Federal estimated tax · 2026
Quarterly estimated tax calculator for 2026
Enter this year's expected income and withholding, and last year's total tax if you have it. The planner works out the 2026 federal tax, the smallest payment that avoids the underpayment penalty, and the four installments with their due dates.
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Filing▾
Income for the year▾
Adjustments and deductions▾
Business (QBI deduction)▾
Dependents and credits▾
Withholding and last year▾
Estimated payments
None needed
Withholding covers the tax to within $1,000.
| Due | Paid | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 April 15, 2026 | — | |
| Q2 June 15, 2026 | — | |
| Q3 September 15, 2026 | — | |
| Q4 January 15, 2027 | — |
- Total income
- $0
- Adjusted gross income
- $0
- Standard deduction
- −$16,100
- Taxable income
- $0
- Income tax
- $0
- Total federal tax
- $0
- Effective rate · top bracket
- 0% · 10%
- Without last year's tax, the safe harbor is 90% of this year's tax. Enter last year's total tax to see whether paying 100% (or 110%) of it is lower.
- The tax left after withholding is under $1,000, so no estimated payments are required for this year.
What the four payments are based on
Estimated payments cover tax that withholding does not: self-employment income, interest and dividends, capital gains, rental income, retirement distributions without enough withheld. The required annual payment is the smaller of 90% of this year's tax and 100% of last year's (110% if last year's AGI was over $150,000, or $75,000 married filing separately). Under the regular method a quarter of it is due on each due date, less the withholding, which counts as paid evenly through the year.
What goes into this year's tax
Income tax on the 2026 brackets after the standard or itemized deduction, the qualified business income deduction and the senior deduction; qualified dividends and long-term gains at 0%, 15% and 20%; self-employment tax of 15.3% on 92.35% of net earnings (the Social Security part up to the $184,500 wage base, less W-2 wages); the 0.9% Additional Medicare Tax and the 3.8% net investment income tax above their thresholds; less the child tax credit and the credit for other dependents.
When no payments are needed
If the tax left after withholding and refundable credits is under $1,000, no estimated payments are required. If you had no tax liability for the whole of last year and were a U.S. citizen or resident, none are required either. The planner shows when the first case applies.
Pricing
- ✓2026 federal figures from the IRS
- ✓Self-employment tax and QBI deduction
- ✓90% / 100% / 110% safe harbor
- ✓Payment letters and CSV schedule (paid plans)
- ✓Calendar file with all four due dates
- ✓Client figures stay in your browser
Prices in USD are approximate. Checkout charges the exact amount in USD at Stripe’s exchange rate (a 2–4% conversion fee is included), or in euros if you prefer. No VAT or sales tax is added. Monthly, cancel any month. The calculator is free on every plan; plans differ in how many clients you can save and in letters and the CSV schedule.
Questions
- Which year does it cover?
- 2026, with the figures the IRS published in Rev. Proc. 2025-32. The 2027 figures will be added when the IRS publishes them, usually in October or November.
- Does it include state estimated tax?
- No, federal only. Most states have their own estimated payments with their own dates and safe harbor rules.
- Is anything I enter sent anywhere?
- No. The calculation runs in your browser and saved clients stay in this browser's storage.