Quarterly estimated taxes: who pays and when

Who has to pay

In most cases you need to make estimated payments if both are true:

• You expect to owe at least $1,000 for the year after subtracting withholding and refundable credits, and
• Your withholding and credits will be less than the smaller of 90% of this year's tax or 100% of last year's tax (110% if last year's adjusted gross income was over $150,000, or $75,000 married filing separately).

This usually means gig workers, contractors, small business owners, landlords, and people with large investment gains or retirement withdrawals without withholding.

Due dates

For 2026 income: April 15, June 15 and September 15, 2026, then January 15, 2027. You can skip the January payment if you file your 2026 return by February 1, 2027 and pay the full balance with it.

For 2027 income: April 15, June 15 and September 15, 2027, then mid-January 2028. When a date falls on a weekend or holiday, it moves to the next business day.

The payments aren't true quarters: the second covers only two months and the fourth covers four.

How much to pay

• Simplest safe harbor: take last year's total tax, divide by four, and pay that each due date (use 110% if your AGI was over $150,000).
• Based on this year: estimate this year's income and pay at least 90% of the tax over the four dates. This helps when income dropped.
• Uneven income: if most of your money comes late in the year, the annualized method can lower or remove the penalty.

If you also have a W-2 job, raising the withholding on your W-4 can cover the tax on your side income instead of separate payments.

How to pay

• IRS Direct Pay from a bank account, free, no sign-up
• Your IRS Online Account, which also shows what you've paid
• EFTPS, or a debit or credit card through an IRS-approved processor (they charge a fee)
• A check with a Form 1040-ES voucher

Choose "estimated tax" and the correct year so the payment lands in the right place.