The latest articles on DEV Community by Yeraldin Mueses (@yeraldinmueses). https://dev.to/yeraldinmueses https://media2.dev.to/dynamic/image/width=90,height=90,fit=cover,gravity=auto,format=auto/https:%2F%2Fdev-to-uploads.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fuploads%2Fuser%2Fprofile_image%2F4099577%2F72afa4a2-a68b-4250-a672-ba07bafd051a.png https://dev.to/yeraldinmueses en Yeraldin Mueses Fri, 28 Aug 2026 23:15:35 +0000 https://dev.to/yeraldinmueses/the-20-minute-ritual-i-run-the-week-before-a-1099-estimated-tax-due-date-27ih https://dev.to/yeraldinmueses/the-20-minute-ritual-i-run-the-week-before-a-1099-estimated-tax-due-date-27ih <p>Q3 federal estimates are due <strong>Tuesday, September 15, 2026</strong>. This is the quarter that nails people because Q2 was only two months.</p> <p>This is a checklist, not tax advice. It will not tell you what you owe. It is not a penalty guarantee. If income jumped, you have an S-corp, or you are multi-state, talk to a CPA before you pay. Not affiliated with the IRS.</p> <h2> Do this the week before Sep 15 </h2> <ol> <li> <strong>List what actually hit your account Jun 1–Aug 31.</strong> Client payments only. Ignore "they said they'd pay."</li> <li> <strong>Subtract expenses you can document</strong> (software, contractors, ads, a real home-office % if you already use one). If you don't have the receipt, don't invent it.</li> <li> <strong>Move a set-aside out of checking.</strong> A common starting point for 1099s is 25–35% of net. Yours may be different. If the money stays in checking, you will spend it.</li> <li> <strong>Pay the IRS</strong> via <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/direct-pay" rel="noopener noreferrer">Direct Pay</a> or EFTPS. Screenshot the confirmation. Put it in a folder named <code>taxes-2026</code>.</li> <li> <strong>Check your state.</strong> NY, CA, and others often want their own estimate. This post does not calculate that.</li> </ol> <h2> The cash-basis trap </h2> <p>A 1099 invoice log has to be cash-basis or your quarterly estimate is a lie: March invoice, April payment = Q2 income. Key the quarter off <em>payment date</em>, not invoice date.</p> <p>If you already paid 100% of last year's total tax (Form 1040 Line 24) split across four dates, you may be in safe harbor even if 2026 is bigger (110% if AGI was over $150k). If this is year one off W-2, ignore last year and park a set-aside the day each deposit clears.</p> <h2> If this still lives in 14 Google Docs </h2> <p>That's the whole problem. Pipeline, invoices, and this quarterly worksheet belong in one place you open every week — not the night before a due date.</p> <p>I packed that into a $29 Freelance Ops Pack (Sheets OS + invoice PDF + the quarterly worksheet): <a href="https://yeraldinmueses.gumroad.com/l/letldi" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://yeraldinmueses.gumroad.com/l/letldi</a></p> <p>Comment <strong>RITUAL</strong> if you want the checklist as a standalone one-pager and I'll send it.</p> freelancing productivity career discuss