The four IRS quarterly due dates for 2026, plus what a missed payment actually costs.
| Quarter | Income earned | Payment due |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 2026 | Jan 1 – Mar 31, 2026 | April 15, 2026 |
| Q2 2026 | Apr 1 – May 31, 2026 | June 15, 2026 |
| Q3 2026 | Jun 1 – Aug 31, 2026 | September 15, 2026 |
| Q4 2026 | Sep 1 – Dec 31, 2026 | January 15, 2027 |
Pay via IRS Direct Pay, EFTPS, or with Form 1040-ES. State deadlines usually align but check your state's Department of Revenue.
Estimates the IRS underpayment penalty at the 2026 short-term rate (~8% annualized, compounded daily).
Count from the missed due date to when you pay (or file, whichever is earlier).
Estimate only. The IRS uses a rate that changes quarterly and applies the "annualized income installment method" for uneven income — see Form 2210.
Pay at least 100% of last year's total tax (110% if your prior AGI was over $150,000), spread across the four quarters. The IRS won't penalize you even if your current year ends up much higher.
If your income dropped, you can instead pay 90% of what you'll owe this year. Use a quarterly tax calculator to project it, and adjust the remaining installments if income shifts.
Move a fixed percentage of every client payment into a separate savings account the day it lands. When the quarterly deadline comes, the money is already there.
The penalty is calculated per quarter, not per year. Missing Q1 and catching up in April means three extra months of daily compounding on that first payment — even if the annual total is right.
Federal quarterly estimated tax deadlines are April 15, June 15, September 15, 2026, and January 15, 2027. If a due date falls on a weekend or federal holiday, the deadline moves to the next business day.
The IRS charges an underpayment penalty calculated like interest, based on the short-term federal rate plus 3% (about 8% annualized in 2026). It compounds daily from the missed due date until you pay.
You avoid the penalty by paying at least 90% of your current-year tax, or 100% of last year's total tax (110% if your prior-year AGI exceeded $150,000) — whichever is smaller — spread across the four quarterly deadlines. This is called the safe harbor rule.
You don't need to make quarterly estimated payments if you expect to owe less than $1,000 in tax after subtracting withholding and refundable credits. Freelancers with a day job that withholds enough often qualify.
No. If your income is uneven (seasonal or project-based), you can use the annualized income installment method on IRS Form 2210 to match payments to when you actually earned the money and reduce the penalty.
SnapBooks tracks your income in real time, sets aside the right tax percentage automatically, and reminds you before each IRS due date.
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