What are quarterly estimated taxes?
Quarterly estimated taxes are payments made during the year for income not subject to withholding (self-employment, investments, rental income, and similar sources).
Quarterly Estimated Tax Calculator 2025
Calculate your quarterly estimated payments with safe harbor logic. Avoid underpayment penalties.
Plan Your Quarterly Tax Payments
If you have income that is not subject to withholding (self-employment, investments, rental income), quarterly estimated tax payments help you avoid penalties and cash-flow surprises. For additional plain-English context, see NerdWallet’s guide to quarterly taxes and Investopedia’s estimated tax overview.
- Estimate a quarterly payment amount
- Includes safe harbor logic (prior year method)
- Shows typical federal due dates
- Includes internal cross-checks with related calculators
Your Tax Information
Total federal tax withheld from paychecks (expected for the year)
Used for safe harbor comparison
Deductions above the standard deduction
Quarterly Payment Results
Quarterly Payment
$0
Projected Tax Liability$0
Less: W-2 Withholding$0
Remaining to Pay (current-year)$0
Safe Harbor (prior-year method)$0
Safe Harbor Rate100%
Typical federal due dates for 2025 estimates
Q1Apr 15, 2025
Q2Jun 16, 2025
Q3Sep 15, 2025
Q4Jan 15, 2026
Want this dialed in with your real return?
Safe-harbor rules are only one part of avoiding penalties. We can align estimates with self-employment tax, withholding strategy, and credits.
Talk to a tax pro
Prefer direct pay options? The IRS payment hub is here:
IRS Payments.
How Estimated Taxes Work
1
Estimate Income
Project your total income for the year.
2
Estimate Tax
Apply brackets, deductions, and credits.
3
Subtract Withholding
Deduct W-2 withholding and other prepayments.
4
Split Payments
Divide what remains into quarterly payments.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who needs to pay estimated taxes?
You generally need to pay estimates if you expect to owe $1,000 or more after subtracting withholding and credits.
What is the safe harbor rule?
Safe harbor can help avoid penalties if you pay 100% of last year’s tax (110% if your AGI is above certain thresholds) or 90% of the current year’s tax, depending on your situation.
How do I pay estimated taxes?
Most taxpayers pay online using the IRS payment options, by EFTPS, or by mailing a voucher with Form 1040-ES. Online payments provide faster confirmation.
Stay on Top of Your Taxes
NexGen Taxes offers quarterly tax planning and estimated payment support.
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