2026 Tax Deadlines for Self-Employed Workers
Every quarterly estimated tax due date, filing deadline, and form you need to know — with live countdown timers so you never miss a payment.
Full 2026 Tax Calendar
Q4 2025 Estimated Tax Due
Fourth quarterly estimated tax payment for the 2025 tax year. Pay with Form 1040-ES.
1099 Forms Due to Recipients
Businesses must send 1099-NEC forms to independent contractors who earned $600+ during 2025.
S-Corp & Partnership Tax Returns Due
S-Corporations (Form 1120-S) and Partnerships (Form 1065) must file by this date or request an extension.
Individual Tax Return & Q1 Estimated Tax Due
File your 2025 personal return (Form 1040 + Schedule C/SE) or request an extension. Also the due date for your first 2026 quarterly estimated tax payment.
Q2 Estimated Tax Due
Second quarterly estimated tax payment for 2026. Covers income earned April 1 through May 31.
Q3 Estimated Tax Due & S-Corp Extension Deadline
Third quarterly estimated tax payment for 2026 (covers June 1 – August 31). Also the deadline for S-Corp and Partnership extended returns.
Extended Individual Tax Return Due
Final deadline for individual returns if you filed a 6-month extension in April. No further extensions available.
Q4 2026 Estimated Tax Due
Fourth and final quarterly estimated tax payment for the 2026 tax year.
Calculate Your Quarterly Payments
Quarterly Estimated Tax Deadlines Explained
If you're self-employed, a freelancer, or an independent contractor, the IRS expects you to pay your taxes throughout the year through quarterly estimated tax payments. Unlike W-2 employees who have taxes withheld from each paycheck, 1099 workers must calculate and submit payments four times per year using Form 1040-ES.
When Are Quarterly Taxes Due in 2026?
The four quarterly deadlines for 2026 are: April 15 (Q1, covering January–March), June 15 (Q2, covering April–May), September 15 (Q3, covering June–August), and January 15, 2027 (Q4, covering September–December). Note that Q2 only covers two months while Q3 covers three — the quarters aren't evenly divided.
What Happens If You Miss a Quarterly Payment?
Missing a quarterly estimated tax payment triggers an underpayment penalty calculated by the IRS, typically around 8% annually on the underpaid amount. The penalty applies quarter by quarter, so paying late on one quarter still results in a penalty even if you overpay on the next one. The safe harbor rule protects you from penalties if you pay at least 100% of your prior year's tax liability (110% if your AGI was over $150,000), or 90% of your current year's tax.
Do You Need to Pay Quarterly Taxes?
Generally, you must make quarterly estimated tax payments if you expect to owe $1,000 or more in tax after subtracting withholding and credits. If you have both W-2 and 1099 income, you might be able to increase your W-2 withholding to cover the 1099 tax liability, avoiding quarterly payments altogether.
Other Important Tax Deadlines for Self-Employed Workers
Beyond quarterly payments, self-employed workers need to track several other deadlines: the April 15 filing deadline for personal returns (Form 1040 with Schedule C and Schedule SE), the March 15 deadline for S-Corp returns (Form 1120-S), and the January 31 deadline for sending 1099-NEC forms to contractors you've paid $600 or more. If you need more time, you can request a 6-month extension by filing Form 4868 — but this extends the filing deadline only, not the payment deadline.