2026 estimated tax calculator
Work out each 2026 quarterly payment — using equal installments or the IRS Form 2210 Schedule AI annualized income installment method — with the 2026 brackets, standard deduction, capital gains rates and deadlines already applied.
Free, no sign-up, and every step of the math is shown. Covers self-employment tax, capital gains, the Net Investment Income Tax and the safe harbor tests.
Open the 2026 calculator2026 quarterly estimated tax due dates
Four installments, covering periods that are not equal quarters. Each date below is the date the payment is actually due for 2026, after the weekend and legal holiday shifts.
| Installment | Income earned | Due date |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 | Jan 1 – Mar 31 | Apr 15, 2026 |
| Q2 | Jan 1 – May 31 | Jun 15, 2026 |
| Q3 | Jan 1 – Aug 31 | Sep 15, 2026 |
| Q4 | Jan 1 – Dec 31 | Jan 15, 2027 |
2026 standard deduction
Subtracted from your income before the brackets apply, unless your itemized deductions come to more.
| Filing status | 2026 standard deduction |
|---|---|
| Single | $16,100.00 |
| Married filing jointly | $32,200.00 |
| Married filing separately | $16,100.00 |
| Head of household | $24,150.00 |
2026 federal income tax brackets
The rates applied to ordinary income — wages, self-employment income, interest and short-term gains. Ranges are taxable income, after your deduction.
| Rate | Single | Married filing jointly | Married filing separately | Head of household |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10% | $0.00 – $12,400.00 | $0.00 – $24,800.00 | $0.00 – $12,400.00 | $0.00 – $17,700.00 |
| 12% | $12,400.00 – $50,400.00 | $24,800.00 – $100,800.00 | $12,400.00 – $50,400.00 | $17,700.00 – $67,450.00 |
| 22% | $50,400.00 – $105,700.00 | $100,800.00 – $211,400.00 | $50,400.00 – $105,700.00 | $67,450.00 – $105,700.00 |
| 24% | $105,700.00 – $201,775.00 | $211,400.00 – $403,550.00 | $105,700.00 – $201,775.00 | $105,700.00 – $201,750.00 |
| 32% | $201,775.00 – $256,225.00 | $403,550.00 – $512,450.00 | $201,775.00 – $256,225.00 | $201,750.00 – $256,200.00 |
| 35% | $256,225.00 – $640,600.00 | $512,450.00 – $768,700.00 | $256,225.00 – $384,350.00 | $256,200.00 – $640,600.00 |
| 37% | $640,600.00+ | $768,700.00+ | $384,350.00+ | $640,600.00+ |
2026 long-term capital gains rates
Long-term gains and qualified dividends are taxed on their own schedule, stacked on top of your ordinary income rather than beside it.
| Rate | Single | Married filing jointly | Married filing separately | Head of household |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0% | $0.00 – $49,450.00 | $0.00 – $98,900.00 | $0.00 – $49,450.00 | $0.00 – $66,200.00 |
| 15% | $49,450.00 – $545,500.00 | $98,900.00 – $613,700.00 | $49,450.00 – $306,850.00 | $66,200.00 – $579,600.00 |
| 20% | $545,500.00+ | $613,700.00+ | $306,850.00+ | $579,600.00+ |
Self-employment tax in 2026
Self-employment income carries 15.3% in SE tax on top of income tax — 12.4% Social Security and 2.9% Medicare — charged on 92.35% of net earnings. For 2026 the Social Security portion stops at $184,500.00 of earnings; the Medicare portion has no ceiling. Half of what you pay is deductible against income tax, and the calculator applies that automatically.
2026 safe harbor: what stops a penalty
You avoid an underpayment penalty for 2026 by meeting either safe harbor: 90% of your final 2026 tax, or 100% of your total 2025 tax. The prior-year figure rises to 110% if your 2025 adjusted gross income was above $150,000.00 ($75,000.00 married filing separately).
2026 estimated tax questions
- When are 2026 estimated tax payments due?
- The four 2026 installments are due Apr 15, 2026, Jun 15, 2026, Sep 15, 2026, Jan 15, 2027. A deadline that falls on a weekend or legal holiday moves to the next business day, and the dates above already account for that.
- What is the 2026 standard deduction?
- For 2026 it is $16,100.00 single, $32,200.00 married filing jointly, $16,100.00 married filing separately, $24,150.00 head of household. The calculator applies it automatically unless your itemized deductions come to more.
- How much do I need to pay to avoid a 2026 underpayment penalty?
- Meet one of the two safe harbors: pay at least 90% of your final 2026 tax, or 100% of your total 2025 tax — 110% if your 2025 adjusted gross income was over $150,000.00 ($75,000.00 if married filing separately). The calculator tests both and tells you which is cheaper.
- What is the 2026 Social Security wage base for self-employment tax?
- $184,500.00. Self-employment income above that is no longer subject to the 12.4% Social Security portion, though the 2.9% Medicare portion continues with no cap.
- Can I use the annualized income installment method for 2026?
- Yes. If your 2026 income arrives unevenly, Schedule AI of IRS Form 2210 lets you size each installment to the income you had actually earned by that point in the year, rather than paying four equal amounts. This calculator supports it in full.
EstimatedTax is informational only and does not constitute tax advice. Figures are the published IRS amounts for the 2026 tax year; verify against your own circumstances or with a qualified tax professional.