Free January 15 estimated payment worksheet for 1099 income
Step 1. Pick a safe harbor
The 2026 Form 1040-ES describes two floors. Paying at least the smaller one across all four 2026 payments generally keeps the underpayment penalty away.
| Line | Worksheet | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| A | Total tax on the 2025 return x 100% (or 110%) | ______ |
| B | 90% of expected 2026 tax (from Step 2, line 7) | ______ |
| C | Smaller of A or B | ______ |
| D | 2026 estimates already paid plus 2026 withholding (including a spouse's W-2 withholding on a joint return) | ______ |
| E | C minus D. If zero or less, the floor is already covered. | ______ |
Step 2. Rough out 2026 tax (only for the 90% route)
| Line | Worksheet | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2026 net profit from the business (income minus expenses) | ______ |
| 2 | Line 1 x 92.35% | ______ |
| 3 | Self-employment tax: line 2 x 15.3% (the 12.4% Social Security part stops at the 2026 wage base of $184,500, including any W-2 wages) | ______ |
| 4 | Half of line 3 (deductible) | ______ |
| 5 | Taxable income: line 1 + other income - line 4 - standard or itemized deduction - qualified business income deduction if it applies | ______ |
| 6 | Federal income tax on line 5 from the 2026 tax rate schedules in Form 1040-ES | ______ |
| 7 | (Line 3 + line 6) x 90% | ______ |
The self-employment tax lines follow the 2026 Form 1040-ES worksheet. The wage base comes from the SSA contribution and benefit base. Additional Medicare tax and other taxes are not on this worksheet.
Step 3. Pay by January 15, 2027
Common misses
Skip the pencil next year. The Tax Money Kit ($47) is an Excel workbook that does these lines for you: Schedule C totals, self-employment tax, and a 2026 safe-harbor quarterly payment, plus a set-aside percentage for every 1099 payment. It also opens in Google Sheets. It does not file a return. 30-day refund.
Tax Money Kit ($47) Free 2026 estimateRelated reading
This worksheet is general education. It is not tax, legal, or investment advice, and it is not a tax preparation or filing service. Confirm figures with the 2026 Form 1040-ES, Publication 505, and a CPA or enrolled agent before paying.