The CRA requires quarterly tax instalments when your net tax owing is more than $3,000 ($1,800 for Québec residents) in 2026 and in either 2025 or 2024. The four 2026 due dates: March 15, 2026 · June 15, 2026 · September 15, 2026 · December 15, 2026. Self-employment income has nothing withheld, so freelancers are the classic instalment case. Estimate below whether 2026 instalments likely apply to you — and how much each payment would be.
✓ Every figure on this page is computed from CRA & Revenu Québec published rules — figures last re-verified · how we verify
Example: $80,000 of net self-employment income in Ontario in 2026 means an estimated net tax owing of $13,233.56 — well over the $3,000 threshold — so if you were also over it in 2025 or 2024, the current-year option works out to $5,531.62 per quarterly payment (net tax owing plus $8,892.90 of CPP payable, ÷ 4 — the CRA's chart adds CPP to the amount due even though it isn't part of the threshold test), due March 15, 2026, June 15, 2026, September 15, 2026, December 15, 2026.
| Rule (2026) | Amount / date |
|---|---|
| Instalment threshold — most provinces & territories | $3,000 net tax owing |
| Instalment threshold — Québec residents (federal instalments to the CRA) | $1,800 net tax owing |
| Quarterly due dates | March 15, 2026 · June 15, 2026 · September 15, 2026 · December 15, 2026 |
| Farmers & fishers (single annual instalment) | December 31, 2026 |
| Instalment penalty applies only when instalment interest exceeds | $1,000 |
| Province | Net SE income | Est. net tax owing (CPP not counted) | Threshold | Instalments required?* | Quarterly payment (+ CPP payable, ÷ 4) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ontario | $60,000 | $7,879.42 | $3,000 | Yes | $3,650.73 |
| Ontario | $80,000 | $13,233.56 | $3,000 | Yes | $5,531.62 |
| Ontario | $100,000 | $19,044.96 | $3,000 | Yes | $7,084.47 |
| Ontario | $150,000 | $38,349.42 | $3,000 | Yes | $11,910.58 |
| Québec | $80,000 | $7,105.56 | $1,800 | Yes | $1,776.39 |
*Assumes net tax owing was also above the threshold in 2025 or 2024 (instalments require both — this year and one of the two before). Computed for 2026 by the same verified engine as the estimator above; assumes self-employment income only, nothing withheld, basic personal amount only. Per the CRA calculation chart, "net tax owing" excludes CPP contributions payable; the quarterly amounts add CPP back (chart lines 22-24). Québec row: federal tax only — CRA instalments never include Québec tax, QPP or QPIP, which Revenu Québec bills through its own separate system (TP-1026). Estimates only — see the disclaimer below.
You must pay 2026 instalments only if both are true: your net tax owing for 2026 will be more than $3,000 ($1,800 if you live in Québec), and it was also more than that threshold in 2025 or 2024. "Net tax owing" is your income tax minus everything already withheld or credited — the CRA's calculation chart explicitly leaves CPP contributions payable OUT of that test, then adds them back when computing the instalment amount due. If tax is withheld from a salary that covers most of your bill, you may owe nothing quarterly even with side income.
Québec residents pay federal instalments to the CRA at the lower $1,800 threshold (Québec income tax has its own separate instalment system through Revenu Québec, not covered by this estimator).
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If a due date lands on a weekend or a CRA-recognized public holiday, your payment counts as on time if it arrives the next business day. If your main income is from farming or fishing, you make one instalment per year instead, due December 31, 2026.
Instalments are only part of the calendar — see the full list of 2026 return dates (filing, payment, GST/HST) in one place.
The CRA mails (or posts to My Account) instalment reminders with amounts based on your last assessed returns. If you pay exactly what the reminders say, on time, the CRA charges no instalment interest even if the reminders turn out to be too low. Best when your income is stable year to year.
Base all four payments on your 2025 net tax owing. Best when 2026 will look like 2025 but not like 2024. No interest if you pay these amounts in full and on time — unless your basis was estimated too low.
Base payments on your estimated 2026 net tax owing (plus CPP payable) — that's what the estimator above computes. Best when 2026 income will drop significantly. The risk: if you underestimate, the CRA charges instalment interest retroactively, so pad your estimate if unsure.
