Free Estimated Tax Calculator
Calculate your estimated federal income tax liability for the year.
Your Income & Deductions
Your Estimated Federal Income Tax
Understanding Estimated Taxes
Estimated tax is the method used to pay tax on income that is not subject to income tax withholding. This includes income from self-employment, interest, dividends, rent, and alimony. If you receive income such as these, you may need to pay estimated tax for the year.
The U.S. tax system is a pay-as-you-go system. This means that you must pay tax on your income as you earn or receive it. For most employees, taxes are withheld from each paycheck. However, if you're self-employed or have other sources of income, you might need to make estimated tax payments throughout the year.
How to Calculate Your Estimated Tax
This calculator provides a simplified estimation of your federal income tax liability. The core calculation involves determining your taxable income and then applying the appropriate tax brackets.
Key Concepts:
- Gross Income: This is all the income you received throughout the year from all sources, before any deductions are taken out.
- Deductions: These reduce your taxable income. You can typically choose between the standard deduction or itemized deductions. The standard deduction is a fixed dollar amount that reduces your taxable income, and its amount varies based on your filing status and age. Itemized deductions include things like mortgage interest, state and local taxes (up to a limit), charitable contributions, and medical expenses exceeding a certain percentage of your Adjusted Gross Income (AGI). For simplicity, this calculator assumes you have already determined your total allowable deductions.
- Taxable Income: This is calculated by subtracting your total deductions from your gross income. Taxable Income = Gross Income – Deductions.
- Tax Brackets: The U.S. has a progressive tax system. This means that different portions of your taxable income are taxed at different rates. These rates and the income ranges they apply to are updated annually by the IRS.
Simplified Tax Calculation Logic:
This calculator estimates tax based on the following simplified process:
- Calculate Taxable Income: Taxable Income = Gross Income – Deductions
- Apply Tax Brackets: The calculated taxable income is then run through the relevant tax brackets for the selected filing status. The tax liability is the sum of the taxes calculated for each bracket.
Disclaimer: This calculator is for ESTIMATION purposes only and does not constitute financial or tax advice. Tax laws are complex and subject to change. The actual tax liability may differ. Consult with a qualified tax professional for personalized advice. The tax brackets used in this calculator are illustrative and may not reflect the most current IRS figures.