FreelanceVirginia quarterly tax calculator for freelancers.
Virginia taxes income at four rates from 2% to 5.75%, and the top rate starts at just $17,000 of taxable income, so almost every freelance dollar is taxed at 5.75%. Its first estimated payment is due May 1, not April 15.
Your next estimated payments
$15,034
Federal, due Jan 15, 2027
$3,087
Virginia, due Jan 15, 2027
Each is what you still owe for the year, split across the deadlines still ahead.
Next federal payment $15,034, due Jan 15, 2027. Next Virginia payment $3,087, due Jan 15, 2027.
Federal safe harbor $11,800 per payment
Pay at least $11,800 across the year, a quarter of it by each deadline, and the IRS underpayment penalty cannot apply. Based on 100% of last year's federal tax, which is the lower of the two tests.
Some 2026 deadlines have already passed. A quarter of that total was due by each one, so a quarter paid late can still carry a penalty; paying now stops it growing. See what it costs.
Virginia safe harbor $2,778 per payment
Pay at least $2,778 across the year, on the Virginia installment dates, and the Virginia underpayment charge cannot apply. Based on 90% of this year's estimated Virginia tax. Add last year's Virginia tax below to see if that test is cheaper.
Your taxable income is past the qualified business income threshold, so that federal deduction is being reduced by the wage limit. If you are in a specified service field, the reduction can be steeper than shown.
| What you earned | |
|---|---|
| Expected 1099 income | $85,000 |
| Less deductible business expenses | $12,000 |
| Net profit from freelancing | $73,000 |
| Self employment tax | |
| Earnings subject to self employment tax | $67,416 |
| Social Security portion | $8,360 |
| Medicare portion | $1,955 |
| Additional Medicare over the threshold | $0 |
| Self employment tax | $10,315 |
| Federal income tax | |
| Deductible half of self employment tax | $5,157 |
| Qualified business income deduction | $10,349 |
| Standard deduction for your filing status | $16,100 |
| Other W-2 income added back | $0 |
| Taxable income after deductions | $41,394 |
| Federal income tax | $4,719 |
| Federal total for 2026 | $15,034 |
| Less federal estimated payments already made | $0 |
| Still owed to the IRS | $15,034 |
| Your next federal payment | $15,034 |
| Virginia income tax | |
| Federal adjusted gross income, where Virginia starts | $67,843 |
| Less standard deduction and $930 per exemption | $9,680 |
| Virginia taxable income | $58,163 |
| Tax from the Virginia rate schedule | $3,087 |
| Credits and surtaxes (none modeled) | $0 |
| Virginia total for 2026 | $3,087 |
| Less Virginia estimated payments already made | $0 |
| Still owed to Virginia | $3,087 |
| Your next Virginia payment | $3,087 |
| Federal and Virginia tax for 2026 | $18,121 |
Stop re-entering this every quarter. FreelanceCFO tracks it from your real income and warns you before each deadline.
Start freeHow Virginia is different.
Virginia taxes income at rates from 2% to 5.75%. These are its 2026 estimated payment dates. If one falls on a weekend or holiday, it moves to the next business day.
2026 payment dates
- May 1, 2026
- Jun 15, 2026
- Sep 15, 2026
- Jan 15, 2027
What changes in Virginia
- The first installment is due May 1, 2026. The rest follow the federal dates: June 15, September 15, 2026, and January 15, 2027.
- Standard deduction of $8,750 single or $17,500 joint, plus $930 per personal exemption. Virginia has no head of household status, so those filers use the single figures.
- For 2026 you only have to make estimated payments if you expect to owe more than $1,000 after withholding and credits.
- Safe harbor is 90% of this year's tax or 100% of last year's, with no 110% step up.
Questions answered.
Why is the first Virginia estimated payment due May 1?
Virginia sets its own calendar: estimated tax is due in full by May 1, 2026, or in equal installments on May 1, June 15, and September 15, 2026, and January 15, 2027. Only the first date differs from the federal schedule.
Do I need to make Virginia estimated tax payments?
For tax years beginning in 2026, yes if you expect your Virginia tax to exceed your withholding and credits by more than $1,000. You also do not need to pay if your expected Virginia AGI is under $11,950 single or $23,900 joint.
What is the Virginia tax rate on freelance income?
Virginia charges 2% on the first $3,000 of taxable income, 3% up to $5,000, 5% up to $17,000, and 5.75% on everything above that. Every filing status uses the same schedule.