How much should you set aside for quarterly taxes?
Most freelancers have no idea what tax rate to use, so this calculates your federal rate automatically from real 2026 IRS tax brackets based on your filing status. You only need to add your state's rate if you have one.
Where the federal tax number comes from
This uses the actual 2026 IRS tax brackets and standard deduction (10% through 37%, based on Revenue Procedure 2025-32) for your filing status, rather than asking you to guess a percentage. It subtracts the standard deduction and half of your self-employment tax from your net profit to estimate taxable income, then applies the real progressive bracket structure, the same approach the IRS itself uses. It does not account for itemized deductions, credits, or other income sources, so treat it as a solid starting estimate rather than a final number.
Why this splits self-employment tax from income tax
Self-employment tax funds Social Security and Medicare, the portion an employer would normally split with you, and runs at roughly 15.3% on most net freelance earnings. Income tax is separate and depends on your total income, filing status, and where you live. Seeing these as distinct numbers, rather than one blended guess, makes it clearer why the total feels high.
For the fuller explanation of due dates and what happens if you miss a payment, see the quarterly taxes guide.
About this calculator
How much should I set aside for quarterly taxes?
Between 25 and 30 percent of net profit is the usual starting point in the United States, rising to 35 or 40 percent for higher earners or those in high-tax states. This calculator works it out from real 2026 federal brackets, your filing status and your state rather than from a rule of thumb.
What is the safe harbour amount?
Paying at least 100 percent of the total tax shown on last year's return, or 110 percent if your adjusted gross income was above $150,000, generally protects you from an underpayment penalty no matter how much more you earn this year. It is the most practical approach when your income is unpredictable. The quarterly tax guide explains it in full.
Does this calculator work outside the United States?
Partly. Detailed bracket-based calculation is available for the United States only. For other countries it applies a simplified progressive estimate combining income tax and typical self-employment contributions, which is useful for planning but is not exact. Confirm with a local accountant.
Know the rate behind the number
Every calculation here starts from what you charge. If you have never worked out what that should be, the rate calculator does it from your real costs.
Work out my true rate