US self-employment tax calculator 2026

How much to set aside as a freelancer or sole proprietor: self-employment tax (Social Security and Medicare), an estimate of the income tax, and what to pay each quarter.

Self-employment tax

$14,129.55

14.1% of your profit · federal income tax comes on top

15.3% on $92,350
Total with income tax $22,365
$5,591 per quarter

On a profit of $100,000, your net earnings are 92.35% of it, $92,350.00. Self-employment tax is $11,451.40 of Social Security and $2,678.15 of Medicare: $14,129.55 in all, about 14.1% of your profit.

Add the federal income tax on the profit, estimated at $8,235.00, and the total is $22,364.55, or 22.4% of your profit. That is about $5,591.14 to set aside every quarter for your estimated tax payments, before any state tax.

The income tax part is a rough estimate for the profit alone, with the standard deduction. It leaves out other income, your spouse’s income, credits, the self-employed health insurance deduction, retirement contributions and state tax.
Not tax advice. For your actual estimated payments use Form 1040-ES or the IRS Tax Withholding Estimator.

I’m not an accountant or a financial advisor. This is an estimate, for information only. Check with a professional before you decide.

Your numbers

example: change the numbers

Net profit from your business

What is left after business expenses: the profit on your Schedule C. This is the figure the tax is based on, not your revenue.

Filing status

Your filing status for the 2026 return. It sets the standard deduction, the brackets and the Additional Medicare tax threshold.

Single$16,100 standard deductionMarried filing jointly$32,200 standard deductionHead of household$24,150 standard deductionMarried filing separately$16,100 standard deduction

Wages from a job (W-2), if any

Optional. If you also have a job, the Social Security tax you pay on those wages uses up part of the $184,500 limit before your self-employment profit. Enter 0 if you have no job.

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The calculation
	Net profit	$100,000.00
×	Net earnings shareSchedule SE: 92.35% of the profit	92.35%
=	Net earnings from self-employment	$92,350.00
	Social Security, 12.4%	$11,451.40
+	Medicare, 2.9%	$2,678.15
=	Self-employment tax	$14,129.55
	Half of it, deducted from your income	$7,064.78
	Adjusted gross income	$92,935.23
−	Standard deduction	$16,100.00
−	Qualified business income deduction, 20%	$15,367.05
=	Taxable income	$61,468.18
	Federal income tax on itlast dollar at 22%	$8,235.00
=	Total federal tax on the profit	$22,364.55

How it works

Multiply your net profit by 92.35%. That is your net earnings from self-employment, the amount the 15.3% applies to.
Self-employment tax is 12.4% Social Security, on net earnings up to $184,500 for 2026 (less any wages from a job), plus 2.9% Medicare on all of it. If your income is high, a 0.9% Additional Medicare tax applies over $200,000 ($250,000 married filing jointly).
You deduct half of the self-employment tax from your income, which lowers your income tax. Then subtract the standard deduction and, below the threshold, the 20% qualified business income deduction, and apply the tax brackets.

Worked example

A single freelancer with $100,000 of profit: net earnings $92,350; Social Security $11,451.40; Medicare $2,678.15; self-employment tax $14,129.55. Half, $7,064.78, comes off income; after the standard deduction and the 20% deduction the income tax is about $8,235; together $22,364.55, or 22.4% of the profit.

Sources

Text checked on October 12, 2026

Good to know

Self-employment tax is the Social Security and Medicare you pay yourself: 15.3% on 92.35% of your profit, which is about 14.1% of the profit. An employee pays only half of the 15.3% (7.65%) from the paycheck, and the employer pays the other half.
You must pay the tax and file Schedule SE if your net earnings from self-employment are $400 or more. This applies no matter your age, even if you already get Social Security or Medicare.
Half of the self-employment tax is deductible from your income. It does not reduce the self-employment tax itself, only your income tax.
If you expect to owe $1,000 or more when you file, you generally have to pay estimated tax during the year, in four payment periods with their own due dates. Most people avoid the penalty if they pay at least 90% of this year’s tax or 100% of last year’s, whichever is smaller; higher earners have special rules (IRS).
The calculator uses the standard deduction and, under the threshold, the 20% qualified business income deduction. Business expenses, health insurance, retirement plans like a SEP IRA or solo 401(k), and other income can lower the bill.
State income tax, and in some cities local business taxes, come on top and are not included.

Frequently asked questions

What is the self-employment tax rate for 2026?

15.3% of 92.35% of your net profit: 12.4% for Social Security up to $184,500 of net earnings and 2.9% for Medicare with no limit. A 0.9% Additional Medicare tax applies to high earners.

Why is it multiplied by 92.35%?

92.35% is 100% minus 7.65%. It takes off the employer’s half of the payroll tax, so that a self-employed person is treated like an employee whose employer pays half.

Can I deduct self-employment tax?

You can deduct half of it from your income, which lowers your income tax. You cannot deduct it from the self-employment tax itself.

How much should I set aside from each payment?

The total federal tax shown above as a share of your profit. On a $100,000 profit that is about 22% (self-employment tax and income tax together), so about $22 of each $100 you receive, before any state tax.

Do I owe self-employment tax on a side hustle?

Yes, if your net earnings from it are $400 or more in the year, even if you also have a full-time job. The wages from your job use up part of the Social Security limit first.