Know exactly what you owe the IRS each quarter
This free quarterly estimated tax calculator for freelancers gives new 1099 workers their exact number in about 30 seconds. No signup, no account, and no guessing at "set aside 30%." Enter what you expect to earn and see what to send the IRS this quarter.
2026 rates sourced from the IRS. Federal number precise in all 50 states. Personalized PDF report is $19, versus the $100 to $200 a CPA charges.
How the quarterly tax calculator works
Tell us about your year
Pick your filing status and state, then enter what you expect to earn from freelancing after business expenses. Optional: add last year's total tax so we can run your safe-harbor check.
Get your exact number
See your federal income tax, self-employment tax, and state tax broken down line by line, plus this quarter's payment and the date it is due.
Pay with confidence
The $19 report adds plain-English safe-harbor guidance, step-by-step IRS and state payment links, and calendar reminders for your next three deadlines.
How much should a 1099 freelancer set aside for taxes?
Most new freelancers hear "set aside 30 percent" and hope it is close. Sometimes it is. Often it is not, because your real number depends on your income, your state, and how much you can knock off as business expenses. This calculator does the actual math instead of guessing: self-employment tax, federal income tax, and state tax, added up for your situation. Enter your numbers and see whether 30 percent is too high, too low, or about right for you.
2026 quarterly estimated tax due dates
Estimated taxes are due four times a year: April 15, June 15, September 15, and January 15. The next deadline is September 15, 2026, for income you earned in the summer. Miss a payment and the IRS can charge an underpayment penalty, even if you pay in full at year end.
See all 2026 quarterly estimated tax due dates and how to pay the IRS
Why these numbers are right
Every figure in this calculator comes from a published, citable source, not from memory or a rounded rule of thumb.
The federal brackets and standard deduction use the official 2026 inflation-adjusted amounts from IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32. The self-employment tax uses the Social Security Administration's 2026 wage base of $184,500, with the standard half-of-SE-tax deduction applied. Your federal number is precise in all 50 states. Every constant is listed in the code with its source, and the assumptions behind your result are shown right on your results.
We are also honest about what the calculator simplifies, and those simplifications work in your favor. It assumes your freelance income is your only income, uses the standard deduction, and does not apply itemized deductions, credits, or the QBI deduction. That means your estimate lands slightly high rather than slightly low, so you are more likely to stay ahead of the IRS than behind it.
Coverage is deliberately narrow so it can be accurate. We support Single and Married Filing Jointly filers. Nine no-income-tax states return $0. California, New York, New Jersey, Illinois, and Pennsylvania use real bracket tables. Every other state shows a clearly labeled approximate estimate with a link to its revenue department, so you always know exactly how precise your number is.
The free calculator vs the $19 report
A CPA or an Upwork gig charges $100 to $200 to answer this exact question one time. The calculator here is free, and it stays free every time you rerun it. If you want the answer as something you can keep and act on, the $19 personalized PDF report gives you your exact number, the safe-harbor rule in plain English, step-by-step IRS and state payment instructions, and a calendar file with reminders for your next three deadlines. That is the same one-time deliverable for about 90 percent less.
Frequently asked questions
- Do I even have to pay quarterly taxes?
- Usually, yes, if you expect to owe $1,000 or more in tax for the year after any withholding. That covers most freelancers earning meaningful 1099 income. The IRS wants tax paid as you earn, not all at once in April, so it collects estimated payments four times a year. If you also have a W-2 job, withholding from that paycheck can cover part or all of it. Enter your numbers above and the calculator tells you whether you are over the line.
- What is the safe-harbor rule?
- Safe harbor is the IRS rule that protects you from an underpayment penalty. If you pay at least 90 percent of what you owe this year, or 100 percent of last year's total tax (110 percent if your prior-year adjusted gross income was over $150,000), you are inside the safe harbor and will not be penalized, even if you end up owing more at filing. Enter last year's tax and the calculator checks your status for you.
- Is this tax advice?
- No. 1099 Companion gives an informational estimate only and is not tax, legal, or financial advice. It is a calculator built on published IRS figures. For guidance specific to your situation, consult a licensed tax professional.
- How is this calculated?
- We compute your self-employment tax at 15.3 percent for Social Security and Medicare on 92.35 percent of your net earnings, using the 2026 wage base of $184,500. We apply the half-of-SE-tax deduction, run your income through the official 2026 federal brackets with the standard deduction, add state tax, then apply the IRS safe-harbor rule to set your quarterly number. Every constant comes from IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32, the SSA, and state revenue departments, and the assumptions are listed right on your results.
- What if I'm in a state you don't fully support?
- Nine states have no tax on self-employment income, and we calculate California, New York, New Jersey, Illinois, and Pennsylvania from their real rate tables. For every other state we show a clearly labeled approximate estimate using a blended rate, plus a link to your state's revenue department so you can confirm the exact figure. Your federal number, the biggest piece, is precise everywhere.
- What if my income changes next quarter?
- Come back and rerun the calculator with your updated estimate. It is free every time. Estimated taxes are pay-as-you-go, so adjusting later quarters up or down as your year unfolds is exactly how the system is meant to work. The safe-harbor rule also gives you a cushion: hit the floor based on last year's tax and you avoid penalties even if you end up owing more.
- Do you store my information?
- The free calculator runs entirely in your browser. We never see or store what you type. If you buy the $19 report, we keep only your email, your calculator inputs, and the Stripe payment ID, so we can resend your report. Card details go straight to Stripe and never touch our servers. We never ask for your SSN.