The CRA charges instalment interest on late or insufficient payments, compounded daily at the prescribed rate (which resets every quarter). A separate instalment penalty applies only when your instalment interest for 2026 exceeds $1,000 — so small shortfalls cost interest, not penalties. The CRA also nets your interest charge against credit interest you earn on early or extra payments, and only bills the result when it's more than $25. Ignoring reminders entirely while owing thousands is what triggers real charges.
Already missed a date? You can reduce or even wipe out the interest by overpaying your next instalment or paying it early — the CRA applies the resulting instalment credit interest against your charges for the same tax year (it isn't refundable, but it offsets). It also calculates your interest using whichever of the three payment options produces the least interest, so one missed quarter under a reminder you outgrew is often cheaper than it looks.
You can shrink or eliminate instalments by increasing tax withheld from other income (a salary, pension, or OAS/CPP benefits via form TD1/ISP3520). Tax can't be withheld from self-employment, investment, or rental income — which is why instalments exist.
All fetched and re-verified (CRA pages dated 2026-01-20). Figures are computed from our tested engine modules, which are gated against these sources on every deploy — how we verify.
Not automatically. The reminder (form INNS1) isn't a bill — it's the CRA's suggested amounts, calculated from your last assessed returns. You're required to pay instalments only if your 2026 net tax owing will be more than $3,000 ($1,800 if you live in Québec) and it was over the threshold in 2025 or 2024. If that's you, paying exactly the reminder amounts on time is always interest-safe, even if they turn out too low. If your income has dropped, you can pay based on your current-year estimate instead — or nothing, if you'll stay at or under the threshold — but underestimating triggers retroactive instalment interest. Run the estimator above to see where you land.
Usually not. Instalments require your net tax owing to exceed the threshold this year and in one of the two previous years — in your first profitable year, the prior-year condition typically isn't met. Your first big bill lands at filing time instead, so set money aside monthly.
Under the current-year option: your estimated 2026 net tax owing plus CPP payable, divided by four, due March 15, 2026, June 15, 2026, September 15, 2026, December 15, 2026. Enter your income above for your exact number.
If instalments are actually required and you pay late or short, the CRA charges daily-compounded instalment interest, plus a penalty if that interest passes $1,000 for the year. If the reminders don't apply to you (say, your income dropped), you can pay based on the current-year option instead — or nothing, if your net tax owing will stay at or under the threshold.
GST/HST has its own separate instalment rules for annual filers — this page covers personal income tax instalments only. Your GST/HST account is a different account with its own payments.
Interest starts on each missed or short payment from its due date, compounded daily at the CRA's prescribed rate. But it's rarely a disaster: the CRA computes your charge using whichever payment option gives the least interest, nets it against credit interest you earn by paying your next instalment early or overpaying it, and only bills the result when it exceeds $25. The separate penalty applies only if your instalment interest for the year passes $1,000. Practical move: add the shortfall to your September 15 payment.
Online through the CRA's payment options, or in person / by mail using the instalment remittance voucher (form INNS3) that comes with your mailed reminder package. The CRA doesn't send an instant receipt — allow 3 business days for online payments (10 for cheque or money order), then confirm it was applied under "Accounts and payments" in your CRA account. Your instalment payment summary (form INNS2) arrives each February.
Claim your total instalments paid for the year on line 47600 of that year's return (2025 payments on your 2025 return). The amounts appear on your instalment reminder (form INNS1) and payment summary (form INNS2), and certified software's Auto-fill my return fills line 47600 from CRA records automatically. If a payment you made isn't shown there, include it on line 47600 anyway.
Essentially yes, with one wrinkle from the CRA's own calculation chart: the threshold test uses your net tax owing (income tax minus withholdings — CPP payable doesn't count there), but the current-year amount due adds your CPP payable on top before splitting across four dates. The no-calculation option uses the CRA's own reminder amounts (weighted to your past returns), and the prior-year option divides your 2025 total instead. You can use whichever produces the lowest amounts — just know the current-year option charges retroactive interest if you lowball it.
Know your full bill first. The instalment estimate is only as good as the tax estimate underneath it — get your exact number, then track what you've paid.
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