Quarterly Tax Calculator
Estimate quarterly estimated tax payments.
110 if high income
Results update as you type.
This calculator is for general guidance only and is not tax advice. Rules vary by jurisdiction and year; confirm with a qualified professional.
How it works
People with income that is not subject to withholding — the self-employed, freelancers, investors, and landlords — generally must pay tax throughout the year as quarterly estimated payments, and this calculator estimates them using the IRS safe-harbor rules. You enter your expected total tax for this year, your total tax from last year, any tax being withheld, and the applicable prior-year safe-harbor percentage, and it returns the required annual payment, the quarterly amount, and the prior-year safe-harbor figure. The safe harbor protects you from an underpayment penalty: you generally avoid a penalty if you prepay at least 90 percent of the current year's tax or 100 percent of last year's tax, whichever is smaller. Higher-income taxpayers, those with adjusted gross income above a threshold, must use 110 percent of the prior year instead of 100 percent. The calculator takes the smaller safe-harbor target, subtracts what is already being withheld, and divides the rest into four equal quarterly payments due in April, June, September, and January. Paying at least the safe-harbor amount keeps you penalty-free even if you end up owing more at filing. This is an estimate; consult a tax professional or IRS Form 1040-ES. Enter your figures to estimate your quarterly payments.
Required = min(90% of this year, safe-harbor % of prior year); quarterly = (required − withholding) ÷ 4
To avoid an underpayment penalty, you generally must prepay the smaller of 90 percent of this year's tax or a safe-harbor percentage (100 percent, or 110 percent for higher incomes) of last year's tax. Subtracting expected withholding and dividing by four gives each quarterly estimated payment.
Source:IRS Form 1040-ES (estimated tax)
We review all our tools from time to time to ensure accuracy.
Worked example
How to use this calculator
- 1
Enter your values
Enter expected total tax this year and prior-year total tax.
- 2
Adjust the options
Adjust tax withheld this year and prior-year safe harbor if they apply — sensible defaults are already set.
- 3
Read your result
Required annual payment updates instantly as you type — no button to press.
Frequently asked questions
Who has to pay quarterly estimated taxes?
Anyone with significant income not covered by withholding usually must, including the self-employed, freelancers, gig workers, investors, and landlords. If you expect to owe a certain amount at filing after withholding and credits, the IRS requires estimated payments throughout the year. Paying quarterly spreads the tax and helps you avoid an underpayment penalty.
What is the safe harbor rule?
The safe harbor lets you avoid an underpayment penalty by prepaying at least 90 percent of the current year's tax or 100 percent of last year's tax, whichever is smaller. Taxpayers with higher adjusted gross income must use 110 percent of the prior year. Meeting the safe harbor protects you even if your final tax turns out higher than expected.
When are quarterly taxes due?
Federal estimated taxes are generally due four times a year, around April 15, June 15, September 15, and January 15 of the following year. The periods are not evenly spaced calendar quarters. Missing a deadline or underpaying a quarter can trigger a penalty, so mark the dates and pay at least your calculated amount by each one.
How does withholding affect my estimated payments?
Any tax withheld from wages, pensions, or other sources counts toward your required annual payment, reducing what you owe in estimated payments. That is why the calculator subtracts withholding before dividing into quarters. If you have a job with withholding alongside self-employment income, increasing withholding is one way to cover your obligation without separate quarterly checks.
What if I underpay my estimated taxes?
If you pay less than the required amount, the IRS charges an underpayment penalty, effectively interest on the shortfall for the time it was unpaid. Meeting a safe harbor avoids this even if you owe more at filing. If your income is uneven, the annualized income method can reduce penalties by matching payments to when income was actually earned.