Quarterly Tax Calculator 2026: Your Penalty-Safe Payment

Work out what to pay each quarter, and whether you are safe from a penalty.

By the Easy Guides Editorial Team

Estimated Tax Calculator

This calculator uses the IRS safe harbor rule: pay 100% of last year's total tax (110% if you were a higher earner) and the IRS cannot charge an underpayment penalty, no matter how your income changes this year. Enter last year's number to get your penalty-safe quarterly payment.

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Find this on your prior-year Form 1040, line 22 (total tax). It is not your refund or your balance due.

Higher earners use 110% of last year's tax as the safe-harbor target instead of 100%.

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Withholding from a W-2 job, a pension, or Social Security counts toward your total. Leave at 0 if you have none.

Full calculator pageHow the safe harbor rule worksAll quarterly due dates

Federal estimate for educational purposes only, not tax advice. The safe-harbor method shown here protects you from underpayment penalties; your actual tax owed at year end may be higher or lower depending on your real income. Most states require separate estimated payments. Consult a tax professional for your situation.