The four 2026 federal deadlines are April 15, June 15, September 15, and January 15, 2027. None of them land on a weekend this year, so there are no holiday shifts. The next one coming up is Monday, June 15.
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Each date is the last day the IRS accepts a timely payment for that quarter.
| Quarter | Income period | 2026 deadline | Day of week |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 | Jan 1 – Mar 31, 2026 | April 15, 2026 | Wednesday |
| Q2 | Apr 1 – May 31, 2026 | June 15, 2026 | Monday |
| Q3 | Jun 1 – Aug 31, 2026 | September 15, 2026 | Tuesday |
| Q4 | Sep 1 – Dec 31, 2026 | January 15, 2027 | Friday |
Source: IRS Form 1040-ES and the Estimated Tax page on IRS.gov. All four 2026 dates land on weekdays, so the deadline is the 15th in every case. There are no weekend-to-Monday shifts this calendar year.
The word "quarterly" is a little misleading. The IRS doesn't split the year into four equal three-month blocks. Q1 covers three months of income, Q2 covers two, Q3 covers three, and Q4 covers four. The deadlines fall roughly 15 days after each period ends, which is why they're not evenly spaced on the calendar.
That uneven spacing is the main reason these deadlines get missed. Most recurring bills in your life happen on predictable monthly or yearly cadences. These don't. Two months, three months, four months, then a three-and-a-half-month gap to the next April. There's no natural rhythm to latch onto, and the IRS sends no email to nudge you toward the next one.
| Quarter | 2025 | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 | April 15, 2025 (Tue) | April 15, 2026 (Wed) | April 15, 2027 (Thu) |
| Q2 | June 16, 2025 (Mon, shifted) | June 15, 2026 (Mon) | June 15, 2027 (Tue) |
| Q3 | September 15, 2025 (Mon) | September 15, 2026 (Tue) | September 15, 2027 (Wed) |
| Q4 | January 15, 2026 (Thu) | January 15, 2027 (Fri) | January 17, 2028 (Mon, shifted) |
The underlying rule is simple: the deadline is always the 15th unless the 15th falls on a weekend or federal holiday, in which case it shifts to the next business day.
Knowing the date is the easy part. Remembering the date three months from now, when you're deep in other work, is what actually trips people up. An email 7 to 10 days before the deadline gives you a window to calculate the quarter, move money into your paying account, and submit through IRS Direct Pay or EFTPS without rushing.
For a deeper look at what happens if a deadline does slip, see the guide on what happens if you miss a quarterly estimated tax payment, or go back to the main quarterly estimated tax reminder page to start your reminder.
April 15, 2026 (Q1), June 15, 2026 (Q2), September 15, 2026 (Q3), and January 15, 2027 (Q4). All four 2026 dates fall on weekdays, so there are no weekend or holiday shifts this year.
Despite being called "quarterly," the IRS periods don't divide the year into equal three-month chunks. Q1 covers January through March (3 months), Q2 covers April through May (2 months), Q3 covers June through August (3 months), and Q4 covers September through December (4 months). The due dates fall about 15 days after each period ends.
The deadline automatically shifts to the next business day. In 2025, for example, the Q2 deadline was June 16 instead of June 15 because June 15 was a Sunday. None of the 2026 dates need this shift.
As of April 2026, the IRS has not announced any general federal extension to the quarterly estimated tax deadlines. Extensions typically only apply to taxpayers in federally declared disaster areas. Check IRS.gov for your specific state or county if a disaster has been declared.
As of April 18, 2026, the Q1 deadline on April 15 has just passed. The next upcoming deadline is Q2 on Monday, June 15, 2026. That gives you roughly two months to plan and set a reminder 7 to 10 days before.
Yes, the IRS accepts prepayment of the full year's estimated tax on the April deadline. But the underpayment penalty is calculated per quarter using the safe harbor rule, so paying it all up front doesn't refund you any penalty if a later quarter was under-paid on paper. Most people spread them out to match actual income.
The next federal quarterly deadline is Monday, June 15, 2026. Get an email 7 to 10 days before so you have time to calculate and pay without scrambling.
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