Quarterly taxes, finally simple.
Estimate federal, state, and self-employment tax in 30 seconds. Built for freelancers, contractors, and gig workers — no signup, no email.
Estimate your taxes in 30 seconds.
What's your filing status?
Pick the one that applies to your 2026 return.
Which state do you live in?
State income tax varies from 0% (TX, FL, NV) to 13.3% (CA top bracket).
Your income & expenses
Estimates are fine — you can adjust later.
Tax-saving adjustments
Skip any that don't apply. These can lower your tax bill significantly.
Tools we recommend.
Software that finds tax deductions automatically and saves freelancers hours.
From confused to confident in 4 steps.
We've simplified freelance taxes so you can focus on what you do best.
Everything you need to stay tax-ready.
Built by freelancers, for freelancers. We understand the pain of tax season.
How freelance taxes work in 2026–2027.
If you earn money outside a W-2 paycheck — freelance, contractor, gig, or self-employed business owner — the IRS expects you to pay tax on that income four times a year, not once at filing.
What you owe
- Federal income tax — same brackets as W-2 workers, on your net self-employment income (revenue minus business expenses).
- Self-employment tax (15.3%) — Social Security (12.4% up to $184,500) and Medicare (2.9% on everything). The part W-2 workers don't see, because their employer pays half.
- State income tax — varies wildly. Texas, Florida, Nevada, Washington, and a few others are 0%. California tops out at 13.3%.
The big deductions
- Business expenses — anything ordinary and necessary for your work.
- Half of SE tax — automatic, deducted from gross before income tax is calculated.
- QBI deduction (20%) — most freelancers under income thresholds get a 20% deduction on qualified business income.
- Self-employed retirement — SEP-IRA or Solo 401(k) contributions reduce taxable income.
- Health insurance premiums — fully deductible if self-employed.
How to actually pay
The fastest way is the IRS Direct Pay portal at irs.gov/payments. No fee for bank transfers. You can also use IRS2Go (mobile), EFTPS, debit/credit card (small fees), or mail Form 1040-ES with a check.
How does a 1099 tax calculator work?
A 1099 tax calculator estimates your total tax liability as a self-employed person by combining three things: gross income from freelance or contract work, eligible business deductions, and your filing status. Quarterly1099's calculator goes deeper.
Here's what our calculator accounts for:
- Self-employment income — all 1099-NEC, 1099-K, or freelance earnings for the year, including cash and check payments not reported on a 1099.
- W-2 income — if you also hold a salaried or hourly employee job alongside your freelance work, we combine them for accurate bracket placement.
- Business expenses — software, mileage (at $0.725/mile in 2026), home office costs, professional services, equipment, contractors, marketing.
- Self-employment tax (15.3%) — Social Security (12.4% up to $184,500) plus Medicare (2.9% on all earnings), with the half-SE deduction applied automatically.
- QBI deduction — 20% of qualified business income, applied automatically when toggled on.
- Retirement contributions — SEP-IRA, Solo 401(k), or Traditional IRA contributions reduce your AGI.
- Self-employed health insurance — premiums you pay yourself, fully deductible above-the-line.
- Dependents (Child Tax Credit) — $2,200 per qualifying child under 17 (OBBBA, TY 2026), with phase-out for high earners.
- Filing status — single, married filing jointly, or head of household, each with different bracket boundaries.
- State tax — varies significantly, from 0% (Texas, Florida, Nevada) to over 13% (California top bracket).
Do I need to pay quarterly taxes?
If you're self-employed or work as an independent contractor, you're responsible for paying your own taxes throughout the year, not just at filing time. The IRS expects quarterly estimated payments if you'll owe more than $1,000 at filing. Skipping triggers an underpayment penalty (federal short-term rate + 3% — 7% in Q1 2026, 6% from Q2 onward).
1. Calculate your tax rate
The first step is figuring out your effective tax rate. This depends on your total income, filing status, and any deductions you're eligible for. Run our calculator with your numbers — it gives you an effective rate that includes federal income tax, SE tax, state tax, and additional Medicare.
2. Estimate your quarterly tax payments
Once you know your annual tax, divide by 4 to get your quarterly payment amount. Federal estimated tax due dates are Q1: April 15, Q2: June 15, Q3: September 15, Q4: January 15 (next year). Pay through IRS Direct Pay (free) or mail Form 1040-ES.
3. Use the safe harbor as a backstop
If your income is volatile or you're in a transition year, pay 100% of last year's tax (110% if AGI was over $150,000) in equal quarterly installments. This guarantees no underpayment penalty regardless of how much you actually end up owing. Safe harbor rules explained.
4. Don't forget state estimates
Most states with income tax also expect quarterly payments. Due dates usually mirror federal. Pay through your state's revenue agency portal — see our state-specific guides for instructions.
Every state, covered.
State-specific brackets, due dates, and payment instructions for all All 50 states Plus the quirks that trip up first-year freelancers.
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Learn the system.
Plain-language guides for the things first-year freelancers often get wrong.
Tax basics
Quarterly taxes
Deductions
Business structure & retirement
Profession-specific guides
Compare & decide
Freelance tools & services
Filing 1099s for contractors
2026 specifics & advanced
Health insurance for freelancers
Common questions.
How do I calculate quarterly taxes as a 1099 contractor?
Estimate your annual net self-employment income, calculate federal income tax + 15.3% SE tax + state tax, then divide by 4. The IRS expects each payment by April 15, June 15, September 15, and January 15 of the following year.
What is the self-employment tax rate for 2026?
15.3% on 92.35% of your net SE earnings — 12.4% Social Security up to $184,500 and 2.9% Medicare on all SE income. Half of SE tax is deductible from gross income.
When are quarterly estimated taxes due in 2026?
Q1 — April 15, 2026. Q2 — June 15, 2026. Q3 — September 15, 2026. Q4 — January 15, 2027.
What happens if I skip a quarterly payment?
The IRS charges an underpayment penalty equal to the federal short-term rate plus 3% — 7% in Q1 2026, 6% from Q2 onward. You can avoid it if you'll owe less than $1,000 at filing, or if you've already paid 100% of last year's tax (110% if your AGI was over $150,000).
How do I actually pay quarterly taxes?
Use the IRS Direct Pay site (irs.gov/payments) — bank transfer, no fee. Alternatives: IRS2Go, EFTPS, debit/credit card (with fees), or mail Form 1040-ES with a check.
Do I pay state quarterly taxes too?
Yes — most states with income tax also expect quarterly payments. Due dates are usually the same as federal. Texas, Florida, Nevada, Washington, Wyoming, South Dakota, Tennessee, Alaska, and New Hampshire don't tax wage/SE income.
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