Quarterly Taxes Explained for Beginners (2026)

The IRS expects self-employed individuals to pay taxes as income is earned — not just at year-end.

2026 Quarterly Deadlines

Q1: April 15 | Q2: June 16 | Q3: September 15 | Q4: January 15, 2027.

You need to pay if you expect to owe $1,000+ in taxes after withholding and credits.

Method 1: Estimate annual income, subtract deductions, calculate tax, divide by 4.

Method 2 (Safe Harbor): Pay 100% of last year's tax (110% if AGI > $150K) to automatically avoid penalties.

IRS Direct Pay (free), EFTPS, credit card (fees apply), or mail Form 1040-ES with check.

IRS charges 8% annual interest on underpayments. Even partial payments reduce your penalty.

Use our quarterly tax calculator for your personalized payment schedule.

What if my income varies?

Use Annualized Income Installment Method (Schedule AI, Form 2210) to base payments on actual quarterly income.

Can I prepay all quarters?

Yes. Make one lump payment by the Q1 deadline. You lose the time value of money on early payments.