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USA Trucker Choice

Quarterly Tax Estimator

Estimate your quarterly tax payments based on your revenue, deductions, and business structure. Compare Sole Proprietor vs S-Corp to find the best setup for your trucking business.

Revenue & Business Info

Quarterly Deductible Expenses

Quarterly Payment Due

$7,685

Taxable Income (Annual)

$89,503

Effective Tax Rate

17.1%

Next Due Date

April 15, 2026

Q1 (Jan-Mar)

Tax Breakdown (Annual)

Gross Revenue (Annual)$180,000
Total Business Deductions-$66,800
Net Business Income$113,200
Self-Employment Tax (15.3%)$15,995
Half SE Tax Deduction-$7,997
Standard Deduction-$15,700
Federal Taxable Income$89,503
Federal Income Tax$14,743
Total Annual Tax$30,738
Quarterly Payment$7,685

Sole Prop vs S-Corp Comparison

Sole Prop / LLCS-Corp
Net Business Income$113,200$113,200
Reasonable SalaryN/A$67,920
Distribution (no SE tax)N/A$45,280
SE / Payroll Tax$15,995$10,392
Federal Income Tax$14,743$15,360
Total Annual Tax$30,738$25,752

Potential S-Corp Savings: $4,987/year

At your income level, an S-Corp election could save you $1,247 per quarter by reducing self-employment tax on distributions. Factor in ~$1,500-$3,000/year in additional S-Corp payroll and accounting costs.

2026 Quarterly Tax Due Dates

Q1

Jan 1 - Mar 31

Due: April 15, 2026

Next Due

Q2

Apr 1 - May 31

Due: June 16, 2026

Q3

Jun 1 - Aug 31

Due: September 15, 2026

Q4

Sep 1 - Dec 31

Due: January 15, 2027

Use IRS Form 1040-ES to make estimated quarterly payments. Underpayment penalties may apply if you owe more than $1,000 at tax time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Start with your quarterly gross revenue, subtract all deductible business expenses (fuel, insurance, maintenance, truck payments, etc.), and that gives you net business income. You owe self-employment tax (15.3%) on 92.35% of net income, plus federal income tax based on your bracket after subtracting the standard deduction and half of SE tax. Divide the annual total by 4 for each quarterly payment.
Self-employment tax is the Social Security (12.4%) and Medicare (2.9%) taxes that self-employed individuals pay -- totaling 15.3%. As a W-2 employee, your employer pays half. As an owner-operator, you pay both halves. However, you can deduct half of your SE tax from your taxable income when calculating income tax. For 2026, Social Security applies to the first $168,600 of net earnings.
An S-Corp can save significant money on self-employment tax by splitting income into a reasonable salary (subject to FICA) and distributions (not subject to FICA). However, it adds complexity and costs ($1,500-$3,000/year for payroll processing and additional accounting). Most CPAs recommend S-Corp when your net business income consistently exceeds $60,000-$80,000 per year. Below that, the savings rarely justify the added costs.
For 2026, quarterly estimated tax payments are due: Q1 on April 15, Q2 on June 16, Q3 on September 15, and Q4 on January 15, 2027. You must make these payments using IRS Form 1040-ES. If you underpay and owe more than $1,000 at filing time, you may face underpayment penalties. You can pay online at IRS.gov/payments or through the IRS2Go mobile app.