TaxPace
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For freelancers and gig workers

Know what to set aside this quarter.

Quarterly bills surprise people when nobody withholds for them. Type a profit. TaxPace shows the percent to move aside and the next federal amount.

Next federal due January 15, 2027. 97 days remaining.

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Many freelancers set aside about 30% as a rule of thumb. TaxPace uses the IRS safe-harbor rules: 90% of this year, or 100% of last year (110% if prior-year AGI was over $150,000). IRS estimated taxes.

The math comes from the engine. Pricing · Reserve early access

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SE tax
15.3% to $184,500
Safe harbor
90% or 100/110%
Penalty rate
7% estimate
Hazel, the TaxPace squirrel, waving

Live estimate

No signup

Add your expected profit. You'll see a set-aside percent and the next federal amount. Same engine as the saved projection.

Estimates for educational purposes; not tax, legal or investment advice. TaxPace does not file returns or send payments.

Example years

What the engine tells three kinds of year

These are example scenarios, not customers. Income and last year are the inputs. Every result is the tax engine on October 9, 2026, with nothing withheld and no estimates paid yet. The penalty lines are illustrations, not a promise about what the IRS will charge.

Hypothetical example scenario

Freelance designer

North Carolina · single

$88,000 income, $12,000 expenses, net profit $76,000. Last year's federal tax $5,400, AGI $62,000.

Set aside
24%
of net profit
Next federal
$5,400
January 15, 2027

The prior-year test on this profile is 100%. The engine uses 100% of 2025 tax.

North Carolina tax is calculated in full.

Illustrative penalty difference

$93.21

Skip estimate $251.40. Pay on the due date $158.19. This is how far those two engine estimates sit apart. It is not a promise that a penalty is avoided.

Hypothetical example scenario

Rideshare driver

Texas · single

$54,000 income, $22,000 expenses, net profit $32,000. Last year's federal tax $2,100, AGI $28,000.

Set aside
18%
of net profit
Next federal
$2,100
January 15, 2027

The prior-year test on this profile is 100%. The engine uses 100% of 2025 tax.

Texas has no broad earned-income tax in this planner.

Illustrative penalty difference

$36.25

Skip estimate $97.77. Pay on the due date $61.52. This is how far those two engine estimates sit apart. It is not a promise that a penalty is avoided.

Hypothetical example scenario

Consultant

California · single

$240,000 income, $40,000 expenses, net profit $200,000. Last year's federal tax $48,000, AGI $190,000.

Set aside
35%
of net profit
Next federal
$48,087.55
January 15, 2027

The prior-year test on this profile is 110%. The engine uses 90% of projected 2026 tax.

California is a labeled flat estimate, not a state return.

Illustrative penalty difference

$830.00

Skip estimate $2,238.71. Pay on the due date $1,408.70. This is how far those two engine estimates sit apart. It is not a promise that a penalty is avoided.

Why switch

The money is already in the budget

Quarterly tax shows up as an underpayment penalty, as hours with a preparer, or as a subscription. Keeper Premium, the plan that pays quarterly taxes, is $399/yr. FlyFin's verified annual price is $192. A spreadsheet is the free IRS worksheet. TaxPace Annual is $59/yr.

Not stated means we could not find it on the official page as of Oct 9, 2026. It does not mean the feature is missing. Prices change. Check the source before you rely on one.

