Federal Estimated Tax Calculator — Tax Year 2026
Estimate your 2026 federal income tax and plan four quarterly payments to satisfy the IRC §6654 safe harbor. Uses the IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32 brackets and the $16,100 / $32,200 standard deduction. Single and Married Filing Jointly currently supported.
Planning estimate only — not tax advice. See Disclaimer.
When You Need to Pay Estimated Tax
The IRS uses a pay-as-you-go system. W-2 employees pay through payroll withholding. Everyone else pays through quarterly estimates. Per IRC section 6654, you owe quarterly estimates if you expect to owe at least $1,000 in federal tax after subtracting withholding and refundable credits AND your withholding alone is less than the safe-harbor threshold.
The safe harbor is the lesser of 90% of the current year tax OR 100% of the prior year tax (110% if your prior year AGI was over $150,000, or $75,000 for MFS). Most filers use the 110% prior-year option for certainty — pay this amount across the four quarters and you owe no underpayment penalty regardless of how the actual year shakes out. The 90% current-year option requires accurate income forecasting throughout the year and is harder to use defensively.
The four quarterly due dates for tax year 2026 are April 15, 2026, June 15, 2026, September 15, 2026, and January 15, 2027. Due dates that fall on weekends or holidays shift to the next business day. The penalty for underpayment runs from the missed date to the date paid (or April 15 of the following year, whichever is earlier) at the federal short-term rate plus 3 percentage points.
Your Numbers
Currently supports Single and Married Filing Jointly only. HOH and MFS filers — please book a consultation for tailored planning.
Best estimate of total household AGI for 2026 — wages, SE earnings (after half-SE-tax adjustment), interest, dividends, capital gains, retirement distributions, etc.
2026 standard deduction: Single $16,100; MFJ $32,200. If you itemize (mortgage interest, SALT capped at the OBBBA-adjusted $40,400 with phase-down, charitable giving), enter your projected itemized total.
Reduce expected tax dollar-for-dollar. Common: Child Tax Credit, Saver's Credit, education credits. Refundable portions are NOT modeled — actual refunds may be larger.
Total federal income tax expected to be withheld from W-2 wages, pension distributions, and other withholding-eligible payments during 2026. SE tax is NOT subject to withholding — only quarterly estimates.
Safe harbor anchor (optional but recommended):
Total 2025 federal tax (line 24 of Form 1040, before withholding/credits). Used to compute the 100%/110% prior-year safe harbor.
Used to determine whether you fall under the 100% safe harbor (AGI ≤ $150,000) or the 110% safe harbor (AGI > $150,000). $75,000 threshold for MFS — not modeled here.
Estimate only — not a tax position.
The figure below is computed from the values you entered, simplified assumptions, and the federal tax figures in effect for tax year 2026 as of 2026-05-07 per IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32. It is not tax advice and does not create a CPA-client relationship. It does not account for capital gains preferential rates, qualified dividends, the QBI deduction under §199A, the AMT under §55, refundable credit interactions, or self-employment tax (use the SE Tax Calculator separately and add SE tax to the federal income tax shown). Do not act on this number, file based on it, or skip a quarterly payment without a licensed tax professional reviewing your full situation. ProAxis Tax & Accounting Services makes no warranty as to accuracy and accepts no liability for reliance on this output. See full Disclaimer.
Estimated 2026 Federal Tax
Taxable income
$0
AGI minus deductions, floored at $0
Effective tax rate
0%
Total tax ÷ AGI
Tax before credits
$0
Bracket math from Rev. Proc. 2025-32
Tax after credits
$0
Less expected nonrefundable credits
Federal Tax Net of Withholding
$0
Estimate as of 2026-05-07
Safe Harbor Analysis
Enter 2025 tax + AGI to compute the safe harbor.
Suggested Quarterly Payment
$0
Pay each quarter to satisfy the binding safe harbor.
