Estimated Quarterly Taxes for Freelancers: Dates, Amounts and How to Pay
When estimated payments are due, how much to send, and how to avoid the underpayment penalty — with a worked example.
Who has to pay estimated taxes
Employees have tax withheld from every paycheck. Freelancers, 1099 contractors and small business owners do not, so the IRS expects you to pay during the year through quarterly estimated payments. In general you need to make them if you expect to owe $1,000 or more in federal tax for the year after subtracting withholding and credits.
2026 due dates
| Income earned | Payment due |
|---|---|
| January 1 – March 31 | April 15, 2026 |
| April 1 – May 31 | June 15, 2026 |
| June 1 – August 31 | September 15, 2026 |
| September 1 – December 31 | January 15, 2027 |
The quarters are uneven, which surprises many first-time filers. When a due date falls on a weekend or holiday it moves to the next business day.
How to estimate what you owe
Your estimated tax has two parts: self-employment tax (15.3% on 92.35% of net earnings) and federal income tax on your profit after deductions. For a freelancer with $60,000 of net profit (single filer, standard deduction):
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Self-employment tax | $8,477.73 |
| Federal income tax (after half of SE tax and the standard deduction) | $4,511.34 |
| Total federal tax | $12,989.07 |
| Per quarterly payment | ≈ $3,247 |
That is about 21.6% of profit, before any state income tax. You can run your own numbers in the 1099 Tax Calculator.
Avoiding an underpayment penalty
The IRS generally will not charge an underpayment penalty if you pay at least 90% of this year's tax or 100% of last year's tax (110% if your prior-year adjusted gross income was above $150,000), spread across the four deadlines. Paying last year's amount in four equal installments is the simplest safe harbor when your income is unpredictable.
How to pay
You can pay through your IRS Online Account, IRS Direct Pay (from a bank account, free), or by card through an approved processor (fees apply). Form 1040-ES contains the worksheet and vouchers if you prefer to mail a check. Keep a record of every payment and its date — you will report them on your tax return.
A simple system that works
- Move 25–30% of every client payment into a separate savings account the day it arrives.
- Recalculate after each quarter if your income changes a lot — adjust the next payment instead of waiting until April.
- Track deductible business expenses all year; they reduce both self-employment tax and income tax.
- Set aside extra for your state if it has an income tax (see the state calculators).