Quarterly tax payments are the way many self-employed people and small business owners pay federal tax during the year instead of waiting for one large bill at filing time. Federal tax is pay-as-you-go, and estimated tax can cover income tax, self-employment tax, and other tax shown on your return: IRS Publication 505.
The practical job is to estimate tax from current income and expenses, pay by the right dates, and keep proof of each payment. If business driving affects your estimate, MyCarTracks automatic mileage tracking can help keep trip records ready before each quarterly review.
Quick answer
For 2026 calendar-year taxpayers, quarterly tax payments are due April 15, 2026; June 15, 2026; September 15, 2026; and January 15, 2027. Use IRS Publication 505 and Form 1040-ES to estimate the payment, then save the worksheet, payment confirmation, tax year, amount, and payment method.
What estimated tax payments are
Quarterly tax payments are estimated payments made during the year when enough tax is not being withheld from income. Employees usually pay through paycheck withholding. Self-employed people, freelancers, contractors, gig workers, and small business owners often need estimated payments because clients and platforms usually pay them without withholding federal income tax, Social Security, or Medicare tax.
Estimated tax is not a separate tax return. It is a series of payments that gets credited on the annual return. You still file the final return to report income, deductions, credits, prior payments, and any refund or balance due.
Who may need quarterly tax payments
You may need estimated tax if you expect to owe at least $1,000 after subtracting withholding and refundable credits and your withholding and credits are below the required safe-harbor amounts. The IRS estimated taxes page also points readers to the 90% current-year and 100% prior-year safe-harbor framework, with special rules for higher-income taxpayers, farmers, and fishers.
Self-employed income matters even when it is not your full-time work. A W-2 employee with a profitable side business may be able to increase paycheck withholding instead of making separate estimated payments, but the total paid during the year still needs to be enough.
Net earnings from self-employment of $400 or more generally trigger a federal income tax return filing requirement, even before the estimated-tax threshold is tested: IRS self-employed individuals tax center. That is why small side businesses still need clean income, expense, and payment records.
What taxes self-employed payments can cover
Self-employed quarterly payments can cover federal income tax and self-employment tax. Self-employment tax generally covers Social Security and Medicare taxes for people who work for themselves, and it is figured separately from regular income tax: IRS self-employment tax.
State income tax, sales and use tax, payroll tax, and local business filings can have separate systems and due dates. Put those obligations on the same calendar, but do not assume a federal Form 1040-ES payment satisfies a state or local rule.
Quarterly tax payments due dates for 2026
For most calendar-year individual taxpayers, the 2026 estimated tax payment periods and due dates are:
| Income period | 2026 due date |
|---|---|
| January 1 to March 31, 2026 | April 15, 2026 |
| April 1 to May 31, 2026 | June 15, 2026 |
| June 1 to August 31, 2026 | September 15, 2026 |
| September 1 to December 31, 2026 | January 15, 2027 |
If a due date falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, the payment is timely on the next day that is not a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday. Publication 505 also notes that the January 15 payment may not be needed if you file the 2026 Form 1040 or Form 1040-SR by January 31, 2027 and pay the remaining tax due.
How to calculate quarterly tax payments
Start with a full-year estimate, then revise it when the business changes. A simple quarterly process looks like this:
- Estimate annual business income from invoices, platforms, payment processor reports, cash records, and deposits.
- Subtract deductible business expenses you can support with receipts, statements, logs, or invoices.
- Include vehicle deductions only when the mileage log or actual-expense file is current.
- Estimate income tax, self-employment tax, and other federal tax that may apply.
- Subtract withholding and estimated payments already made.
- Divide the remaining required payment across the remaining due dates, or use the annualized method when income is uneven.
Form 1040-ES and Publication 505 are the official starting points for the worksheet. If your income jumps or drops after a payment, update the next estimate instead of repeating an old number.
Example quarterly review
Assume a contractor closes May with $42,000 of gross income, $9,500 of supported expenses, and 5,200 business miles logged. Before the June 15 payment, the contractor reviews year-to-date profit, estimates June income, checks whether the 2026 business mileage rate affects taxable profit, and saves the payment confirmation with the tax-year records.
By September, the old estimate may be wrong. A new client, a slow month, a vehicle purchase, a spouse’s withholding change, or a large deductible expense can change the payment needed to stay on track.
How to pay quarterly taxes
Individuals can pay federal estimated tax online through IRS Direct Pay, by card or digital wallet through IRS-approved processors, through EFTPS, or by mailing a check or money order with the Form 1040-ES payment voucher. The IRS payments page lists payment options and helps route taxpayers by tax type.
Save the confirmation number, amount, date, tax year, payment method, and account used. If you mail a voucher, keep the voucher copy, check image, and mailing proof. If a payment is made late, saving the exact payment date matters.
Card and digital-wallet processors can charge fees, so compare the payment method before you choose one. EFTPS can be useful for recurring business payment workflows, but new enrollment can take time, so do not leave setup until the due date.
What happens if you miss or underpay
The underpayment penalty can apply when you do not pay enough tax during the year or pay it late. The IRS underpayment penalty page explains that the calculation uses the underpayment amount, the period it was due and unpaid, and published quarterly interest rates.
Do not wait for the annual return if a payment was missed. Pay what you can, keep the confirmation, and update the next estimate. If the issue involves a notice, payment plan, disaster relief, retirement or disability facts, or uneven income, review the IRS penalty page or get professional help before assuming the final result.
Records to keep with each payment
Keep the tax file strong enough that you can explain both the payment and the estimate. Save:
- Form 1040-ES worksheet or tax software estimate
- payment confirmation and bank proof
- tax year and quarter
- income reports used in the estimate
- expense reports and receipts used in the estimate
- mileage exports, tolls, parking, and vehicle expense records
- notes explaining any midyear change
For broader expense records, use How to Keep Track of Business Expenses (US). For mileage proof, pair the estimate with IRS Mileage Log Requirements.
MyCarTracks workflow
Quarterly estimates are easier when mileage, trips, and vehicle records are already organized. Use MyCarTracks features to review trips through the year, then export mileage before each payment review. For the broader product workflow behind trip capture and reports, use MyCarTracks.
FAQ
Are estimated taxes the same as quarterly taxes?
For most self-employed federal tax planning, yes. People often say quarterly taxes because individual estimated tax is usually paid four times during the year.
Can I pay all quarterly tax payments at once?
You can pay estimated tax early, but many self-employed people still review the estimate each quarter because income, expenses, credits, and withholding can change. If you pay early, save the confirmation and make sure the payment is applied to the right tax year.
How much should I save for quarterly tax payments?
There is no single percentage that fits every business. Profit, deductions, filing status, state tax, credits, prior-year tax, and withholding all matter. Use Form 1040-ES or a tax professional to estimate from your actual numbers.
What if I only earn self-employed income later in the year?
You generally do not make estimated payments before you have income that creates a tax obligation. Publication 505 includes timing rules for income that starts in a later payment period.
Do quarterly payments replace my annual tax return?
No. Quarterly payments are credits toward the annual return. You still file the return to report income, deductions, credits, payments, refund, or balance due.
What to read next
- Self-Employed Tax Return Due Dates
- How to Claim Self-Employed Taxes
- Small Business Tax Guide for 2026
- Self-Employed Tax Deductions
- How to Track Mileage for Tax Deductions