How much should I set aside for taxes?
A simple rule you can apply to every payment: the exact percentage to move into savings so quarterly taxes are covered and April is calm. Instant, no sign-up.
What are you making?
Enter your income to see the percentage of each payment to move into savings, so April is never a surprise.
Why a set-aside habit beats a shoebox
The reason self-employment taxes feel brutal isn’t the rate - it’s the timing. No employer withholds anything, so the whole bill lands at once unless you’ve been quietly setting money aside all year. The fix is a single number: a percentage of every payment that goes straight into a separate savings account the moment it clears. Do that, and quarterly taxes stop being an event - the money’s already there. This calculator gives you the percentage for your income, filing status, and state, covering both self-employment tax and income tax.
Frequently asked
What percentage should I set aside for taxes if I'm self-employed?
A common starting point is 25-30% of your income, but the right number depends on how much you make, your filing status, and your state. It has to cover self-employment tax (15.3%) plus federal and state income tax. Enter your numbers above for your exact percentage instead of a rule of thumb.
Should I set aside a percentage of gross or net income?
The easiest habit is a percentage of each gross payment as it lands, before you've tallied expenses, that's the number this calculator gives. It slightly over-saves, which is a feature: you'd rather end the year with a small cushion than a shortfall.
Where should I keep the money I set aside?
In a separate high-yield savings account you don't touch, moving your set-aside percentage over the moment each payment clears. Keeping it out of your checking account is the single most effective way to make sure it's there when quarterly taxes are due.