The Business Owner’s Guide to Quarterly Taxes 

When you run your own business, managing your money looks a little different than it did back in the W-2 employee days. One of the biggest shifts is how the IRS collects taxes from entrepreneurs—they use a "pay-as-you-go" system.

Instead of waiting until April, the goal is simply to make smaller, manageable payments four times a year. It keeps your business in good standing and ensures you don't face a massive cash crunch at the end of the year.

What You Need to Know 

• Who this is for: Independent contractors, sole proprietors, LLC members, and small business owners who expect to owe $1,000 or more when they file.

• What it covers: Your quarterly payments go toward both your regular income tax and your self-employment tax (which funds your personal Social Security and Medicare).

• Staying on track: Paying as you go keeps you compliant with IRS rules, helping you avoid unexpected underpayment adjustments at tax time.

• The Proactive Rule: A great benchmark is to pay either 100% of what you owed last year, or 90% of what you expect to owe this year, to keep everything running smoothly.

The Four Key Dates

Mark your calendar so you can budget your cash flow around these dates:

1. April 15

2. June 15

3. September 15

4. January 15 (of the following year)

Let’s Customize This for Your Business

The trick to quarterly payments is that they should match the rhythm of your business. If you have a phenomenal summer or a slower winter, your quarterly estimates can—and should—be adjusted so you are always keeping your cash right where it belongs: working for you.

You don't need to spend your weekends calculating net profit margins or filling out confusing IRS worksheets.

Let's take a look at your current business goals, map out your upcoming year, and find the perfect, stress-free payment number for you.