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Quarterly Tax Estimator for Owner Operators

Estimate your quarterly IRS payments and avoid underpayment penalties.

Income & Filing Status

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Enter your income details and click Estimate Taxes

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When are owner-operator estimated taxes due in 2026?

Estimated taxes are due four times a year: April 15, June 15 and September 15, 2026, and January 15, 2027. If a date falls on a weekend or holiday, it moves to the next business day. Owner-operators pay self-employment tax of 15.3 percent on 92.35 percent of net earnings (the 12.4 percent Social Security part applies only up to the 2026 wage base of $184,500) plus federal and state income tax.

2026 estimated tax payment schedule
PaymentIncome earnedDue
1st quarterJanuary 1 to March 31April 15, 2026
2nd quarterApril 1 to May 31June 15, 2026
3rd quarterJune 1 to August 31September 15, 2026
4th quarterSeptember 1 to December 31January 15, 2027

You can usually avoid an underpayment penalty by paying at least 90 percent of this year's tax or 100 percent of last year's. It is 110 percent if last year's adjusted gross income was over $150,000. You owe no estimated payment if you expect to owe less than $1,000. The tool also takes the 20 percent qualified business income deduction when your taxable income is at or under $201,750 (single) or $403,500 (joint). Above that the deduction is limited by your equipment cost and wages, so the tool takes none, and an accountant may find you more.

Last reviewed October 2026. Sources: IRS: Topic 355, estimated taxes; SSA: contribution and benefit base; IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32: 2026 tax rates, standard deduction and QBI limits.

Frequently Asked Questions - Quarterly Tax Estimator

Do owner-operators have to pay quarterly taxes?
Generally yes. Self-employed people, including owner-operators, must make estimated tax payments if they expect to owe at least $1,000 for the year after credits and withholding. The 2026 payments are due April 15, June 15 and September 15, 2026 and January 15, 2027. If a date falls on a weekend or holiday, it moves to the next business day. The estimator shows the dates and an amount for each quarter.
What taxes do owner-operators pay?
Federal self-employment tax (15.3 percent of 92.35 percent of net earnings, with the 12.4 percent Social Security part capped at the 2026 wage base of $184,500), federal income tax and, in most states, state income tax. Owner-operators also pay the Form 2290 heavy vehicle use tax (up to $550 a year for the heaviest trucks) and IFTA fuel tax, which are separate from income tax. Use the IFTA Tax Calculator for the fuel tax.
How much should an owner-operator set aside for taxes?
Start with self-employment tax. It is about 14.1 percent of net profit below the wage base ($8,478 on $60,000). Then add federal income tax for your bracket and any state tax. Many owner-operators set aside a quarter to a third of net profit as a starting point. But the estimator uses your own revenue, expenses, filing status and state, so the number fits your situation.
What happens if I underpay or miss a quarterly payment?
The IRS charges an underpayment penalty. It works like interest on the shortfall from the due date until it is paid. The rate is set quarterly and is the federal short-term rate plus 3 percentage points. You can generally avoid the penalty by paying at least 90 percent of this year's tax or 100 percent of last year's tax. It rises to 110 percent if last year's adjusted gross income was over $150,000. Enter last year's tax in the estimator to see the safe-harbor amount.
What expenses can an owner-operator deduct?
Ordinary business costs reduce your net profit. These include fuel, repairs and maintenance, tires, insurance, permits and fees. They also include tolls, scale fees, tax software and bookkeeping, and per diem for days away from home. For the truck itself, you generally deduct interest and depreciation, not the loan principal. Keep receipts and mileage records. Confirm the details with a tax professional.
Does this estimator include the 20 percent qualified business income deduction?
Yes, when your taxable income is at or under $201,750 for a single filer or head of household, or $403,500 for a joint return. It is 20 percent of your business profit after the self-employment tax deduction, health insurance and retirement, or 20 percent of your taxable income, whichever is less. Above those amounts the deduction is limited by your equipment cost and wages, so the tool takes none. An accountant may find you more.
What are the estimated tax due dates for 2027?
For the 2027 tax year the payments are due April 15, June 15 and September 15, 2027, and in mid-January 2028. This tool uses 2026 tax rates. The IRS publishes the 2027 numbers in the fall, and the tool is updated after that.

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Go Further With Quarterly Tax Estimator

Guides, services and reference pages that go with this tool.

Terms explained in the Quarterly Tax Estimator