If your practice will owe more than $1,000 in federal taxes this year, the IRS expects you to pay as you go, in four installments. This worksheet does the math with you.
Updated for tax year 2026
Estimating taxes on income you haven't earned yet is one of the strangest parts of running a practice. You went to school to help people, and now the IRS wants a projection. Enter your numbers below and the worksheet calculates your self-employment tax, your income tax, and the amount to pay each quarter, using the 2026 rates and thresholds.
For the full picture of how these payments work, read How to pay quarterly estimated taxes for your therapy practice.
Your federal tax bill has two main ingredients: self-employment tax and income tax. Both are based on what your practice earns over the course of the year.
Part I calculates your self-employment tax. Part II calculates your income tax and adds the two together for a yearly total. Part III gives you a table for planning and tracking each payment.
Since you're paying taxes for the current year during the year itself, you may be wondering how to estimate income you haven't earned. The safe harbor rule protects you from underpayment penalties while you do.
1
Start from last year
The simplest, safest approach is to base your projections on your prior tax year. Take the income and expenses from last year's filing and use them to complete this worksheet.
2
The 90/100 rule
As long as you pay at least 90% of what you owe for the current year, or 100% of what you owed for the prior year, you won't be penalized if you underpay.
3
Higher earners
If your adjusted gross income for 2026 is likely to be $150,000 or more, you must pay at least 90% of this year's total or 110% of the prior year's amount owing.
Estimated taxes for 2026 are due in four payments. Each covers the income you earned in the months before it.
If you file your full 2026 return and pay everything you owe by early February 2027, you can skip the separate January payment. When a deadline falls on a weekend or federal holiday, it moves to the next business day. Check the latest Form 1040-ES for precise dates.
The fastest, easiest way to pay is with an online IRS account. You can also fill out Form 1040-ES by hand and submit it by mail.
Self-employment tax covers Social Security and Medicare. As a practice owner you pay both the employer and employee halves, 15.3% in total. Enter two numbers and the worksheet handles the rest. For 2026, Social Security tax applies to your first $184,500 of income, up from $176,100 in 2025.
Choose your filing status and the worksheet applies the 2026 standard deduction and tax brackets for you. Every dollar amount below is editable, so you can swap in itemized deductions or your own estimates.
Now figure out the minimum you must pay this year to avoid an underpayment penalty.
Your quarterly estimated payment
$0
One quarter of line 14, due each deadline. Subtract any overpayment from last year that you're applying to a given payment.
Your quarterly amount fills in below automatically. Log each payment as you make it, then print this page or save it as a PDF for your records. Entries clear when you close the page.
| Quarter | Due date | Amount due | Amount paid* | Date paid | Confirmation # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 | Apr 15, 2026 | ||||
| Q2 | Jun 15, 2026 | ||||
| Q3 | Sep 15, 2026 | ||||
| Q4 | Jan 15, 2027 |
*Excluding any convenience fee. If you're applying an overpayment credit from last year, note it alongside the amount paid.
Quarterly estimates are the part of practice finances that catches most therapists off guard, and the part that gets easier once someone runs the numbers with you. Heard calculates quarterly estimates for you year-round, based on your practice's real books, and reminds you before every deadline.
Read next: How to pay quarterly estimated taxes for your therapy practice
This worksheet is for informational purposes only and does not constitute tax, legal, or financial advice. Figures reflect federal rates and thresholds for tax year 2026, including the $184,500 Social Security wage base and the 2026 standard deduction and brackets. State estimated taxes are separate and vary by state. Consult a tax professional about your specific situation.