How to File Quarterly Federal Income Tax

Self-employed workers and small businesses file quarterly tax returns with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). According to the IRS, self-employed workers must file quarterly taxes if both of the following scenarios exist: you expect to owe at least $1,000 in taxes (as of 2010) and you expect your withholding or refundable credits will be less than the smaller of either 90 percent of the tax you owe for the current year or 100 percent of what you owe for the previous year (if your previous year's tax return covers the entire year).

• 1

  Read through last year's tax return and find your adjusted gross income. When you file quarterly tax returns, you are essentially estimating how much you plan on making during the year. The IRS suggests using the last tax period's adjusted gross income as a starting point to estimating the quarterly taxes owed.

• 2

  Download and print IRS Form 1040-ES. Complete the estimated tax worksheet. This worksheet resembles IRS Form 1040 and operates in the same fashion. You must start with your adjusted gross income, make the appropriate deductions and exemptions and calculate the tax owed based on the tax rate. Use the instructions that accompany this form if you have trouble.

• 3

  Use the payment vouchers in the form to file your quarterly tax returns. Cut the voucher from the form and fill in the appropriate information. In the "amount of estimated tax" box, use the amount determined from the estimated tax worksheet. Send the payment voucher to the IRS. You must send one voucher on or before the following dates: January 15, April 15, June 15 and September 15.