Self-Employment Tax Calculator
Estimate your 2026 self-employment tax (Schedule SE), federal income tax, QBI deduction, quarterly payments, and take-home pay. Enter your net business income and filing status to see your complete tax breakdown.
Your gross 1099 income minus deductible business expenses (home office, mileage, supplies, software, etc.). This is your Schedule C net profit.
Affects your federal income tax brackets and standard deduction.
Wages from a regular job (Box 1 of W-2). If you have W-2 income, it stacks on top of SE income and may push you into higher brackets. Also affects Social Security wage base for SE tax.
🏛 Self-Employment Tax Results
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SE Tax (15.3%)
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Federal Income Tax
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Quarterly Payment
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Effective Tax Rate
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📊 Tax Breakdown
| Description | Amount |
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SE tax = 12.4% Social Security (up to $176,100 wage base) + 2.9% Medicare (no cap). 50% of SE tax is deductible. QBI deduction = 20% of net business income.
💡 What this means
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QBI Deduction
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Take-Home Pay
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📚 Self-Employment Tax Resources
📚 See top-rated self-employment & freelance tax guides on Amazon →📝 How to use this self-employment tax calculator
- Enter your net self-employment income — your gross 1099 revenue minus deductible business expenses (home office, mileage, supplies, software, professional fees, advertising, phone, internet). This equals your Schedule C net profit.
- Select your filing status — Single, Married Filing Jointly, or Head of Household. This determines your federal income tax brackets and standard deduction.
- Enter W-2 income if you have a regular job — W-2 wages stack on top of SE income and may push you into higher tax brackets. If your W-2 wages already exceed $176,100, your SE income is only subject to the 2.9% Medicare portion (Social Security is already covered).
- Keep the QBI deduction checked — the 20% Qualified Business Income deduction reduces your taxable income. Most self-employed individuals earning under $241,950 (single) or $483,900 (MFJ) qualify for the full deduction.
- Click Calculate — see your SE tax, federal income tax, total tax, quarterly payment, QBI deduction, effective rate, and take-home pay.
📌 5 tips to reduce self-employment tax
- ✓ Track every business expense. SE tax is 15.3% of NET income. Every $1,000 in deductible expenses saves you $153 in SE tax plus your marginal income tax rate. Track mileage ($0.70/mile in 2026), home office, software, phone, internet, supplies, professional fees, and advertising year-round.
- ✓ Claim the 50% SE tax deduction. You can deduct half of your self-employment tax as an adjustment to income (above-the-line). This is automatic on Form 1040 — you don't need to itemize. On $60,000 of SE income, the $8,409 SE tax generates a $4,205 deduction.
- ✓ Maximize the QBI deduction. The 20% Qualified Business Income deduction can save thousands. On $80,000 net SE income, the QBI deduction is $16,000. If your taxable income is near the phase-out threshold ($241,950 single / $483,900 MFJ), consider deferring income or accelerating expenses to stay below it.
- ✓ Consider an S-Corp election. If your net SE income exceeds ~$80,000, electing S-Corp status (Form 2553) can save thousands. You pay yourself a reasonable salary (subject to payroll tax) and take the rest as distributions (not subject to SE tax). The savings: 15.3% on the distribution portion, minus the cost of payroll processing and corporate tax filing.
- ✓ Pay quarterly on time. The IRS charges ~8% annual interest on underpayments (2026 rate). If you expect to owe $1,000+ in total tax, make quarterly payments by April 15, June 15, September 15, and January 15. Use IRS Direct Pay (free) or EFTPS. The safe harbor rule: pay 100% of last year's tax (110% if AGI > $150,000) to avoid all penalties.
Disclaimer: This calculator provides self-employment tax estimates for educational purposes only. It uses 2026 federal income tax brackets, the 15.3% SE tax rate (12.4% Social Security up to the $176,100 wage base + 2.9% Medicare), the 50% SE tax deduction, the 20% QBI deduction, and 2026 standard deductions. It does not account for state income tax, Additional Medicare Tax (0.9% above $200K/$250K), itemized deductions, QBI phase-outs above income thresholds, or business entity structures (S-Corp, LLC). Consult a tax professional for personalized advice regarding your specific situation.
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