1099 Self-Employment Tax Calculator (2026)

Enter your expected net self-employment profit (income minus expenses) to see your 2026 self-employment tax, the 15.3% that catches many first-year freelancers out. Below the calculator you'll find the quarterly estimated-payment dates and the deductible half that people often forget.

Disclaimer: This tool estimates self-employment (Social Security + Medicare) tax only, using 2026 IRS figures. It does not calculate your federal or state income tax, which you owe in addition. It provides general information, not tax advice. Consult a qualified tax professional about your situation.

This calculator uses the IRS figures for the 2026 tax year, including the $184,500 Social Security wage base.

2026 quarterly estimated tax due dates

If you expect to owe $1,000 or more for the year, the IRS wants payment through the year, not one lump in April:

(You can skip the January 15 payment if you file your full 2026 return and pay everything owed by February 1, 2027.)

The safe-harbor shortcut: avoid underpayment penalties by paying, through the year, the smaller of 90% of this year's tax or 100% of last year's total tax (110% if last year's AGI was over $150,000). For most freelancers the simplest safe plan is last year's total tax divided by four, paid on the four dates, with the difference settled in April.

How self-employment tax actually works

Self-employment tax is Social Security and Medicare for people without an employer: 15.3% in total, made up of 12.4% Social Security (on earnings up to $184,500 in 2026) and 2.9% Medicare (no cap). It applies to 92.35% of your net profit, starts at just $400 of net earnings, and isn't reduced by the standard deduction. That is why a freelancer can owe thousands in SE tax while owing little income tax. Two consolations: half of it is deductible against your income tax, and the (now permanent) QBI deduction trims up to 20% more off qualifying business income.

The full walkthroughs: self-employment tax explained, quarterly estimated taxes, and Schedule C categories.

Lower the number: capture every expense

Every legitimate expense you fail to record inflates the profit this calculator taxes. Taxr keeps the receipts: photograph a receipt and the AI reads the vendor, date, total and tax, then suggests a Schedule C-aligned category for you to confirm. At tax time, export Excel or PDF files for your accountant or your own return.

Download Taxr free. Every deductible expense you record lowers the profit this calculator taxes.