2026 Self-Employment Tax Calculator
Estimate your self-employment tax, income tax and total tax due in seconds. IRS-aligned formulas, instant real-time calculation.
This calculator provides estimates for educational use only. It is not tax, legal, or financial advice. Figures are based on current IRS rules — verify against IRS.gov or consult a licensed professional. See our full disclaimer.
Your Income & Expenses
Estimated 2026 Tax Breakdown
* Estimates only. Self-employment tax follows IRS Schedule SE: 15.3% (12.4% Social Security + 2.9% Medicare) on 92.35% of net earnings up to the 2026 Social Security base of $184,500, then 2.9% Medicare above it; the 50% SE tax deduction is above-the-line. Additional Medicare tax of 0.9% above $200,000 (single) / $250,000 (married joint) is not modeled here. Figures are educational and do not constitute professional tax advice.
About the Self-Employment Tax Calculator
2026 IRS Tax Brackets
This calculator uses the latest 2026 federal tax brackets for single, married filing jointly, head of household, and married filing separately filers. Top rates range from 10% to 37%.
How SE Tax Is Applied
Self-employment tax (15.3%) applies to 92.35% of your net business income up to $184,500 in 2026. Above that threshold, only the 2.9% Medicare portion continues to apply. SE tax is separate from income tax — for the federal and state income tax that stacks on top, see our 1099 Tax Estimator, which layers federal and state income tax onto your SE tax.
Instant Real-Time Calculation
Every number on this page updates the moment you change any input — no "Calculate" button needed. Your data never leaves your browser.
Plan Ahead with Quarterly Taxes
Need to set up quarterly estimated payments? Use our Quarterly Estimated Tax Calculator to compute your four IRS Form 1040-ES installments.
How to Calculate Self-Employment Tax
- Find net profit. Subtract your business expenses from your gross self-employment income (Schedule C, line 31).
- Apply the 92.35% factor. Multiply net profit by 92.35% — the deductible portion of SE tax is removed before the rate is applied, per IRS Schedule SE.
- Compute SE tax. Multiply by 15.3% on the amount up to the 2026 Social Security base of $184,500. For earnings above $184,500, only the 2.9% Medicare portion applies to the excess.
- Take the 50% deduction. Deduct one-half of your SE tax as an above-the-line adjustment to income (lowers your federal income tax).
- Add income tax. The remaining amount, less the standard deduction, is taxed at your ordinary federal bracket, plus any state income tax.
Self-Employment Tax FAQs
Self-employment tax is 15.3% on your net self-employment income up to $184,500 (2026). This covers Social Security (12.4%) and Medicare (2.9%). The net is calculated as 92.35% of your gross self-employment income.
You generally must pay self-employment tax if your net earnings from self-employment are $400 or more. If you earn less, no SE tax is owed, but you still may need to file a return to report the income.
Yes. You can deduct 50% of your self-employment tax as an above-the-line deduction on Form 1040. This reduces your AGI and lowers your federal income tax bill.
A common rule of thumb is 25–30% of your self-employment income. This covers federal income tax, self-employment tax (15.3%), and any state income tax. Use this calculator to get a more accurate number.
Authoritative References
- IRS Schedule SE (Form 1040), Self-Employment Tax — the 15.3% rate, 92.35% factor, and 50% deduction used here.
- IRS Publication 15 (Circular E), 2026 — confirms the 2026 Social Security wage base of $184,500 and 6.2%/1.45% rates.
- IRS Topic No. 751, Social Security and Medicare Withholding Rates — official 2026 wage base.
- IRS Publication 334, Tax Guide for Small Business — general self-employed filing guidance.
Estimate only. Does not model the Additional Medicare tax of 0.9% on earnings above $200,000 (single) / $250,000 (married filing jointly). Educational information, not tax advice — consult IRS publications or a licensed tax professional.