Started earning side income? Let's estimate what that could mean for your federal taxes.
A simple federal-only planning calculator for people with a regular W-2 job and new 1099/side-hustle income.
The situation
You already have a regular paycheck. Then you start earning money on the side. Unlike your W-2 paycheck, that income usually doesn't arrive with the same kind of federal withholding built in — so it's easy to end up owing more than expected, or facing a penalty for not paying along the way.
How ClearQuarter works
- Estimate. Use the free calculator to see a federal estimate based on your regular income and your side income.
- Understand. See what the estimate means, and the assumptions behind it — nothing is hidden behind an unexplained score.
- Act. If you want a repeatable system for acting on the estimate all year, the $27 Quarterly Action Sheet turns it into a routine.
Free calculator = estimate. Paid Action Sheet = organization + implementation.
Why trust the numbers
Transparent math. ClearQuarter shows the calculation approach instead of hiding behind an unexplained score — every figure traces back to a labeled IRS or SSA source.
Primary sources. Tax figures are based on official IRS and Social Security Administration publications for the 2026 tax year.
Privacy by design. The calculator runs entirely in your browser. Your numbers are never sent to ClearQuarter or stored anywhere.
No account required. Use the calculator without signing up for anything.
Deliberately limited scope. Federal taxes only, and currently Single or Married Filing Jointly only — we'd rather say what we don't cover than overstate what we do.