Who has to pay quarterly taxes?
You generally need to make estimated payments if you expect to owe $1,000 or more in federal tax for the year after subtracting any tax withheld from paychecks. That covers most freelancers, contractors and gig workers, because no one withholds tax from 1099 income.
How much to pay: the safe-harbor rule
You avoid the IRS underpayment penalty if your payments (plus any withholding) add up to the smaller of:
- 90% of this year's tax, or
- 100% of last year's tax — 110% if last year's adjusted gross income was over $150,000 ($75,000 if married filing separately).
Enter last year's total tax (the "total tax" line of your 2025 Form 1040) and the calculator uses whichever is lower. It also shows what to pay if you'd rather owe nothing at all when you file.
2026 due dates
| Payment | For income earned | Due date |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Jan 1 – Mar 31, 2026 | April 15, 2026 |
| 2nd | Apr 1 – May 31, 2026 | June 15, 2026 |
| 3rd | Jun 1 – Aug 31, 2026 | September 15, 2026 |
| 4th | Sep 1 – Dec 31, 2026 | January 15, 2027 |
How to pay
Pay online at IRS Direct Pay (free, from your bank account), through your IRS Online Account, or by debit or credit card through an IRS-approved processor (a fee applies). Choose "Estimated tax" and "1040-ES" as the reason, and the tax year 2026.
Frequently asked questions
What happens if I miss a payment?
The IRS charges an underpayment penalty, which works like interest on the amount you paid late. Pay as soon as you can to keep it small.
My income changes a lot. Do I pay the same every quarter?
Equal payments are the simplest. If your income is uneven, you can pay more in the quarters you earn more, using the IRS "annualized income" method on Form 2210 — a tax professional can help with that.
I started freelancing mid-year. Do I owe earlier quarters?
Pay from the quarter in which you started earning. You don't owe estimated tax for quarters before you had freelance income.
I have a day job too. Can I avoid quarterly payments?
Yes. You can ask your employer to withhold more from your paycheck (a new Form W-4). Withholding counts as if it were paid evenly through the year.
Is this tax advice?
No. It's an estimate based on the 2026 IRS rules. For your situation, check with a tax professional.