Important: This Is a Directional Estimate
- The calculator uses 2026 figures from IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32 (the official 2026 inflation adjustment rev proc): seven-bracket schedule for Single and MFJ filers, with the standard deduction at $16,100 (Single) or $32,200 (MFJ).
- Safe harbor rules per IRC section 6654(d)(1)(B): lesser of 90% of current-year tax or 100% of prior-year tax (110% if prior-year AGI was greater than $150,000, or $75,000 for MFS).
- The calculator does not model preferential capital gains and qualified dividend rates, the QBI deduction under IRC section 199A, the Alternative Minimum Tax under IRC section 55, the Net Investment Income Tax under IRC section 1411, the Additional Medicare Tax under IRC section 1401(b)(2) on SE earnings, or the impact of self-employment tax itself (which is separate from federal income tax).
- Self-employment tax owed under IRC section 1401 is reported on Schedule SE and is in addition to the federal income tax computed here. Use the Self-Employment Tax Calculator separately and add the result to the federal income tax shown to plan total quarterly payments.
- The calculator does not model state estimated tax. NJ Gross Income Tax, NY Personal Income Tax, and PA Personal Income Tax all have separate quarterly schedules and safe-harbor rules.
- Withholding is treated as paid evenly across the year for safe-harbor purposes per IRC section 6654(g)(1). Quarterly estimates are credited on the date paid. If withholding alone is enough to meet the safe harbor, no quarterly estimates are required.
- Currently supports Single and Married Filing Jointly only. Head of Household and Married Filing Separately filers should book a consultation or use the IRS Form 1040-ES worksheet directly.
- For a precise figure tailored to your specific situation, schedule a free consultation. The full quarterly-payment plan including federal SE tax, state estimates, and NJ BAIT quarterly payments is part of every ProAxis tax planning engagement.
Worked Example 1 — Solo Self-Employed, Below the Phase-Down
A NJ freelance designer filing single. Expected 2026 AGI of $90,000 (mostly Schedule C net profit, after the half-SE-tax adjustment). Plans to take the $16,100 standard deduction. No federal withholding (no W-2 job). 2025 federal tax liability was $11,500; 2025 AGI was $85,000.
Taxable income: $90,000 − $16,100 = $73,900.
Federal tax before credits (Single, 2026): 10% on first $12,400 ($1,240) + 12% on next $38,000 ($4,560) + 22% on next $23,500 ($5,170) = $10,970.
Safe harbor: 100% of prior year ($11,500) since 2025 AGI was under $150,000. Lower of 90% of 2026 ($9,873) or 100% of 2025 ($11,500) = $9,873.
Quarterly payment: $9,873 / 4 = $2,468 per quarter on April 15, June 15, September 15, 2026 and January 15, 2027. Filing the actual return will reconcile any difference. Note: this is federal income tax only; SE tax of approximately $13,300 on $90,000 net profit is owed on top of this and should also be paid quarterly.
Worked Example 2 — Higher Earner, 110% Prior-Year Safe Harbor
NJ MFJ couple. Expected 2026 AGI of $400,000 (one W-2 spouse, one S-Corp owner with K-1 income). Standard deduction $32,200. Expected $40,000 federal withholding from the W-2 spouse. 2025 federal tax was $72,000; 2025 AGI was $385,000 (above the $150,000 phase-down threshold, so 110% safe harbor applies).
Taxable income: $400,000 − $32,200 = $367,800.
Federal tax before credits (MFJ, 2026): 10% on first $24,800 ($2,480) + 12% on next $76,000 ($9,120) + 22% on next $110,600 ($24,332) + 24% on next $156,400 ($37,536) = $73,468.
Safe harbor: 110% of prior year ($72,000 × 1.10 = $79,200). Lower of 90% of 2026 ($66,121) or 110% of 2025 ($79,200) = $66,121.
Required additional payments after withholding: $66,121 − $40,000 W-2 withholding = $26,121.
