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Ballpark TaxEst. 2026 · Free tools

Quarterly tax calculator

For US freelancers and sole proprietors, tax year 2026. Covers federal income tax, self-employment tax, the QBI deduction and the safe-harbour minimum.

Set aside each quarter

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Enter your business profit on line 1 to see what to set aside.

Total federal tax
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Self-employment tax
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Effective rate
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Top bracket
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Business profit for the yearSchedule C net profit — what's left after business expenses, not gross revenue.
Filing status
W-2 wages, yours and your spouse'sLeave at zero if self-employment is your only income. Wages use up part of the Social Security cap.
Federal tax already withheld from those wagesBox 2 of your W-2. This counts toward what you owe, so it lowers each quarterly payment.
Retirement, HSA and self-employed health premiumsSolo 401(k) or SEP contributions, HSA, and health insurance you pay for yourself.
Net earnings from self-employmentLine 1 × 92.35%.$0
Self-employment tax15.3% — both halves of Social Security and Medicare.$0
Adjusted gross income$0
Standard deduction−$16,100
Qualified business income deductionSection 199A, up to 20%.−$0
Taxable income$0
Federal income tax$0
Total federal tax for the year$0

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Common questions

How much should I set aside for quarterly taxes?

It depends on your profit, filing status and other income. As a rough starting point many freelancers set aside 25–30% of profit, but the calculator works out the actual figure including self-employment tax and the QBI deduction.

What is the safe harbour for estimated taxes?

If you pay the lesser of 90% of this year's tax or 100% of last year's tax — 110% if last year's AGI was over $150,000 — the IRS cannot charge an underpayment penalty, even if you owe more when you file.

Does this include state tax?

No. This calculator covers federal income tax and self-employment tax only. Most states run their own estimated payment system with separate rules and due dates.

What people use next

Estimates based on published federal rules for tax year 2026. State and local tax is not included. This is general information, not advice about your situation.