Self-Employment Tax Calculator

For 1099, freelance, LLC, and sole-proprietor net profit. Exact 2026 self-employment tax with the 92.18% net-earnings adjustment, the QBI deduction, and a quarterly payment schedule you can actually follow.

Net business profit per year ($)Revenue minus business expenses (Schedule C line 31) Filing status Wages already earned ($)Gigs where your employer already withholds FICA; reduces your SS base QBI deduction (20% of profit)? Most solo filers qualify; taxable-income cap applies at high income

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Net earnings (92.18%)	—
Social Security tax (12.4%)	—
Medicare tax (2.9% + 0.9%)	—
Total SE tax	—
Federal income tax (QBI, std deduction)	—
Estimated total tax	—
After-tax income	—
Quarterly payment	—

Quarterly due dates 2026: Apr 15, Jun 15, Sep 15, Jan 15 2027. Income tax here is federal only, on the standard deduction; state tax uses your state's rates via the take-home tool's anchors.

How the math works

Net earnings = net profit × 0.9218. That is IRS Schedule SE line 6, the allowance equal to the employer's share of FICA.

Social Security = 12.4% on net earnings up to $184,500 minus wages already taxed (2026 wage base, SSA official). Medicare = 2.9% on all net earnings, plus 0.9% where net earnings exceed $200,000 (single) / $250,000 (married).

Income tax: gross profit − (½ of SE tax, which is deductible) − QBI 20% (if taken) − standard deduction ($16,100 / $32,200), then the 2026 brackets 10/12/22/24/32/35/37.

Quarterly payment = 25% of total estimated tax (SE + income). Paying 25% each quarter equals 100% of last year's projected tax, safe-harbor territory; IRS Form 1040-ES.

Disclaimer. Simplified: no itemized deductions, no SEP/SIMPLE retirement contributions, no QBI wage-cap limitations at high income, no state tax, no self-employment income credit nuances. Real filings use Schedule SE. This is a planning estimate, not a tax opinion.

Frequently asked questions

What is the self-employment tax rate in 2026?

15.3 percent of net earnings: 12.4 percent Social Security on the first $184,500 of net earnings and 2.9 percent Medicare on all of it. You first pay tax on 92.18 percent of net profit, which is the 7.65 percent employer-side allowance. Net earnings above $200,000 (single) add 0.9 percent Medicare surtax.

Why is self-employment tax more than payroll tax?

A W-2 employee pays 7.65 percent and an employer matches it. Self-employed people pay both halves, 15.3 percent, and the extra Medicare on all income on top. The 92.18 percent multiplier and the income-tax deduction for half of SE tax soften the difference.

When are quarterly taxes due in 2026?

April 15, June 15, September 15, and January 15, 2027. If you expect to owe $1,000 or more, pay 25 percent of your projected annual tax each quarter to stay safe-harbor protected.