TaxPaceKeeperFlyFinSpreadsheet
PriceQuarterly Check $29 once. Annual $59/yr. Pro $99/yr. One free year of Annual, then $59/yr. Up to 15 founding testers, approved manually. One 20-minute feedback call.SourceSourcePremium, which includes "Pay quarterly taxes", is $399/yr. Standard is $199/yr. Bookkeeping Only is $20/mo. Business is $1,199/yr. 14-day free trial.SourceStandard is $192/yr ($16/mo billed annually, a limited-time offer, 20% off from $20/mo). Premium is $348/yr ($29/mo billed annually, 30% off from $41/mo). The page has a "Start free trial" button. Trial length: Not stated.Source$0. Form 1040-ES is free.Source
Free optionThe calculator needs no signup. A free account includes one saved projection, the dashboard, payment logging, and 5 copilot questions.SourceSourceFree web quarterly calculator for federal and state payments.SourceThe calculator page points to the app. Whether the app calculator is free: Not stated.SourceFree.Source
Federal quarterly amountThe lower of 90% of this year or 100% of last year (110% if prior AGI was over $150,000). 90% of this year if there is no full-year return.SourcePremium uses the prior-year safe harbor (100% or 110%) in four equal payments. The free calculator estimates from this year's income.SourceSourceThe app calculates quarterly payments from income and A.I. deductions. Whether it uses the safe-harbor method: Not stated.SourceYou complete the IRS 2026 Estimated Tax Worksheet.Source
State estimateNorth Carolina in full. Other states are a labeled flat estimate, not a state return.SourceThe free calculator shows state payments. Scheduled payments are federal only. State quarterly payments are marked "Not yet."SourceSourceThe calculator asks for your state. Whether it outputs a state estimate: Not stated.SourceNot covered by Form 1040-ES.Source
Set-aside percentYes. A percent of net profit.SourceYes. Free "How much should I set aside" calculator.SourceNot statedSourceYou decide.Source
Penalty estimateYes. Regular method, a flat 7% for the last quarter of 2026. The annualized method is not computed.SourceYes. Free estimated tax penalty calculator for IRS and state.SourceNot statedSourceSourceNot part of Form 1040-ES.Source
RemindersA calendar file now. Opt-in email reminders are coming soon.SourceSourceNot stated. Premium schedules all four federal payments in advance.SourceYes. FlyFin notifies you before your quarterly taxes are due.SourceWhatever you set up yourself.Source
Sends the IRS paymentNo. A filled 1040-ES voucher, a Direct Pay hand-off, and a payment log.SourceSourceYes on Premium. It withdraws from the bank account and sends the payment to the IRS.SourceSourceNot statedSourceSourceYou pay. Direct Pay is free and needs no sign-in.Source
Files your returnNo.SourceYes. Federal plus up to 2 state returns on Standard, reviewed by a tax pro. 3 or more states on Premium.SourceYes. A tax team prepares and e-files federal and state.SourceNo.Source
Expense trackingNo bank-linked tracking. Pro adds CSV import.SourceYes. Unlimited accounts. AI categorizes expenses.SourceYes. A.I. expense and deduction tracking.SourceManual.Source

Sources, as of Oct 9, 2026:

Get your quarterly number in about a minute.

  1. 01

    Tell us the year you're having

    State, filing status, last year's tax if you have it, profit, expenses, and any W-2 withholding in the household.

  2. 02

    The engine does the brackets

    Federal income tax, self-employment tax, North Carolina in full, and a labeled flat estimate everywhere else. Then the safe harbor and a penalty if you skip the next date.

  3. 03

    Ask why, in plain English

    The copilot calls the engine for your figures. It cannot file, and it will not invent a dollar amount.

One quarter, or the whole year

The calculator on this page is free. A saved projection is free too. Paid plans add the voucher and the Direct Pay hand-off. Opt-in email reminders are coming soon. Pro adds CSV import and unlimited copilot. One free year of Annual, then $59/yr. Up to 15 founding testers, approved manually. One 20-minute feedback call.

Quarterly Check

$29 once

  • One quarter's number
  • Filled 1040-ES voucher
  • IRS Direct Pay hand-off
See Quarterly Check

Annual

$59/yr

  • All 4 quarters
  • Calendar and payment log
  • Opt-in email reminders are coming soon.
  • Vouchers for each date
See Annual

Pro

$99/yr

  • Everything in Annual
  • CSV import
  • Unlimited copilot
See Pro

Questions, answered plainly

Does TaxPace file my return?

No. It estimates what to set aside and what would meet the federal safe-harbor rules. You still pay the IRS or your state yourself, or ask a preparer to file.

Where do the numbers come from?

A deterministic tax engine: 2026 federal brackets from Rev. Proc. 2025-32, self-employment tax at 15.3% up to the $184,500 Social Security wage base, the 0.9% Additional Medicare tax, and the 90% / 100% / 110% safe harbor. North Carolina is calculated at 3.99%. Other states are a flat estimate, labeled on the result. The copilot has to call that engine. It is not allowed to invent a figure.

What is the safe harbor?

The amount that generally avoids an underpayment penalty: 90% of this year's tax, or 100% of last year's tax (110% if last year's AGI was over $150,000). TaxPace uses the lower one when both exist. If you didn't file a full-year return last year, it uses 90% of this year.

What if I skip a quarter?

You'll see an estimated penalty using the regular method at a flat 7%, the rate in effect for the last quarter of 2026. Later rates aren't announced, and the annualized method isn't computed. Lumpy income can change the result.

What does the free plan include?

One saved projection and the full dashboard: federal tax, self-employment tax, state tax, the next safe-harbor amount, a penalty if you skip it, and the set-aside percent. Five copilot questions. The calculator on this page doesn't need an account.

What do the paid plans include?

Quarterly Check is $29 once: one quarter's number, a filled 1040-ES voucher if you mail a check, and a hand-off to IRS Direct Pay. Annual is $59 a year: all four quarters, a calendar file, the payment log, and vouchers. Opt-in email reminders are coming soon. Pro is $99 a year and adds CSV import and unlimited copilot. Choosing a plan on a demo install never charges a card.

Want a human to check it?

Book The January 15 Number review ($149)

A written estimated-tax review, separate from TaxPace. You stay in charge of what gets filed.