Why Freelancers Pay Quarterly
When you work a W-2 job, your employer withholds federal, NY State, and NYC tax from every paycheck. As a freelancer or 1099 contractor, nobody withholds — so the IRS and New York expect you to pay estimated tax four times a year. Miss a payment and interest (and sometimes penalties) start accruing.
2026 Due Dates
| Quarter | Period Covered | Due Date |
|---|
| Q1 2026 | Jan 1 – Mar 31 | **April 15, 2026** |
|---|
| Q2 2026 | Apr 1 – May 31 | **June 15, 2026** |
|---|
| Q3 2026 | Jun 1 – Aug 31 | **September 15, 2026** |
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| Q4 2026 | Sep 1 – Dec 31 | **January 15, 2027** |
|---|
Heads up: as of this writing the next payment is Q3 — due September 15, 2026.
How Much to Pay
Your estimated tax should cover:
The Safe Harbor Rule
You can avoid underpayment penalties entirely if you pay at least 100% of last year's tax (or 110% if your prior-year AGI was over $150,000, or $75,000 married filing separately). Otherwise, pay at least 90% of this year's actual tax by the due dates. The safe harbor is why many freelancers simply base each payment on last year's return.
Example: $100,000 NYC Freelancer
For a single NYC freelancer with $100,000 in net self-employment income, 2026 estimated payments look like:
| Component | Annual Amount |
|---|
How to Pay
Federal (Form 1040-ES): pay online at IRS Direct Pay, via the IRS2Go app, or by mailing the 1040-ES vouchers. Electronic payments are free.
New York (Form IT-2105): pay online at tax.ny.gov (free with a NYS online account), or mail the IT-2105 vouchers with your payment. One NY payment covers both state and NYC tax.
Common Mistakes
Make It Automatic
The single best freelancer habit: transfer 30–35% of every client payment into a separate tax account the day it lands, then pay the four installments on schedule. Run your own numbers in the self-employment calculator, and see our full self-employment NY tax guide for deductions and S-corp considerations.