Quarterly Estimated Tax Estimator
Find out how much to set aside and pay each quarter as a self-employed business owner. Based on 2025 federal tax rates.
Filing Status
Income
Above-the-Line Deductions
These reduce your taxable income before the standard deduction is applied.
SEP-IRA max: 25% of net SE income up to $70,000. Solo 401k: up to $70,000 total.
Safe Harbor (Optional)
Enter last year's total federal tax liability to calculate your safe harbor quarterly payment — the amount that guarantees no underpayment penalty regardless of this year's actual income.
Your Quarterly Payment
Estimated federal tax ÷ 4 quarters
Federal taxes only. Does not include state income tax.
Talk to a bookkeeper →Safe Harbor Amount
2025 Due Dates
How This Estimate Is Calculated
Self-Employment Tax
SE tax is 15.3% on the first $176,100 of net SE earnings (92.35% of net profit), then 2.9% above that. You can deduct half of your SE tax from your gross income — this estimator accounts for that automatically.
Adjusted Gross Income (AGI)
AGI = net business profit + other income − SE tax deduction (50% of SE tax) − health insurance premiums − retirement contributions. These above-the-line deductions reduce your taxable income before the standard deduction.
Federal Income Tax
Taxable income = AGI − 2025 standard deduction. Federal income tax is then calculated using the 2025 marginal tax brackets for your filing status. The standard deduction is $15,000 (single), $30,000 (MFJ), $22,500 (HoH), or $15,000 (MFS).
Quarterly Payment
Total annual tax (SE tax + income tax) ÷ 4. The IRS expects you to pay roughly equal amounts each quarter. If your income is uneven throughout the year, you can use the annualized income installment method — ask your CPA.
What This Estimator Doesn't Include
- —State income tax — varies widely by state; check your state's requirements separately
- —Tax credits — child tax credit, foreign tax credit, and others can reduce your bill significantly
- —Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) — relevant for some higher earners
- —QBI deduction (Section 199A) — self-employed owners may deduct up to 20% of qualified business income; this can meaningfully reduce your tax bill
- —Itemized deductions — if your itemized deductions exceed the standard deduction, you may owe less
Clean Books = Accurate Estimates
This estimate is only as good as your numbers.
If your books aren't up to date, your "net profit" number is a guess. SnapBooks keeps your books current every month so your quarterly tax estimates are based on real data — not hunches.
Get a Free Consultation →Stop losing sleep over your books.
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