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Self-Employment Quarterly Tax Planner

Four due dates. Four payments. Never get caught off guard again. See your full 2025 payment calendar with amounts.

Tip: SE tax alone is 15.3%. Add your income tax rate on top.
Annual Tax Bill
$15,000
Per Quarter (avg)
$3,750
Set aside % of income
25%
Q1 (Past)
Jan 1 – Mar 31
$3,750
due April 15, 2025
JanuaryFebruaryMarch
Q2 (Past)
Apr 1 – May 31
$3,750
due June 16, 2025
AprilMay
Q3 (Past)
Jun 1 – Aug 31
$3,750
due September 15, 2025
JuneJulyAugust
Q4 (Past)
Sep 1 – Dec 31
$3,750
due January 15, 2026
SeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
How to pay: Use IRS Direct Pay(free, instant) or EFTPS for automatic payments. Set a calendar reminder 2 weeks before each due date. Underpayment penalty is currently ~8% annualized — don't skip.
→ Detailed quarterly tax estimator→ Tax bracket reference

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the 2025 quarterly estimated tax due dates?

Q1: April 15, 2025 · Q2: June 16, 2025 · Q3: September 15, 2025 · Q4: January 15, 2026. Pay via IRS Direct Pay or EFTPS to avoid mailing delays.

Who needs to pay quarterly estimated taxes?

You generally must pay quarterly taxes if you expect to owe at least $1,000 in federal tax for the year. This applies to freelancers, self-employed individuals, gig workers, landlords, and anyone with significant non-withheld income.

How do I pay quarterly estimated taxes?

Pay online via IRS Direct Pay (free, same-day), EFTPS, the IRS2Go app, or mail a check with Form 1040-ES. IRS Direct Pay is the fastest and most convenient option.

Can I pay all my estimated taxes at once?

You may still owe underpayment penalties for earlier quarters even if you pay the full year amount later. The safest approach: pay each quarter based on that quarter's income, or use the safe harbor rule — 100% (110% for high earners) of last year's tax in equal quarterly installments.

Sources: IRS Estimated Taxes, IRS Form 1040-ES, IRS Publication 334. Last updated March 2026.