Self-Employment Tax Calculator
See what you’ll actually owe on your 1099 income, self-employment tax, federal and state income tax, your QBI deduction, and your next quarterly payment. Instant, no sign-up, and it runs the same IRS-aligned engine as Taxottic.
Tell us about your year
Enter your self-employment income to see your estimated federal + state tax, self-employment tax, and quarterly payments, instantly.
How self-employment tax works
When you work for yourself, no employer splits your payroll taxes with you, so you cover both halves. That’s self-employment tax: 15.3% of your net earnings, made up of 12.4% Social Security (up to the annual wage base) and 2.9% Medicare (no cap). It’s figured on 92.35% of your net profit, and you get to deduct half of it before income tax. On top of that sits your federal income tax (at your bracket), your state income tax if your state has one, minus the QBI deduction that shaves up to 20% off your qualified business income. This calculator does all of it, most free calculators only show the flat 15.3% slice.
Frequently asked
How much is self-employment tax?
Self-employment tax is 15.3% of your net self-employment earnings, 12.4% for Social Security (up to the annual wage base) plus 2.9% for Medicare (no cap). It's calculated on 92.35% of your net profit, and you can deduct half of it as an above-the-line adjustment. This calculator applies all of that automatically, then adds your federal and state income tax on top so you see the full picture.
Is this self-employment tax calculator accurate?
It runs the same forecasting engine Taxottic uses inside the paid app, current-year federal brackets, the Social Security wage base, the QBI (Section 199A) deduction, the extra 0.9% Medicare surcharge, and your state's brackets. It's an estimate for planning, not a filed return, and not a substitute for a licensed CPA.
Do I have to pay quarterly estimated taxes?
If you expect to owe $1,000 or more when you file, the IRS generally wants estimated payments four times a year (mid-April, mid-June, mid-September, and mid-January). This calculator shows your next quarterly amount and due date so you can set the money aside before it's due.
What counts as self-employment income?
Net profit from freelancing, contracting, gig work, a single-member LLC, or a sole proprietorship, generally the income on your 1099-NEC/1099-K minus your ordinary and necessary business expenses. Enter your gross income and expenses above and the calculator uses the net profit.
Related guides & tools
Self-employment tax by state
Your self-employment tax is federal, but your state income tax isn’t. See the real numbers for your state: