Next federal deadline Jan 15 in 109 days
Your quarterly payment computed, not guessed Compare both IRS payment methods
The calculation is free. Paid plans add the PDF report, filled 1040-ES vouchers, and the Form 2210 package.
Pick the year that looks like yours.
Each payment follows the income earned by its due date. Sample figures from the 2026 engine.
Built on the IRS's own rules
One calculation covers the quarter. It gives you the payment, the proof, the deadlines, and the filing paper trail.
Compare the two IRS methods to get your minimum required payment.
2026 required annual payment
Q4 · single, self-employed · sample
Safe harborSelected
$20,492.00
100% of last year's tax
Annualized income
$22,871.85
90% of this year's projected tax, $25,413.17
Installments under the selected method
Q1 · Apr 15
$1,879.00
paid
Q2 · Jun 15
$2,791.00
paid
Q3 · Sep 15
$4,389.00
paid
Q4 · Jan 15
$11,433.00
due
Defensible at filing
Form 2210 and Schedule AI, filled from the same calculation.
Your state's safe harbor, included free
California
Three payments, 30 / 40 / 0 / 30 by quarter, on last year's state tax of $3,200.00.
Q1 Apr 15
$960.00
Q2 Jun 15
$1,280.00
Q3 Sep 15
none
Q4 Jan 15
$960.00
Reminders that carry your number
Q4 estimate due Jan 15
Your payment is $11,433.00. Pay at IRS Direct Pay before the deadline.
7 days out
Q3 estimate confirmed
You marked $4,389.00 paid on Sep 12. Your year is up to date.
Sep 12
Q2 estimate confirmed
You marked $2,791.00 paid on Jun 12.
Jun 12
Know if you're on track today
2026 federal estimated tax
Year target $20,492 | Projected tax $25,413
On track. Pay $11,433 by Jan 15
After these payments, about $4,921 is left to pay when you file by Apr 15, 2027.
Ready for your accountant to check
From Jordan Meyer via EstimatedTax.com
Jordan shared their Q4 2026 quarterly tax estimates
Both methods, the recommended payment, and the figures behind them.
See every line the IRS sees. Nothing here is a black box.
You get the whole worksheet. Income, self-employment tax, the required annual payment, and each installment are shown line by line, so you or your accountant can check any figure against the source.
Rough numbers are fine to start. Sharpen any line later and the whole worksheet recomputes.
Start your worksheet2026 estimate worksheet
Single · self-employed · sample
Managing clients? A book of clients, one quarter at a time.
Jordan Meyer
Sole proprietor
Q4 · due Jan 15
$11,433.00
Safe harbor, the lower method this quarter
Priya Natarajan
Consultant
Q4 · due Jan 15
$5,718.00
Annualized, $1,736.00 under safe harbor so far
Sam Okafor
Contractor
Q4 · due Jan 15
$5,123.00
Safe harbor, the lower method this quarter
Lena Fischer
Designer
Q4 · due Jan 15
$5,950.00
Annualized, $7,584.00 under safe harbor so far
Marcus Reed
Real estate agent
Q4 · due Jan 15
$9,259.00
Annualized, $3,108.00 under safe harbor so far
Ana Delgado
Photographer
Q4 · due Jan 15
$374.00
Annualized, $9,659.00 under safe harbor so far
4 of 6 clients pay less under the annualized method this quarter. Each one gets the Schedule AI package that proves it. Sample clients.
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100% of last year's tax, $18,000, in four equal payments
$4,500 per quarter
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