🧑💻 Self-Employment Tax Calculator
Work out your 2026 self-employment tax, federal income tax and quarterly estimated payments from your net business profit.
Quick answer: On $80,000 of net self-employment profit, a single filer owes $11,303.64 of self-employment tax (15.3% of $73,880) plus about $5,343.82 of 2026 federal income tax – $16,647.46 in total, or $4,161.87 per quarterly estimated payment.
Updated · Free · No sign-up · Works on any device
Self-Employment Tax Calculator inputs
Result
Self-employment tax
$11,303.64
15.3% of $73,880.00 (92.35% of your net profit)
| Social Security (12.4%) | $9,161.12 |
| Medicare (2.9%) | $2,142.52 |
| Self-employment tax | $11,303.64 |
| Federal income tax (2026) | $5,343.82 |
| Total federal tax | $16,647.46 |
- Quarterly estimated payment
- $4,161.87
- Half-SE-tax deduction
- $5,651.82
- QBI deduction
- $11,649.64
- Taxable income
- $46,598.54
- Marginal income-tax rate
- 12%
- Total tax rate
- 20.8%
2026 rules for single filers with the standard deduction. State tax not included.
2026 estimated tax payments (Form 1040-ES)
| Payment | Due date | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 | April 15, 2026 | $4,161.87 |
| Q2 | June 15, 2026 | $4,161.87 |
| Q3 | September 15, 2026 | $4,161.87 |
| Q4 | January 15, 2027 | $4,161.87 |
Paying 100% of last year's total tax (110% if your AGI was over $150,000) in four equal instalments also avoids the underpayment penalty, even if you owe more this year.
How your self-employment tax is calculated
| Step | Amount |
|---|---|
| Net earnings from self-employment (× 92.35%) | $73,880.00 |
| Social Security: 12.4% up to the $184,500 wage base | $9,161.12 |
| Medicare: 2.9% with no cap | $2,142.52 |
| Deductible half of SE tax | −$5,651.82 |
How to use the self-employment tax calculator
- Enter your net profit – business income minus deductible expenses (Schedule C line 31).
- Choose your filing status and whether to include the 20% qualified business income (QBI) deduction.
- If you also have a job, enter your W-2 wages and any tax withheld under Other income & withholding.
The self-employment tax formula
Net earnings = Net profit × 92.35%
SE tax = Net earnings × 12.4% (up to $184,500) + Net earnings × 2.9%
Half of the SE tax is deducted from your income before income tax. Income tax then uses the 2026 brackets after the standard deduction and the QBI deduction.
Quarterly payment = (Income tax + SE tax − Withholding) ÷ 4
Worked example
A single freelancer makes $80,000 net profit in 2026.
- Net earnings: $80,000 × 92.35% = $73,880
- Social Security: $73,880 × 12.4% = $9,161.12; Medicare: $73,880 × 2.9% = $2,142.52
- SE tax = $11,303.64; half ($5,651.82) is deductible, so AGI = $74,348.18
- After the $16,100 standard deduction and a $11,649.64 QBI deduction, taxable income is $46,598.54 and income tax is $5,343.82
- Total federal tax $16,647.46 → four estimated payments of $4,161.87
2026 self-employment tax figures
| Item | 2026 |
|---|---|
| Social Security rate / wage base | 12.4% / $184,500 |
| Medicare rate | 2.9% (no cap) |
| Additional Medicare Tax | 0.9% over $200,000 single · $250,000 joint · $125,000 separate |
| Minimum net earnings for SE tax | $400 |
| QBI deduction threshold | $201,750 single · $403,500 joint |
The QBI deduction here is simplified: it is 20% of qualified income (limited to 20% of taxable income) below the threshold and is phased out across the next $75,000 ($150,000 joint) as for a service business without employees. Retirement contributions and self-employed health insurance, which reduce income tax, are not included.
Sources: IRS Schedule SE and Form 1040-ES instructions, IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32 and the SSA 2026 contribution and benefit base (irs.gov, ssa.gov).
Estimates for educational purposes, not financial advice.
Frequently asked questions
What is the self-employment tax rate for 2026?
It is 15.3%: 12.4% Social Security on net earnings up to the $184,500 wage base, plus 2.9% Medicare on all net earnings. An extra 0.9% Additional Medicare Tax applies above $200,000 ($250,000 married filing jointly, $125,000 separately).
Why is SE tax charged on 92.35% of profit?
Employees don't pay tax on the employer's half of FICA. To mirror that, the IRS reduces net profit by 7.65% (half of 15.3%) before applying the 15.3% rate.
Is self-employment tax deductible?
Half of it is. The employer-equivalent half of your SE tax is an above-the-line deduction that lowers your income tax, although it does not reduce the SE tax itself.
When are 2026 quarterly estimated taxes due?
April 15, 2026, June 15, 2026, September 15, 2026 and January 15, 2027. You generally must pay estimated tax if you expect to owe $1,000 or more when you file.
Do I pay self-employment tax if I earn under $400?
No. If your net earnings from self-employment are less than $400 you owe no SE tax, though the income is still subject to income tax.