purposes, so a skipped April payment doesn't quietly roll into June without a calculation of its own.

The trigger is $1,000. Once you expect to owe that much beyond withholding, IRS Form 1040-ES calls for estimated payments.

Not sure where that annual number comes from?

Work it out with just the SE tax piece or the full 1099 total with income tax included, then bring the figure back here.

Payment Table

QuarterPeriod coveredTypical due date
Q1Jan 1 to Mar 31April 15
Q2Apr 1 to May 31June 15
Q3Jun 1 to Aug 31September 15
Q4Sep 1 to Dec 31January 15, next year

Dates shift by a day or two in years when the 15th lands on a weekend or federal holiday. Confirm the exact date on the current Form 1040-ES before you send a payment.

Filing timeline

Quarterly Payment FAQs

What if I started my business mid-year?

You only owe estimated tax from the quarter your income actually started. Set quarters remaining to match how many payment periods are left, and this tool will spread the balance across those instead of a full four.

Does the safe harbor change if my income jumped this year?

Yes. If last year's adjusted gross income was over $150,000, the safe harbor rises to 110% of last year's tax instead of 100%, per IRS Form 2210 instructions.

Can I pay more in one quarter and less in another?

The IRS evaluates each period on its own for penalty purposes, so paying unevenly can still trigger a penalty for the underpaid quarter even if your total for the year comes out even.

What counts as tax already withheld?

Withholding from a W-2 job, prior estimated payments you've already sent, and any overpayment applied forward from last year's return all count. Enter that total in the second field above.

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