Q3 federal estimates are due Tuesday, September 15, 2026. If you add up invoices you sent in June–August, you will under- or over-pay, because 1099 income is cash-basis: March invoice, April payment = Q2.
This is a checklist, not tax advice. It will not tell you what you owe. Not a penalty guarantee. Not affiliated with the IRS. CPA if income jumped, S-corp, or multi-state.
The 10-minute log
- Open a sheet. Three columns: client, payment date, amount.
- Drop every deposit that actually cleared Jun 1–Aug 31. Ignore "they said they'd pay."
- Subtract expenses you can document. No receipt, don't invent it.
- Park a set-aside out of checking. A common 1099 starting point is 25–35% of net — yours may be different.
- Pay via IRS Direct Pay or EFTPS. Screenshot the confirmation.
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). Year one off W-2: ignore last year and park the set-aside the day each deposit clears.
If this still lives in 14 Google Docs
Pipeline, invoices, and the quarterly worksheet belong in one place you open every week. I packed that into a $29 Freelance Ops Pack (Sheets OS + invoice PDF + quarterly worksheet): https://yeraldinmueses.gumroad.com/l/letldi
Comment RITUAL if you want the Sep 15 checklist as a one-pager.
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