Estimate only, not tax advice. Check IRS.gov or a tax professional before you pay.
If you get 1099s instead of a paycheck, nobody withholds tax for you. The IRS expects you to pay as you go, four times a year. Here's the process the calculator follows, step by step.
Add up what you expect to invoice in 2026 and subtract business expenses (software, equipment, a home office, business mileage and so on). That's roughly the profit on your Schedule C.
Multiply profit by 92.35%, then by 15.3%. Social Security (12.4%) only applies up to $184,500 of combined wages and self-employment earnings in 2026; Medicare (2.9%) has no cap.
Take profit plus any W-2 wages, subtract half of your SE tax and your standard deduction, and apply the 2026 brackets. For a single filer: 10% up to $12,400, 12% up to $50,400, 22% up to $105,700, 24% up to $201,775, then 32%, 35% and 37%.
Subtract tax withheld from any W-2 job and the estimated payments you've already made, then add state tax.
For 2026: April 15, June 15, September 15, 2026 and January 15, 2027. You can pay through IRS Direct Pay or your IRS online account. If you start late in the year, divide what's left by the remaining due dates.
Estimate only, not tax advice. Figures are for tax year 2026 from IRS sources (Form 1040-ES, Rev. Proc. 2025-32 and the pages listed under Sources) and the SSA. Confirm with IRS.gov or a tax professional.
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