Do Freelance Hairstylists Need to Pay Quarterly Taxes?

If you're a freelance or booth-rental hairstylist and expect to owe more than $1,000 in taxes for the year, the IRS generally requires you to pay estimated taxes quarterly — not just once at filing time.

When you work as an employee, taxes are withheld from every paycheck automatically. As a self-employed hairstylist, no one is withholding anything for you, which means the responsibility shifts to you to pay throughout the year rather than in one lump sum.

The IRS breaks the year into four estimated payment periods (roughly April, June, September, and January of the following year). Missing these isn't just inconvenient — it can result in an underpayment penalty even if you pay everything owed by the April filing deadline.

A simple way to estimate what to set aside: many self-employed hairstylists aim to save 25–30% of their income for taxes, adjusting based on their specific deductions and tax bracket. This covers both income tax and self-employment tax (Social Security and Medicare), which isn't automatically taken out the way it is for W-2 employees.

Common deductible expenses that can lower what you owe:

• Booth or chair rental fees

• Products and supplies used on clients

• Continuing education and licensing renewals

• A portion of your phone bill for booking and client communication

  
  

BossTax's free app estimates your quarterly tax amount as your income comes in,

so you're not guessing — or getting surprised in January.

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Related articles:

• What Can Freelance Hairstylists Deduct at Tax Time?

• How Much Should Self-Employed Workers Save for Taxes?

• Booth Rental vs. Commission: How Taxes Differ