1099 Quarterly Tax Estimator
Type in your freelance income and filing status — get your exact quarterly payments, 2026 due dates, and effective tax rate instantly.
📅 Last updated: October 10, 2026 · 2026 figures🧾 Estimate your quarterly taxes
How this calculator works
Freelancers and independent contractors generally pay two federal taxes: self-employment tax (Social Security + Medicare, 15.3%) and federal income tax (graduated brackets). Because no employer withholds for you, the IRS asks you to prepay in four quarterly installments.
1. Self-employment tax = (income × 92.35%) × 15.3% (12.4% Social Security up to the $184,500 wage base + 2.9% Medicare)
2. Taxable income = income − 2026 standard deduction − half of self-employment tax
3. Federal income tax = 2026 brackets applied to taxable income
4. Quarterly payment = (self-employment tax + federal income tax) ÷ 4
5. Effective rate = total tax ÷ income
Worked example
- Self-employment tax: $80,000 × 92.35% = $73,880 → Social Security $9,161.12 + Medicare $2,142.52 = $11,303.64
- Taxable income: $80,000 − $15,750 (single standard deduction) − $5,651.82 (half of SE tax) = $58,598.18
- Federal income tax: 10% on the first $11,925 ($1,192.50) + 12% on the next $36,550 ($4,386.00) + 22% on the remaining $10,123.18 ($2,227.10) = $7,805.60
- Total estimated tax: $11,303.64 + $7,805.60 = $19,109.24 → quarterly payment $4,777.31
- Effective rate: $19,109.24 ÷ $80,000 = 23.9%
Frequently asked questions
Who has to pay quarterly estimated taxes?
Generally, if you expect to owe at least $1,000 in federal tax after withholding and credits, the IRS expects quarterly payments. Most full-time freelancers and 1099 contractors fall into this group.
What happens if I skip a quarterly payment?
The IRS can charge an underpayment penalty plus interest on what you should have paid. Paying on time each quarter is the simplest way to avoid it.
Does this include state income taxes?
No — this estimates federal taxes only. Most states with an income tax have their own separate quarterly requirements.
What counts as net self-employment income?
Your freelance revenue minus deductible business expenses (software, home office, mileage, supplies, and similar). Enter the profit number, not your gross receipts.
Are these numbers exact?
They are close estimates using 2026 brackets, the 2026 standard deduction, and the 2026 Social Security wage base. Deductions, credits, and other income can change your real bill — treat this as a planning number, not a filing number.