Self-Employment Tax Calculator
Estimate your self-employment tax, federal income tax, state tax, and quarterly estimated payments from your 1099 or freelance income. Free, instant, and private — your numbers never leave your browser.
Your details
Enter what you know — the estimate updates as you type. Everything runs in your browser; nothing is sent anywhere.
2026 standard deduction: $16,100
Freelance, contract, consulting, creator, or small-business revenue.
Software, equipment, mileage, marketing, contractors, etc.
A day job, spouse's W-2, or investment income.
Already paid this year (optional)
Withholding and estimated payments you’ve already made, to see what’s still due.
Cash Basis AI calculates this automatically — all year, not just at tax time.
Connect your bank once. Cash Basis AI categorizes every transaction, tracks your real income and deductions, and keeps a live quarterly tax estimate on your dashboard — so there are no surprises in April. Ask it anything about your books in plain English.
This estimator is for planning only and uses simplified state models. It isn’t tax advice — confirm with a qualified tax professional before making payments.
How the self-employment tax calculator works
When you’re self-employed, taxes aren’t withheld from your pay — you’re responsible for setting the money aside and sending it to the IRS yourself, usually four times a year. This calculator estimates the full picture from a few inputs: your self-employment (1099) income, business expenses, any W-2 wages, your filing status, and your state. It then computes three separate taxes and adds them up.
What’s included in your estimate
- Self-employment tax (15.3%). Social Security (12.4%, up to the annual wage base) plus Medicare (2.9%) on 92.35% of your net profit. High earners also pay the 0.9% Additional Medicare tax. Half of your SE tax is deductible against income tax.
- Federal income tax. Your taxable income run through the official IRS brackets for your filing status, after your standard or itemized deduction and the 20% qualified business income (§199A) deduction most self-employed people qualify for.
- State income tax. A simplified flat- or effective-rate estimate for your state (nine states have no income tax at all).
- Quarterly estimated payments. Your estimated balance due, spread across the IRS quarterly due dates that are still ahead of you this year.
How much should you set aside?
A safe starting point is 25–30% of your net self-employment income — but the honest answer is “it depends,” which is exactly why this calculator exists. Your bracket, your state, your deductions, and whether you also have a W-2 job all move the number. Run your real figures above, then read our full guide on how much to set aside for taxes. If quarterly payments are new to you, start with quarterly estimated taxes explained.
Frequently asked questions
How much self-employment tax will I owe?+
Self-employment tax is 15.3% of your net self-employment earnings — 12.4% for Social Security (up to the annual wage base) and 2.9% for Medicare. It applies to 92.35% of your net profit, and half of it is deductible against your income tax. This calculator computes it automatically alongside your federal income tax.
How much should I set aside for 1099 taxes?+
A common rule of thumb is 25–30% of your net self-employment income, covering both self-employment tax and income tax. High earners or people in high-tax states may need 35–40%. Use the calculator with your real numbers instead of guessing — then read our guide on how much to set aside.
Do I have to pay quarterly estimated taxes?+
If you expect to owe $1,000 or more when you file, the IRS generally expects you to make quarterly estimated payments (Form 1040-ES). The 2026 due dates are April 15, June 15, September 15, and January 15, 2027. This tool splits your estimated balance into four quarterly payments.
Is this calculator accurate?+
It runs the exact same tax engine as the Cash Basis AI product — official IRS 2026 federal brackets, standard deductions and Social Security wage base, plus self-employment tax, the 0.9% Additional Medicare tax and the 20% qualified business income (§199A) deduction. State tax uses a simplified effective-rate model for planning, so your actual state liability may vary. Treat the result as a planning estimate, not tax advice.
Can I estimate taxes with both W-2 and 1099 income?+
Yes. Enter your W-2 wages and your 1099/self-employment income separately. The calculator correctly accounts for Social Security wages already covered by your W-2 job so you're not double-taxed past the wage base.