Self-Employment Tax Calculator
Freelancer or 1099 contractor? See your self-employment tax, income tax and take-home pay, and what you would need to earn to match a W-2 salary.
Frequently asked questions
How much is self-employment tax?
Self-employment tax is 15.3%: 12.4% for Social Security (on net earnings up to $184,500 in 2026) and 2.9% for Medicare with no cap. It is applied to 92.35% of your net profit. An extra 0.9% Medicare tax applies to earnings above $200,000 for single filers and $250,000 for married filing jointly.
Why is it higher than what I paid as an employee?
Employees pay half of Social Security and Medicare (7.65%) and the employer pays the other half. When you work for yourself you pay both halves. You do get to deduct half of your self-employment tax when you figure your income tax.
How do quarterly estimated taxes work?
Freelancers generally pay estimated tax four times a year (around April 15, June 15, September 15 and January 15) because no employer withholds it. The calculator shows a quarter of your total tax as a simple set-aside; the exact amounts depend on your prior-year tax and safe-harbor rules.
What is the 20% qualified business income deduction?
Many self-employed people can deduct up to 20% of qualified business income under Section 199A. It has income limits and special rules for some professions. The calculator applies it by default for incomes below those limits and lets you turn it off.
What is not included?
Health insurance and retirement plan deductions, business-expense planning, local taxes, state payroll taxes, and credits. Use the 401(k) calculator for retirement savings as an employee.
2026 federal rules. Estimates only, for a sole proprietor with no other income; talk to a tax professional before relying on them.