VerCalc
US
Taxes
Self Employment Quarterly Tax Estimator
Federal • 2026 • Freelancer‑grade estimator

Self‑Employment Quarterly Tax Estimator

Estimate quarterly payments for freelancers: federal income tax + self‑employment tax (Social Security & Medicare), plus safe‑harbor targets.

Inputs

Enter your best annual estimates. The calculator applies the half‑SE‑tax adjustment and a simplified credit model.

Deductions & credits (simplified)
Payments & planning
Net self‑employment profit: $100,000 (gross $120,000 − expenses $20,000).

Estimated result

AGI (estimated)
$92,935
Taxable income
$76,835
Deduction used: $16,100
Federal income tax (after non‑refundable credits)
$11,616
Before credits: $11,616
Self‑employment tax (SS + Medicare)
$14,130
SS: $11,451 • Medicare: $2,678
Additional Medicare tax
$0
Threshold: $200,000
Total federal tax liability (estimate)
$25,745
Safe‑harbor required annual payment
$23,171
90% current‑year: $23,171
Estimated payments still needed (from today)
$23,171
Next quarter estimate: $5,792.69 • Planning from Q1

Quarterly schedule

Q1 • due Apr 15, 2026
Planned amount (equal installments from Q1)
$5,792.69
Q2 • due Jun 15, 2026
Planned amount (equal installments from Q1)
$5,792.69
Q3 • due Sep 15, 2026
Planned amount (equal installments from Q1)
$5,792.69
Q4 • due Jan 15, 2027
Planned amount (equal installments from Q1)
$5,792.69

Refund / owed (planning view)

Based on your inputs, payments (withholding + estimated already made + refundable credits) are $25,745 under the estimated total tax.

Calculator inputs stay on your device (local processing).

Disclaimer: All calculators on this website are provided for informational and illustrative purposes only. The results do not constitute professional advice (including legal, tax, financial, medical, or other advice). Despite careful programming, we assume no liability for the accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of the results. For matters requiring professional advice, we recommend consulting an appropriate specialist (e.g., a tax advisor, lawyer, accountant, or physician).

Notes & tables

What this calculator estimates (2026)


This tool estimates federal quarterly payments for self‑employed income. It includes:


•Self‑employment tax (SE tax): Social Security + Medicare on net earnings
•Additional Medicare tax: extra 0.9% above the threshold (by filing status)
•Federal income tax: using 2026 brackets and your deduction choice (standard or itemized total)
•Safe‑harbor targets: a planning target to reduce underpayment‑penalty risk

It does not include state/local taxes, all credits/phaseouts, AMT, or every special rule. Use it for planning and confirm with your tax software or a professional.


Optional: you can enable a state tax overlay (flat effective rate) to budget a combined “federal + state” payment. State rules vary, so treat it as a planning estimate.


Key 2026 constants (quick table)


Self‑employment tax rates (most common case)

Item
Rate
Notes
Social Security (OASDI)
12.4%
Applies up to the SS wage base
Medicare
2.9%
No cap
Additional Medicare
+0.9%
Above threshold (not indexed)

2026 limits & thresholds

Item
Amount
Social Security wage base
$184,500
Additional Medicare threshold — Single / HOH
$200,000
Additional Medicare threshold — MFJ
$250,000
Additional Medicare threshold — MFS
$125,000

Quarterly due dates (2026 tax year)


Estimated payments are typically due:


•Q1: April 15, 2026
•Q2: June 15, 2026
•Q3: September 15, 2026
•Q4: January 15, 2027

If a due date falls on a weekend/holiday, the IRS typically shifts it to the next business day.


Safe harbor: how much do you need to pay to avoid penalties?


In simplified planning terms, many taxpayers aim to prepay at least:


•90% of current‑year total tax, or
•100% of last year’s total tax (or **110%** if prior‑year AGI was above the threshold)

This calculator lets you pick a method and shows the implied required annual payment and a simple equal‑installment schedule.


Example (quick intuition)


Scenario
What changes
Typical impact
Add a W‑2 job
SS wage base gets used by wages first
SE Social Security portion can drop
Higher net profit
More SE tax + higher income tax
Quarterly payments rise
Itemizing beats standard
Lower taxable income
Income tax (and payments) drop
Big refundable credits
Treated like payments
Can reduce what you need to send quarterly

Related tools (internal linking)


•Want a refund/owed view for W‑2 withholding? [Tax Refund Estimator](/us/taxes/tax-refund-estimator)
•Deciding deductions? [Standard vs Itemized](/us/taxes/standard-vs-itemized-deductions)
•Doing year‑end moves? [401(k) / IRA Tax Savings](/us/taxes/401k-ira-tax-savings)

FAQ (10)

Who needs to pay quarterly estimated taxes?

If you expect to owe tax because you don’t have enough withholding (common with 1099/self‑employment income), you may need estimated payments. Safe‑harbor rules can help you avoid underpayment penalties.

What is self‑employment tax (SE tax)?

SE tax is Social Security + Medicare tax on net earnings from self‑employment. It’s separate from federal income tax and is often a large part of a freelancer’s tax bill.

Why does the calculator use 92.35% of my net profit?

In common cases, Schedule SE uses 92.35% of net profit as the base for SE tax. This is a standard adjustment used in SE tax calculations.

Does a W‑2 job affect my self‑employment tax?

Yes. Social Security tax applies up to the wage base across wages + self‑employment earnings. If your W‑2 wages already use the wage base, the SE Social Security portion can be reduced.

What is Additional Medicare Tax?

It’s an extra 0.9% Medicare tax above a filing‑status threshold (e.g., $200k single, $250k MFJ). This estimator includes it as an add‑on above that threshold.

Can I deduct half of self‑employment tax?

Typically, yes—half of the Social Security + Medicare portion (Schedule SE tax) is an above‑the‑line deduction that reduces AGI. This calculator applies that adjustment.

Does this include QBI (20%) deduction?

No. QBI can materially reduce taxable income, but eligibility and limits are complex. Use this tool for planning, then confirm QBI in your filing software.

Does this include state taxes?

No. State rules and rates vary widely. Treat the result as a federal estimate and add your state payments separately if needed.

What’s the difference between ‘tax owed’ and the safe‑harbor target?

Tax owed is your estimated total tax for the year. Safe‑harbor targets are planning thresholds that can reduce underpayment‑penalty risk even if your final tax ends up higher.

What if my income is uneven across quarters?

This tool shows a simple equal‑installment plan. If your income is seasonal, the IRS annualized income method may produce different per‑quarter amounts.