Quarterly Estimated Tax Calculator 2026, Self Employed 1040-ES Planner, Safe Harbor

Self-employed and not sure how much to send the IRS each quarter? Type your business money in and out each month and a couple of numbers from last year's return. The planner shows how much federal estimated tax to pay by each due date, keeps track of what you've paid, and updates the next amount by itself.

WHAT'S INSIDE (8 tabs)
- Start Here: 5 short steps and the color key
- About You: two numbers from last year's return (the hint boxes say which line) and what you expect from any job this year
- Business Money: one row per month, money in and money out
- Payments Made: one row for each estimated payment, federal or state
- What to Pay: the 4 due dates and how much is still due for each one
- Dashboard: profit so far, the year's planned amount, paid so far and still to pay
- For Your Accountant: a print-ready page that shows how every amount was figured, modeled on the 2026 Form 1040-ES worksheet
- Lists & Rates: 2026 tax brackets, standard deductions and self-employment tax rates, already filled in (nothing to type)

WHAT YOU GET
- 1 instant download (.zip) with 2 Excel files:
- BLANK file: your own copy to fill in
- EXAMPLE file: the same workbook filled with made-up numbers, so you can see how a finished year looks before you start
- Works in Microsoft Excel (desktop recommended) and Google Sheets (upload the .xlsx to Google Drive, then open it with Google Sheets). Some formatting may look a little different in Google Sheets.
- Simple color key: cream cells = you type here, gray cells = fill in by themselves.

WHO IT'S FOR
- Freelancers, 1099 contractors, gig workers and side hustlers with no tax taken out
- New business owners making estimated payments for the first time
Federal only (no state estimate). Not for very complex returns.

HOW IT WORKS
1. Look at the EXAMPLE file to see a full year planned and paid.
2. In the BLANK file, answer About You (about 10 minutes).
3. Each month, type your business money in and out on Business Money.
4. Before each due date, open What to Pay, pay online, and log it on Payments Made.
5. At tax time, print For Your Accountant.

ABOUT THE MAKER
Made by a tax pro with 18 years of tax experience. Every TZLprints file is written in plain English for regular people, not accountants. The 2026 figures were checked against IRS.gov in October 2026.

PLEASE NOTE
- This is a recordkeeping and organizing tool. It is not tax, legal or accounting advice, and it does not prepare or file a tax return.
- Tax rules and figures can change. Confirm them at IRS.gov or with your tax professional before you file.

DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, ALL SALES FINAL
- Instant digital download. Nothing is shipped.
- After purchase, download the file from your Etsy Purchases page or the link in your confirmation email.
- Because this is a digital file, all sales are final once the file is delivered.
- Download not working, or a file won't open? Message me on Etsy and I'll help or re-send it. I reply as soon as I can; from January to April, replies may take a few business days.
- For personal use only. Please don't share, resell or redistribute the files.

(c) 2026 TZLprints