FREELANCE QUARTERLY ESTIMATED TAX WORKSHEET — 2026 =================================================== Use this worksheet each quarter to calculate your estimated tax payment. Pay at irs.gov/payments using IRS Direct Pay — free, takes 5 minutes. ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── 2026 QUARTERLY DEADLINES ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Q1 (Jan 1 – Mar 31) → Due April 15, 2026 Q2 (Apr 1 – May 31) → Due June 16, 2026 Q3 (Jun 1 – Aug 31) → Due September 15, 2026 Q4 (Sep 1 – Dec 31) → Due January 15, 2027 ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── STEP 1: CALCULATE NET PROFIT (Complete Each Quarter) ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 ────────── ────────── ────────── ────────── Gross Income $________ $________ $________ $________ (All payments received from clients this quarter) Deductions $________ $________ $________ $________ (Total deductible business expenses this quarter) NET PROFIT $________ $________ $________ $________ (Gross Income - Deductions) ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── STEP 2: CALCULATE SELF-EMPLOYMENT (SE) TAX ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 ────────── ────────── ────────── ────────── Net Profit $________ $________ $________ $________ × 92.35% $________ $________ $________ $________ (This removes the deductible half of SE tax from the base) × 15.3% $________ $________ $________ $________ (SE tax = 12.4% Social Security + 2.9% Medicare) = SE TAX $________ $________ $________ $________ QUARTERLY SE $________ $________ $________ $________ (Divide annual SE tax by 4 — or use current quarter estimate) ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── STEP 3: ESTIMATE INCOME TAX ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Refer to your 2026 tax bracket for your filing status. Income tax applies to net profit (after deductions and the SE tax deduction). The SE tax deduction = half of your SE tax amount (automatically calculated on Schedule 1). APPROXIMATE INCOME TAX RATES (Single Filer, 2026 estimated): 10% on income up to ~$11,925 12% on income $11,925 – $48,475 22% on income $48,475 – $103,350 24% on income $103,350 – $197,300 32% on income $197,300 – $250,525 QUICK ESTIMATE METHOD: Net Profit × (SE tax rate + income tax bracket %) = rough annual tax Example: $80,000 net profit, 22% bracket SE tax: $80,000 × 92.35% × 15.3% = $11,305 SE deduction: $11,305 / 2 = $5,653 Taxable income: $80,000 - $5,653 = $74,347 Income tax (est.): $74,347 × 22% = ~$16,356 Total annual tax: $11,305 + $16,356 = $27,661 Quarterly payment: $27,661 / 4 = ~$6,915 ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── STEP 4: TOTAL QUARTERLY PAYMENT ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 ────────── ────────── ────────── ────────── SE Tax (Q) $________ $________ $________ $________ Income Tax (Q) $________ $________ $________ $________ ────────── ────────── ────────── ────────── TOTAL PAYMENT $________ $________ $________ $________ PAYMENT DATE Apr 15 Jun 16 Sep 15 Jan 15 2026 2026 2026 2027 CONFIRMATION # __________ __________ __________ __________ (Save from IRS Direct Pay confirmation page) ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── SAFE HARBOR METHOD (Simpler — Protects from Penalties) ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Instead of estimating current year taxes, pay based on last year: Prior Year Safe Harbor Rule: If your 2025 AGI was $150,000 or less: Pay 100% of your 2025 total tax, divided into 4 equal payments. If your 2025 AGI was over $150,000: Pay 110% of your 2025 total tax, divided into 4 equal payments. HOW TO FIND YOUR PRIOR YEAR TAX: Look at your 2025 Form 1040, Line 24 (Total Tax) 2025 Total Tax (Form 1040, Line 24): $____________ ÷ 4 quarters: $____________ = Each quarterly payment: $____________ If AGI >$150K, multiply by 110%: $____________ SAFE HARBOR PAYMENT DATES: Q1: April 15, 2026 Payment: $____________ Q2: June 16, 2026 Payment: $____________ Q3: September 15, 2026 Payment: $____________ Q4: January 15, 2027 Payment: $____________ NOTE: If you pay the safe harbor amount, you won't owe an underpayment penalty even if you owe more in April — you'll just pay the balance when you file. ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── ANNUAL DEDUCTION TOTALS (Fill in Before Filing) ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── 01. Home Office: $____________ 02. Equipment: $____________ 03. Software Subscriptions: $____________ 04. Phone & Internet: $____________ 05. Health Insurance: $____________ 06. Retirement Contributions: $____________ 07. Business Travel: $____________ 08. Business Meals (50%): $____________ 09. Professional Development: $____________ 10. Professional Services: $____________ 11. Marketing & Advertising: $____________ 12. Business Insurance: $____________ Vehicle/Mileage: $____________ Other: $____________ ──────────── TOTAL DEDUCTIONS: $____________ ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── ANNUAL SUMMARY ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Gross Income (all sources): $____________ Total Deductions: $____________ Net Profit: $____________ Total SE Tax Paid Quarterly: $____________ Total Income Tax Paid Quarterly: $__________ Total Estimated Taxes Paid: $____________ Final balance due at filing (est.): $____________ (Annual actual tax - total quarterly payments) ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── HOW TO PAY (IRS Direct Pay — Free) ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── 1. Go to irs.gov/payments 2. Click "Make a Payment" 3. Select "Estimated Tax" 4. Select form "1040-ES" 5. Select current tax year 6. Verify identity using prior year tax return info 7. Enter payment amount 8. Pay from bank account (no fee) 9. SAVE your confirmation number ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── SoloStack — solostack.madethis.app Free business templates for freelancers and solopreneurs.