If you earn 1099 or self-employment income in Rhode Island, the IRS and the state both expect you to pay taxes as you go, in four quarterly installments rather than one April bill. This calculator estimates your 2026 quarterly payments across all three pieces: federal self-employment tax, federal income tax, and Rhode Island state income tax. Rhode Island uses the same tax brackets for single and married-filing-jointly filers, which creates a marriage penalty for two-earner couples. Enter your expected net self-employment income, any W-2 wages, and your filing status to see what to send each quarter, your due dates, and how the safe-harbor rules protect you from an underpayment penalty. Everything is an estimate for planning. Always confirm with the Rhode Island Division of Taxation before you file.
Self-employment income has no tax withheld for you, so both the IRS and Rhode Island Division of Taxation ask you to prepay in quarterly installments. On the federal side you owe self-employment tax (15.3% Social Security and Medicare on 92.35% of your net profit, up to the Social Security wage base) plus federal income tax on your profit after the standard deduction. On top of that, Rhode Island applies its own income tax.
Rhode Island generally requires estimated payments once you expect to owe more than $250 in state tax for the year. Rhode Island follows the federal schedule: April 15, June 15, September 15, and January 15. If a due date falls on a weekend or holiday, it moves to the next business day. Rhode Island follows the standard four-installment schedule.
You avoid an IRS underpayment penalty by hitting a "safe harbor": paying at least 90% of this year's total tax, or 100% of last year's (110% if your income is higher). Rhode Island applies graduated rates (3.75%, 4.75%, 5.99%) to your federal AGI after a combined standard deduction and personal exemption ($10,900 + $5,100 = $16,000 for a single filer; $21,800 + two $5,100 exemptions = $32,000 for a married couple). Single and married filers use the same brackets. Note: at high incomes (roughly $246,000-$275,000 of AGI, 2024 figures) the standard deduction and exemptions phase out to zero; this calculator does not model that phase-out, so it can understate tax for very high earners. You can pay online through the Rhode Island Division of Taxation portal, and the calculator above breaks your total into the federal and Rhode Island pieces so you can send each to the right place. You can pay online at the Rhode Island Division of Taxation (payment portal).
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For educational purposes only, not tax advice. Tax rules change and individual situations vary; confirm figures with a tax professional and the Rhode Island Division of Taxation before filing. State tax data last verified 2026-07-06.
Sources: tax.ri.gov, tax.ri.gov.