Four deadlines a year. Here's what to send for each one.
Estimate your quarterly payments and see exactly when they're due. Because the IRS doesn't send reminders — just penalties.
Tax data last updated: July 2026. Sources & methodology
Your numbers
Your best guess is fine — you can adjust each quarter.
Home office, software, mileage, health insurance, etc.
Most sole proprietors under the income threshold qualify.
Four payments covering an estimated $15,610 total tax bill.
- Q1 (Jan – Mar) — due April 15, 2026
- $3,903
- Q2 (Apr – May) — due June 15, 2026
- $3,903
- Q3 (Jun – Aug) — due September 15, 2026
- $3,903
- Q4 (Sep – Dec) — due January 15, 2027
- $3,903
- Total for the year
- $15,610
Estimates only, assuming a single filer taking the standard deduction and even income across the year. Due dates shift to the next business day when they land on a weekend or holiday. State estimated taxes are separate. For anything binding, talk to a CPA — we're not one.
How this is calculated
We estimate your full-year tax the same way our self-employment tax calculator does: net income times 92.35% at the 15.3% SE rate, plus federal income tax through the real IRS brackets. Then we split it into four equal payments against the IRS due dates.
Equal quarters work fine for steady income. If your income is lumpy — a big project lands in Q3, say — the IRS also allows the "annualized income" method where you pay based on what you've actually earned so far. More paperwork, but it keeps cash in your pocket longer.