2026 tax year · US · Updated May 18, 2026

Self-Employment Tax Calculator

If you make money on the side as a freelancer, contractor, gig worker, or sole proprietor, the IRS wants Social Security and Medicare tax on top of regular income tax. This calculator estimates what you owe using Schedule SE math.

Your numbers

$
Your business revenue minus deductible business expenses, for the year.
Only affects the 0.9% additional Medicare surtax threshold ($200,000 for your status).
Heads up: Self-employment tax is separate from federal income tax. This estimator only covers the SE tax piece (Social Security + Medicare). You also owe income tax on top.

Estimated 2026 self-employment tax

Earnings subject to SE taxNet earnings × 92.35%
$46,175
Social Security (12.4%)
$5,726
Medicare (2.9%)
$1,339
Total SE tax owed
$7,065
Effective rate on net earnings
14.1%
Deductible half of SE taxReduces your taxable income on your 1040
$3,532
Quarterly estimated paymentDivide total by 4 for IRS Form 1040-ES (SE portion only)
$1,766

Free download

Self-employment tax cheat sheet

The 2026 rates, quarterly due dates, safe-harbor rule, and a deductions checklist on one page. Delivered to your inbox right now.

  • All 2026 SE tax numbers in one place
  • Quarterly due dates + safe-harbor rule
  • Common Schedule C deductions checklist

No spam, ever. Unsubscribe anytime.

How self-employment tax works

When you’re an employee, you and your employer each pay 7.65% for Social Security and Medicare (FICA). When you’re self-employed, you pay both halves — 15.3% total — on the first $184,500 of earnings, then 2.9% Medicare on the rest, plus a 0.9% surtax above certain income thresholds.

The IRS lets you reduce the taxable amount by 7.65% first (the 92.35% factor), which roughly mirrors the deduction employers get. You also get to deduct half of your SE tax from your gross income when figuring income tax.

Worked example: $75,000 net earnings, single filer

Let’s walk through every line for a freelancer with $75,000 in net self-employment earnings (after deducting business expenses on Schedule C):

  1. Apply the 92.35% factor — multiply net earnings by 0.9235 to get the amount subject to SE tax. $75,000 × 0.9235 = $69,263.
  2. Social Security portion — 12.4% on earnings up to the $184,500 wage base. $69,263 × 0.124 = $8,589. Well under the cap, so the full amount is taxed.
  3. Medicare portion — 2.9% on all earnings, no cap. $69,263 × 0.029 = $2,009.
  4. Additional Medicare surtax — 0.9% on earnings over $200,000 (single). $69,263 is under the threshold, so this is $0.
  5. Total SE tax owed = $10,597 (~14.1% effective rate on your net earnings).
  6. Deductible half — half of the SS + Medicare portion comes off your gross income when calculating income tax: $5,299.
  7. Quarterly estimated payment— divide the total by 4 for the SE tax portion of each quarter’s 1040-ES payment: $2,649. Your actual quarterly payment will also include estimated income tax.

Quarterly payments

Self-employment tax isn’t withheld from your paychecks, so the IRS expects you to send it in four installments throughout the year using Form 1040-ES. Due dates for the 2026 tax year are April 15, June 15, September 15, 2026, and January 15, 2027.

A common safe harbor: pay at least 100% of your prior-year tax (110% if your AGI was over $150,000), or 90% of your current-year tax, whichever is less. Hit that and you avoid the underpayment penalty even if you owe more at filing time.

We’ve got a deeper guide: How to pay quarterly self-employment tax.

These are estimates, not tax advice. If your situation is unusual (multiple businesses, W-2 plus 1099, church employee income), talk to a CPA.

Frequently asked questions

Do I owe self-employment tax if I made less than $400?
No. The IRS only requires you to file Schedule SE and pay self-employment tax if your net earnings from self-employment are $400 or more for the year. Below that, you may still owe regular income tax, but not SE tax.
What if I have a W-2 job and side income?
Your W-2 wages already had Social Security and Medicare withheld through FICA, so the wage base is shared. If your W-2 wages already exceeded the Social Security wage base ($184,500 in 2026), you won't owe the Social Security portion (12.4%) on your self-employment income, but you'll still owe the 2.9% Medicare portion. The 0.9% additional Medicare surtax applies to combined wages plus self-employment income.
When are quarterly estimated tax payments due?
Quarterly estimated taxes are due four times a year on roughly the 15th of April, June, September, and January (of the following year). The exact 2026 dates are April 15, June 15, September 15, and January 15, 2027. Missing them can trigger an underpayment penalty.
Is self-employment tax the same as income tax?
No. Self-employment tax (15.3% on most of your net earnings) is separate from federal income tax. SE tax funds Social Security and Medicare. Income tax is calculated on top, based on your total income, deductions, and bracket. Most self-employed people end up owing both.
What expenses can I deduct before calculating SE tax?
You can deduct ordinary and necessary business expenses on Schedule C before arriving at net earnings. Common deductions include home office, vehicle/mileage, business supplies, software subscriptions, professional fees, and a portion of health insurance premiums. The net number (after expenses) is what feeds the SE tax calculation.
Do I pay SE tax on hobby income?
If the IRS classifies your activity as a hobby rather than a business, you don't owe self-employment tax. But hobby income is still taxable as other income, and you can no longer deduct hobby expenses (since 2018). The IRS looks at factors like profit motive, time invested, and whether you operate in a businesslike way.
How is SE tax different from FICA?
FICA is the same tax (Social Security + Medicare), but for employees it's split: you pay 7.65% and your employer pays the other 7.65%. As a self-employed person, you pay both halves (15.3% total), and you get to deduct half of it from your gross income when calculating federal income tax to roughly even things out.

Other free calculators