Quarterly Estimated Tax Tracker 2026 Spreadsheet

Never get surprised by a tax bill again. Log what you earn and spend, and this tracker estimates your self-employment and federal income tax, tells you what to set aside from every dollar of profit, and shows the suggested payment and due date for each quarter.

What'S Inside (7 Tabs)

• Start Here: setup steps and a clear disclaimer.
• Dashboard: income and profit so far, projected tax for the year, the share of profit to set aside, federal payments made, next due date and amount, plus charts.
• Income: log every payment. The IRS period (Q1 to Q4, using the real uneven IRS quarters) fills in automatically.
• Expenses: categories, business-use %, and business meals counted at 50%.
• Quarterly Payments: due dates (moved off weekends), suggested federal and state amounts, what you paid and when, status (Paid, Due soon, Part paid, Past due) and a catch-up box if you fell behind.
• Tax Estimate: the full calculation step by step: projected profit, self-employment tax with the Social Security wage base, half-SE deduction, standard deduction, a simplified QBI deduction, federal brackets, W-2 withholding and the safe-harbor amount (90% of this year or 100%/110% of last year).
• Settings: filing status, W-2 wages, a rough state rate, last year's tax, plus editable 2026 federal tax tables.

2026 Figures

Brackets and standard deductions from IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32; Social Security wage base $184,500. The tables are editable, so you can update them when the IRS publishes new figures.

Who It'S For

US freelancers, 1099 contractors, gig workers, creators and side hustlers who pay quarterly estimated taxes.

How To Use It

• Excel: open the .xlsx file (Excel 2010 or newer, Windows or Mac).
• Google Sheets: upload the .xlsx to Google Drive, open it, then choose File > Save as Google Sheets.
• Start on the "Start Here" tab. Pale amber cells are where you type; grey cells calculate automatically.
• Example data is included so you can see every chart working. Select it and press Delete when you're ready.

Good To Know

• This is a digital download. Nothing physical ships.
• No macros, add-ins or scripts. Formulas use standard functions that work in both Excel and Google Sheets.
• Every tab is set up to print on Letter or A4.
• Personal use, or use within your own business. Please don't resell or share the file.

IMPORTANT: estimates only. This workbook is a planning tool and is not tax, legal or financial advice. It does not model credits, AMT, the Additional Medicare Tax, capital gains or state-specific rules beyond one flat rate. Confirm amounts with the IRS (Form 1040-ES), your state, or a tax professional before you pay.