Q1 2026 Estimated Tax — April 15

Who must file or pay

Self-employed individuals, freelancers, S-Corp shareholders, and anyone expecting to owe $1,000+ in federal tax after withholding.

What you need to know

The Q1 2026 estimated tax payment covers income earned January 1 through March 31, 2026. If you receive income not subject to withholding — self-employment, rental, investment, or S-Corp distributions — you are generally required to make quarterly estimated payments.

The April 15 deadline is the same as the annual individual filing deadline, which means two obligations converge on this date: your 2025 tax return (or extension) AND your first 2026 quarterly payment. Plan for both simultaneously.

To calculate your Q1 payment, divide your expected annual tax liability by four, or use the annualized income installment method if your income is uneven across the year (Form 2210, Schedule AI). TaxosAgent's Genie can model both approaches against your actual income pattern.

The IRS charges an underpayment penalty under IRC §6654. For 2026, the penalty rate is the federal short-term rate plus 3 percentage points, applied to the underpaid amount for each quarter. You can avoid the penalty by paying 100% of last year's tax liability (110% if your prior-year AGI exceeded $150,000), or 90% of the current year's liability.

Required forms

• →Form 1040-ES
• →EFTPS (online payment)

Go deeper

A licensed TaxosAgent professional reviews your situation before this deadline — so you maximize savings, not just compliance.