The four 2026 quarterly estimated tax deadlines are April 15, June 15, September 15, and January 15, 2027. Miss one and the underpayment penalty starts accruing for that quarter, even if you catch up later in the year.
Set a reminder for the next quarterly deadline. The form defaults to June 15, 2026 — change the date if you need a different one.
Done in seconds. No sign-up required.
The IRS rule is simple in principle: if you expect to owe at least $1,000 in federal tax after subtracting your withholding and credits, you should be making quarterly payments. In practice, that catches a specific group of people.
The underpayment penalty is not a flat fine. It is interest-style, calculated on the amount you were short for the period you were short. The rate adjusts quarterly and tracks short-term federal rates plus 3 percent — typically in the 7 to 8 percent annualized range in recent years.
That means a missed $2,000 payment in Q2 that you do not catch up until Q4 accrues penalty for roughly six months. It is not crippling, but it is also not free, and it shows up as a separate line on your annual return. Consistent on-time quarterly payments avoid the penalty entirely.
For the full picture on what happens when payments are missed, see our guide to what happens if you miss the tax payment deadline.
Set four separate reminders, one for each quarter, when you do your taxes. Then forget about them until the email lands in your inbox. The dates are predictable. The hard part is just remembering to look at them.
See the full guide on tax payment reminders or check when Tax Day 2026 was for the annual federal deadline.
April 15, June 15, September 15, 2026, and January 15, 2027. The last one covers the final quarter of 2026 but is paid in early 2027. Each payment covers income earned in the period before it.
The next quarterly deadline after April 15, 2026 is Monday, June 15, 2026. That payment covers income earned April 1 through May 31. Set a reminder for early June so you have time to calculate and submit.
Generally, anyone who expects to owe at least $1,000 in federal tax after withholding and credits. This includes most self-employed people, freelancers, contractors, gig workers, landlords, and investors with significant non-wage income. W-2 employees usually do not need to make estimated payments.
You can still pay it late, but the IRS may charge an underpayment penalty calculated on the missed amount for the period you were short. The penalty rate is set quarterly and tracks short-term federal rates. It is not a lump sum, it is interest-style on each missed payment.
Not without a penalty. The IRS expects roughly even payments across the four quarters. Paying the full amount in Q4 still triggers an underpayment penalty for Q1 through Q3 because you were behind during those periods. The annualized income method is the only common exception.
The form on this page defaults to the next quarterly deadline, June 15, 2026. After that, set separate reminders for September 15 and January 15, 2027. Each one will email you 7, 3, and 1 day before — enough time to calculate and submit through IRS Direct Pay.
Free email reminder for June 15, 2026. No account, no app. Get notified 7, 3, and 1 day before — and follow-ups if you have not paid yet.
Set My Quarterly Tax ReminderLast modified: