$50,000 profit, single, no other job.
NE is $46,175.00. Social Security is $5,725.70 and Medicare $1,339.08, so SE tax is $7,064.78. You can deduct $3,532.39, and setting aside $1,766.20 a quarter covers the SE tax.
Self-Employment Tax Calculator (2026)
Estimate your 2026 self-employment tax, the deductible half and what to set aside each quarter.
Results
Enter your numbers to see the results.
- Net earnings
- Social Security
- Medicare
- Self-employment tax
- Deductible half
- Additional Medicare Tax
- Effective SE rate
- Quarterly SE set-aside
- Rough income tax
- Quarterly all-in
| Payment | Due | Set aside |
|---|---|---|
| 1st quarter | April 15, 2026 | |
| 2nd quarter | June 15, 2026 | |
| 3rd quarter | September 15, 2026 | |
| 4th quarter | January 15, 2027 |
Estimates only. This isn't tax advice. It covers federal self-employment tax, not your full income tax, state tax or credits. For your actual return, use IRS forms or a tax professional.
Last reviewed: Oct 21, 2026
Enter your 2026 net profit from freelancing, gig work or a side business to estimate your self-employment tax, the half you can deduct, any Additional Medicare Tax and what to set aside each quarter. When you work for yourself, nobody withholds Social Security and Medicare from your pay, so you cover both the employee and employer shares.
How to use it
- Enter your net profit, meaning income minus business expenses (the profit figure from Schedule C, or your best estimate for the year). A loss counts as zero.
- If you also have a W-2 job, enter the wages subject to Social Security and Medicare. They use up part of the Social Security wage base.
- Choose your filing status. It only affects the Additional Medicare Tax threshold.
- Optional: add a rough income tax rate to see an all-in quarterly figure, and any estimated payments you've already made.
How self-employment tax works in 2026
- Only 92.35% of profit is taxed. That's your "net earnings from self-employment." It mirrors the employer half of payroll tax that an employee never sees.
- Social Security: 12.4% of net earnings up to the 2026 wage base of $184,500. W-2 wages count toward that cap first.
- Medicare: 2.9% of all net earnings, with no cap.
- Additional Medicare Tax: 0.9% on net earnings above $200,000 (single or head of household), $250,000 (married filing jointly) or $125,000 (married filing separately). Medicare wages from a job lower the threshold. This is reported separately on Form 8959.
- Half is deductible. You subtract 50% of your SE tax from income on Schedule 1, which lowers your income tax (not your SE tax).
- Under $400, no SE tax. If net earnings are below $400 (that's profit under about $433), you owe no self-employment tax.
How it works
Self-employment tax is 15.3% (12.4% Social Security plus 2.9% Medicare) on 92.35% of your profit, with Social Security stopping at the 2026 wage base. Below that wage base, it works out to 14.13% of profit.
- Net earnings (NE) = profit × 0.9235. Social Security = 12.4% × the smaller of NE and ($184,500 − W-2 wages). Medicare = 2.9% × NE.
- Deduction = SE tax ÷ 2. Additional Medicare = 0.9% × (NE − (threshold − W-2 wages)), if positive.
- Quarterly set-aside = (SE tax + Additional Medicare) ÷ 4.
Worked examples
$80,000 profit.
NE $73,880.00, Social Security $9,161.12, Medicare $2,142.52: $11,303.64 in SE tax and a $5,651.82 deduction.
$250,000 profit, single.
NE is $230,875, above the wage base, so Social Security stops at $184,500 × 12.4% = $22,878.00. Medicare is $6,695.38, for SE tax of $29,573.38. NE is also $30,875 over the $200,000 threshold, adding $277.88 of Additional Medicare Tax. Quarterly set-aside: $7,462.82.
$100,000 side business plus a $120,000 W-2 job, single.
NE is $92,350, but the job already used $120,000 of the $184,500 wage base, so Social Security applies to only $64,500: $7,998.00. Medicare on the full NE is $2,678.15, for SE tax of $10,676.15. The Additional Medicare threshold drops to $200,000 − $120,000 = $80,000, so $12,350 is subject to 0.9%: $111.15.
Adding a rough income tax rate.
With $50,000 profit and a 12% estimated income tax rate, the optional all-in figure is (7,064.78 + 12% × (50,000 − 3,532.39)) ÷ 4 = about $3,160 a quarter. This is a ballpark only. The tool doesn't apply real tax brackets, the standard deduction, the QBI deduction or credits.
SE tax at common profit levels (2026, single, no W-2 wages)
| Net profit | SE tax | Deductible half | Per quarter |
|---|---|---|---|
| $10,000 | $1,412.96 | $706.48 | $353.24 |
| $25,000 | $3,532.39 | $1,766.20 | $883.10 |
| $50,000 | $7,064.78 | $3,532.39 | $1,766.20 |
| $75,000 | $10,597.16 | $5,298.58 | $2,649.29 |
| $100,000 | $14,129.55 | $7,064.78 | $3,532.39 |
| $150,000 | $21,194.33 | $10,597.17 | $5,298.58 |
2026 estimated tax due dates
| Payment | Due |
|---|---|
| 1st quarter | April 15, 2026 |
| 2nd quarter | June 15, 2026 |
| 3rd quarter | September 15, 2026 |
| 4th quarter | January 15, 2027 |
The "quarters" aren't equal lengths, and the dates come from IRS Form 1040-ES. If you've already paid some, enter it and the tool spreads what's left over the remaining due dates.
FAQ
How much is self-employment tax in 2026?
15.3% (12.4% Social Security + 2.9% Medicare) on 92.35% of your net profit, which works out to about 14.13% of profit. Social Security stops at $184,500 of net earnings in 2026.
How do I calculate taxes on 1099 income?
Start with your 1099 income minus business expenses. Self-employment tax is about 14.13% of that profit, and income tax is separate, based on your total income after deductions, including half your SE tax.
Is self-employment tax the same as income tax?
No. SE tax is Social Security and Medicare. Income tax is on top of it. This calculator estimates SE tax and offers only a rough flat-rate add-on for income tax.
Do I have to pay quarterly estimated taxes?
The IRS generally expects quarterly payments if you'll owe enough tax for the year that isn't covered by withholding. Check the rules in Form 1040-ES or ask a tax pro about your situation. The calculator shows what one quarter of your SE tax looks like.
Can I deduct half of my self-employment tax?
Yes. Half of your SE tax is an adjustment to income on Schedule 1. It lowers your income tax, not the SE tax itself.
What if I have a W-2 job and a side business?
Enter your W-2 wages. They count toward the $184,500 Social Security cap first, so high earners may pay less Social Security on the side income. They also lower your Additional Medicare Tax threshold.
Do I owe SE tax on a small side gig?
Not if your net earnings from self-employment are under $400, which is a profit of about $433 or less. You may still owe income tax on it.