Quarterly Tax Calculator
Estimate your annual tax, subtract what you have already paid through withholding and prior payments, and get a suggested quarterly estimated payment. For self-employed and other estimated-payment taxpayers.
Written and reviewed by the CalcBundle editorial team. Transparent formulas · results are estimates, not advice.
Suggested quarterly payment
Enter your estimated annual income.
Estimated tax
Estimated tax is the tax you expect to owe for the year on income that isn't withheld. It includes both income tax and, for the self-employed, self-employment tax.
Withholding and prior payments
Any tax already withheld (e.g. from a W-2 job) and estimated payments you have already made reduce what remains. The calculator subtracts these before splitting the balance into quarters.
Planning your quarters
Divide the remaining estimated tax across the remaining quarters. Pair this with the 1099 tax calculator and self-employment tax calculator to plan set-asides. Distinguish the estimate here from your actual filed liability.
Frequently asked questions
Who pays quarterly estimated taxes?
People with income that isn't fully withheld — self-employed workers, contractors, investors and some others — often make estimated payments through the year to cover income tax and self-employment tax.
How is the quarterly payment estimated?
The calculator estimates your annual tax (income tax + self-employment tax), subtracts amounts already withheld and any prior payments, and divides the remainder by four.
Does this guarantee I won't owe a penalty?
No. Safe-harbor rules, deadlines and thresholds vary and change. Treat the suggested payment as an estimate and verify the requirements for your jurisdiction and tax year.
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Disclaimer. This calculator provides estimates for informational purposes only. Results are based on the information you enter and the assumptions used by the calculator. Actual financial, tax, business valuation, lending, marketplace or investment outcomes may differ. Consider consulting a qualified professional for decisions involving significant amounts of money. Estimated payments and deadlines can vary. Verify applicable requirements for your jurisdiction and tax year — this does not guarantee penalty avoidance and is not tax advice.