Quarterly payment: $26,121 / 4 = $6,530 per quarter. Pay April 15, June 15, September 15, 2026 and January 15, 2027 to satisfy the 90% current-year safe harbor. Filing the actual return reconciles. Note: NJ BAIT estimated payments and state estimates are separate.
After You Run the Calculator
The calculator output is a planning starting point. Here is how to use the result:
- Pay the suggested quarterly amount on the four due dates — April 15, June 15, September 15, 2026 and January 15, 2027. Pay through IRS Direct Pay (irs.gov/payments), EFTPS, or by mailing Form 1040-ES voucher with a check. Track confirmation numbers; the IRS does not always credit payments to the right tax year automatically.
- If your income spikes mid-year (e.g., a large capital gain, RSU vesting, business windfall) recalculate and either increase the next quarterly payment or use the annualized-income installment method on Form 2210.
- If you have substantial SE earnings add SE tax (use the SE Tax Calculator) to the federal income tax shown — both are due quarterly. Self-employed Bergen County couples typically have SE tax + income tax + NJ income tax + NJ BAIT (if eligible) — four parallel quarterly streams.
- If you'd rather not manage quarterly payments increase W-2 withholding via Form W-4 to absorb the additional tax. Withholding is treated as paid evenly across the year for safe-harbor purposes regardless of when actually withheld, while quarterly estimates are credited on date paid.
- If you owe a state estimate too — NJ-1040-ES, NY IT-2105, PA REV-414 — those are separate filings. ProAxis runs both federal and state quarterly planning together for clients in NJ, NY, and PA.
The underpayment penalty is small in absolute dollars but compounds annually. A $5,000 underpayment for a full year at the typical penalty rate (federal short-term + 3%) is about $400 of avoidable cost. Most ProAxis clients pay the safe-harbor amount across the four quarters, then settle the final difference at filing.
How to Use This Calculator
- Select Single or Married Filing Jointly. HOH and MFS not currently supported — book a consultation for a tailored plan.
- Enter expected 2026 AGI. Best estimate of total household AGI from all sources — wages, SE earnings (after half-SE-tax adjustment), interest, dividends, capital gains, retirement distributions.
- Enter deductions. 2026 standard deduction is $16,100 (Single) or $32,200 (MFJ). If you'll itemize, enter the projected itemized total instead.
- Enter expected nonrefundable credits. Child Tax Credit, education credits, etc. Refundable portions are not modeled.
- Enter expected federal withholding from W-2 paychecks and other withholding-eligible payments.
- Enter 2025 tax + 2025 AGI to anchor the 100%/110% prior-year safe harbor. Without these the calculator falls back to the 90%-of-current-year safe harbor only.
- Read the results. The calculator shows total expected tax, net amount owed after withholding, the binding safe harbor, and the suggested per-quarter payment.
Related ProAxis Resources
- Self-Employment Tax Calculator — SE tax of 15.3% on net SE earnings, on top of federal income tax. Both due quarterly.
- S-Corp Savings Calculator — S-Corp election can dramatically reduce SE tax exposure
- QBI Deduction Calculator — Section 199A deduction reduces taxable income
- NJ BAIT Savings Calculator — federal SALT cap workaround for NJ pass-through owners
- Tax Planning Service Hub — annual planning that integrates federal estimates with NJ/NY/PA state quarterly schedules
- Business Tax Returns — Form 1040 with Schedule SE, K-1 ingestion, and quarterly planning
- Bookkeeping Cost Calculator — accurate quarterly estimates require accurate books; estimate ongoing monthly bookkeeping cost
- Catch-Up Bookkeeping Calculator — if your books are behind, you cannot make an accurate quarterly estimate; estimate catch-up cost first
Want a Coordinated Federal + State Quarterly Plan?
Schedule a free consultation with ProAxis Tax & Accounting Services. ProAxis runs federal income tax, SE tax, NJ Gross Income Tax, and NJ BAIT estimated payments together — four parallel streams in one quarterly review.