DARLING DYNAMICS2026 YEAR-END

Stop guessing what to pay for taxes.

A guided tax check-in for straightforward W-2, self-employed and 1099 income. No SSN, bank information or tax-preparer jargon required.

1. About you

Start with the basics. Your filing status, state residency, and prior-year return eligibility affect which planning rules can be used.

How will you file?State you lived in for 2026

I lived in this state for all of 2026.Moved during the year? We'll stop the state estimate and recommend review. I filed a 2025 federal return that covered the full year.This lets us use your prior-year tax as a possible safe-harbor target.

2. Estimate your 2026 income

Use your best full-year 2026 estimate — not just what you have earned so far.

Use your best full-year estimate.

Your W-2 wagesUse your latest paystub and estimate your total Box 1-style wages for all of 2026.Spouse's W-2 wagesOnly if filing jointly.Use your spouse's latest paystub and estimate full-year wages. Business / 1099 incomeIncome before business expenses.Use your bookkeeping, invoices, payment apps, and 1099 activity to estimate full-year gross business revenue.Business expensesUse deductible business expenses from your books/records; do not subtract personal expenses. Bank interest + ordinary dividendsOther ordinary taxable income

Only if applicable

Qualified dividendsUsually shown on Form 1099-DIV box 1b.Net long-term capital gainsFor ordinary long-term gains only; unusual gain types require review.Adjustments that reduce incomeLeave $0 if unsure; complex adjustments can be reviewed.Qualifying 2026 cash giftsFor the supported non-itemizer cash-gift deduction.

Estimated business profit

Business / 1099 income minus business expenses.

3. What you've already paid

Include what you expect to be withheld for the full year plus estimated payments already made.

Expected federal income tax withheldFederal income tax withheld from paychecks — not Social Security/Medicare.Look for federal income tax withheld on your latest paystub, then use your expected full-year amount.2025 refund applied to 2026Use your filed 2025 return to confirm whether an overpayment was applied forward. April estimated paymentUse your IRS payment confirmation, bank record, or tax-payment history.June estimated paymentUse your IRS payment confirmation, bank record, or tax-payment history.September estimated paymentUse your IRS payment confirmation, bank record, or tax-payment history. 2025 total taxUse the total-tax amount from your 2025 federal return.Use the total-tax figure from your filed 2025 Form 1040. Keep the return beside you while entering this.2025 adjusted gross income (AGI)Use the AGI shown on your filed 2025 Form 1040.

4. Quick complexity check

These questions protect you from getting a simplified answer when your tax situation needs a different calculation.

These questions protect you from getting an estimate that looks precise but doesn't fit your tax situation.

I expect to itemize deductions instead of using the standard deduction. I have complex business/QBI items, REIT/PTP income, or business wage/property limitations. I expect AMT, Net Investment Income Tax, unusual capital gains, or unusual credits/additional taxes. My income was highly uneven during the year, or farmer/fisher special estimated-tax rules apply.

5. A few state questions

Only answer the state fields that apply. If the planner asks for review, that is an intentional safety route.

We'll only ask what your selected state needs.

6. When are you checking?

The date matters because the planner separates amounts that may already be behind from the next future installment.

As-of dateThis controls which installments have already passed and which payment is next.

7. Your 2026 Tax Check-In

Read the catch-up exposure and next scheduled installment separately — they answer different timing questions.

Stop guessing what to pay.