Quarterly Estimated Tax Calculator

What to send the IRS and your state each quarter for — — with the safe-harbor number that actually keeps you penalty-free.

Step 1

You & Your Business

Filing Status

State

Used for state income tax and that state's own payment schedule.

Business Structure

Your W-2 Salary from the Company

Only this pays FICA; the remainder is distributions.

Step 2

Expected Income This Year

1099 / Business Net Profit *

Revenue minus expenses for the whole year — your best estimate.

1099 Gross Revenue (Optional)

Only used to work out what % to hold back from each payment you receive.

Your W-2 Wages

Consumes the Social Security wage base before your 1099 income does.

Federal Tax Already Withheld

From all W-2 jobs, expected for the full year.

State Tax Already Withheld

Pay Periods Left This Year

Used for the "increase W-4 withholding instead" option.

Interest, Dividends & Other

Taxed as ordinary income. Not subject to self-employment tax.

Long-Term Capital Gains

Taxed at 0/15/20% rather than ordinary rates.

Rental & Royalty Income

Schedule E — ordinary income, but no self-employment tax.

Step 3

Deductions & Retirement

SEP-IRA / Solo 401(k) / SIMPLE

Reduces income tax, but not self-employment tax.

Self-Employed Health Insurance

Premiums you pay yourself, above the line.

HSA Contribution

Itemized Deductions (Optional)

Leave blank to use the standard deduction.

The 20% pass-through deduction (QBI). Section 199A lets most self-employed people deduct up to 20% of business profit before income tax — on $90,000 of profit that's up to $18,000 off your taxable income. It's applied automatically below. Two things can reduce or remove it, so check these:

Don't apply the QBI deduction

Tick only if your accountant has told you it doesn't apply to you.

My work is a specified service business (SSTB)

Health, law, accounting, consulting, athletics, financial services, performing arts, or any business whose main asset is the skill of its staff. Above the income threshold the deduction phases out for these.

Step 4

Last Year's Return

This is the important part. Prepaying 100% of last year's tax — 110% if last year's AGI was over the threshold — keeps you penalty-free even if this year turns out much bigger. It's usually the lower number, and it's the one most people should actually pay.

Last Year's Total Tax

Form 1040 line 24 — total tax, not what you owed at filing.

Last Year's AGI

Form 1040 line 11.

First year of self-employment — no prior-year return

Step 5

Payments Already Made

Quarter	Paid to IRS	Paid to State

Leave blank if you haven't paid yet. Quarters already past show up in the results as overdue.

📅 Your Quarterly Plan

Federal — Form 1040-ES

State —

How the Tax Breaks Down

Component	Amount
Adjusted Gross Income	—
Less deduction	—
Less QBI deduction (§199A)	—
Taxable Income	—
Federal Income Tax	—
Self-Employment Tax	—
State Income Tax	—
Less tax already withheld	—
Still To Pay This Year	—

Two Ways to Handle It

Hold Back From Every Payment

—

of each 1099 payment you receive

Or Raise W-4 Withholding

—

per paycheck, line 4(c)

Estimates only — not tax advice. Federal brackets and the Social Security wage base are pulled live from the IRS and SSA; state rules are modelled per state where available. Doesn't cover local or municipal taxes, alternative minimum tax, or credits. Talk to a CPA before relying on these figures. See our disclaimer.