Georgia tax guide
Georgia cut its flat income tax rate to 4.99% for 2026 and raised its standard deduction. Here's how that affects what you set aside.
Published by Cadus Labs LLC · Last updated November 9, 2026 · How we write these guides
Based on Georgia Department of Revenue tax updates and Form 500-ES guidance.
Georgia's Department of Revenue says the income tax rate has been reduced to a flat 4.99%. The standard deduction has risen to $15,000 for single filers, heads of household, and married people filing separately, and $30,000 for married couples filing jointly.
You generally have to pay estimated tax if you reasonably expect gross income beyond your exemptions, estimated deductions, and $1,000 of income not subject to withholding. Self-employed people usually fall into this group.
The form is Form 500-ES, and you can generally pay online instead of mailing it.
| Payment due | Share of the year's required payment |
|---|---|
| April 15, 2026 | 25% |
| June 15, 2026 | 25% |
| September 15, 2026 | 25% |
| January 15, 2027 | 25% |
If you first meet the requirement later in the year, your first payment moves to the next due date. Paying too little can result in an underpayment penalty.
Wherever you live, self-employed income is subject to federal income tax and self-employment tax. A single filer with $60,000 of net profit and no other income owes about $12,037 in federal tax for 2026, or 20% of profit, before any state or local tax.
Federal estimated payments are due April 15, June 15, and September 15, 2026, and January 15, 2027. Use our 1099 tax calculator to run your own numbers.
Calculator
Enter your 1099 income and business expenses to estimate self-employment tax, federal income tax, and what to set aside each quarter. No sign-up, and nothing you type is saved.
Calculator
Turn expected profit into a practical tax savings target, then use Cadus to keep income, expenses, deductions, receipts, and reports organized.
Template
Use this worksheet to turn expected monthly profit into a practical tax savings target before estimated tax due dates arrive.
Template
Copy this table to start organizing business purchases, receipt proof, categories, and business purpose before moving records into Cadus.
Self-employment tax guide
The self-employment tax rate is 15.3%. See who pays, how the 2026 wage base works, the deduction for half the tax, and a worked example.
Estimated tax guide
2026 estimated tax due dates, who has to pay, how to avoid the penalty, and a worked example for a self-employed worker earning $60,000.
Schedule C education
Every Schedule C expense line in plain English: what goes on each one, what doesn't, and the records to keep for self-employed workers.
A flat 4.99%.
Usually. You generally have to if you reasonably expect gross income beyond your exemptions, estimated deductions, and $1,000 of income not subject to withholding.