2026 Tax Year

Estimated Tax Payment Calculator

Self-employed or have income without withholding? Enter your tax details below to estimate your quarterly payments for 2026 and avoid underpayment penalties.

Your Tax Information

Fill in the sections that apply to you. The more detail you provide, the more accurate your estimate will be.

Prior Year Tax InfoFrom your 2025 Form 1040 — used to calculate your safe harbor option

Form 1040, line 24
Form 1040, line 11
The IRS offers a “safe harbor” rule: if you pay at least 100% of last year’s tax (110% if your AGI exceeded $150,000), you won’t owe underpayment penalties — even if you owe more when you file. This gives you two paths to choose from.

W-2 WagesEmployment income with tax withholding

Total from all W-2s
Box 2 from all W-2s

Self-Employment / Schedule CNet profit from your business (subject to SE tax)

Revenue minus business expenses
Total W-2 wages your business paid (for QBI)
Self-employment income is subject to an additional 15.3% SE tax (Social Security + Medicare) on top of income tax. This calculator accounts for that automatically, along with the Section 199A QBI deduction (20% of qualified business income).
SSTBs include: law, accounting, health, consulting, financial services, performing arts, and athletics. If unsure, leave unchecked.

Partnership K-1 IncomeYour share of partnership ordinary income (Box 1 of Schedule K-1 1065)

Box 1 of K-1 (Form 1065)
Box 4 — always subject to SE tax
Your allocable share of total W-2 wages (for QBI)
General and active partners pay SE tax on their share of ordinary income. Limited partners generally do not (only on guaranteed payments).

S-Corp K-1 IncomeYour share of S-Corp ordinary income (Box 1 of Schedule K-1 1120-S)

Box 1 of K-1 (Form 1120-S)
Your S-Corp salary (used for QBI wage limitation)
S-Corp K-1 income is not subject to self-employment tax. Enter your total W-2 wages (including S-Corp salary) in the W-2 section above, and enter just the S-Corp portion here so we can apply the QBI wage limitation at higher incomes.

Rental IncomeNet rental profit (not subject to SE tax)

After depreciation and expenses

Investment IncomeCapital gains, dividends, and interest

Assets held over 1 year (taxed at 0/15/20%)
Assets held 1 year or less (taxed as ordinary income)
Taxed at same rates as long-term gains
Bank interest, non-qualified dividends
Long-term gains and qualified dividends are taxed at preferential rates (0%, 15%, or 20%) based on your taxable income. A 3.8% Net Investment Income Tax (NIIT) may also apply if your income exceeds $200,000 (single) or $250,000 (married filing jointly).

Retirement Distributions1099-R distributions (taxable portion)

Taxable amount from 1099-R
Box 4 from 1099-R

Other IncomeAny other taxable income not listed above

Alimony, prizes, gambling, etc.

DependentsTax credits for qualifying children and other dependents

$2,200 credit per child under age 17
$500 credit per dependent age 17+ (college students, elderly parents, etc.)
The child tax credit phases out by $50 for every $1,000 of income over $200,000 (single/HOH) or $400,000 (married filing jointly). This calculator applies the phase-out automatically.

Itemized DeductionsOptional — we’ll compare to the standard deduction and use whichever is higher

State income or sales tax paid
Annual property tax paid
From Form 1098
Cash and non-cash donations
Only amount exceeding 7.5% of AGI is deductible
Casualty losses, gambling losses, etc.
How It Works

Why Quarterly Payments Matter

01

Pay-As-You-Go System

The IRS expects taxes to be paid throughout the year. W-2 employees handle this through paycheck withholding. Self-employed individuals use quarterly estimated payments instead.

02

Avoid Penalties

If you owe more than $1,000 when you file and haven’t made sufficient quarterly payments, the IRS will charge underpayment penalties and interest on the shortfall.

03

Stay Ahead

Accurate quarterly estimates mean no surprises in April. We help our clients dial in the right number each quarter so cash flow stays predictable all year long.

Important: This calculator provides estimates for the 2026 tax year for educational purposes only. It includes the standard deduction, itemized deductions (with SALT capped at $40,400 per OBBBA), and the Section 199A QBI deduction for self-employment income. The QBI calculation assumes no business W-2 employees—if you have employees, your QBI deduction at higher incomes may be larger (see our S-Corp Calculator for a more detailed analysis). It does not account for tax credits, state taxes, AMT, or capital gains rates. The safe harbor calculation uses IRC §6654(d)(1)(C): 100% of prior year tax if AGI was $150,000 or less, 110% if AGI exceeded $150,000. Consult with a tax professional for a precise calculation.

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Building M, Suite 250
Allen, TX 75013
(972) 371-0407
carterflemmer@dallascpataxaccountant.com

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