Two taxes, one payment
Self-employment tax and income tax stack on top of each other — this splits them out so you can see where the total comes from, then divides by four for the quarterly amount. Pair this with the Freelancer Rate Calculator to make sure your rate already accounts for it.
Frequently asked questions
Who needs to pay quarterly estimated taxes?
Self-employed people, freelancers and contractors who expect to owe $1,000+ in tax for the year, since no employer withholds tax for you automatically.
What is self-employment tax?
A 15.3% tax covering Social Security and Medicare, applied to about 92.35% of your net self-employment income — it exists because employees split this cost with an employer, but the self-employed pay both halves.
When are quarterly payments due?
Roughly mid-April, June, September and January in the US — check IRS.gov for exact current-year dates, since they shift slightly with weekends and holidays.
Is this exact?
No — a simplified estimate (flat SE tax rate, illustrative income brackets, no deductions beyond the standard SE tax adjustment). Use it for planning; confirm with a tax professional or the IRS worksheet for exact figures.
Last updated: June 2026