Quarterly Estimated Tax Spreadsheet for Freelancers
If you work for yourself in the US and expect to owe at least $1,000 in federal tax for the year, the IRS generally expects you to pay estimated tax four times a year instead of all at once in April.
2026 federal due dates
- Q1 (Jan to Mar income): April 15, 2026
- Q2 (Apr to May): June 15, 2026
- Q3 (Jun to Aug): September 15, 2026
- Q4 (Sep to Dec): January 15, 2027
When a date lands on a weekend or holiday it moves to the next business day.
The safe harbor idea
You can usually avoid an underpayment penalty by paying, across the year, at least 90% of this year's tax or 100% of last year's tax (110% if last year's adjusted gross income was over $150,000). Many freelancers with uneven income simply pay a quarter of last year's total each quarter.
What to track
- Net self-employment income for each quarter
- The percentage you set aside from every payment
- What you actually paid and on which date
- Your running total against your safe harbor target
Our Quarterly Estimated Tax Cash Planner ($12) lays this out in one workbook with a dashboard, a cash movement log, and a US due date calendar.
General information only, not tax, legal, or financial advice. Check current rules with the IRS or a tax professional.