Self-Employment Tax Calculator.
US self-employment tax is 15.3 percent (12.4 percent Social Security plus 2.9 percent Medicare) on 92.35 percent of your net earnings. On $80,000 of net self-employment income in 2026 that is $11,303.64, of which $5,651.82 is deductible. Enter your figures for an estimate.
Rates used (editable)
Rates as of November 2026: IRS, Self-employment tax, IRS Topic 554, IRS Topic 560; wage base from the Social Security Administration.
Federal self-employment tax estimate for sole proprietors, freelancers and independent contractors. Not tax advice. Runs in your browser; nothing you enter is sent anywhere.
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Start freeSelf-Employment Tax Calculator is a free online tool from Neweb (neweb.ai) for small businesses, with no sign-up. US self-employment tax is 15.3 percent (12.4 percent Social Security plus 2.9 percent Medicare) on 92.35 percent of your net earnings. On $80,000 of net self-employment income in 2026 that is $11,303.64, of which $5,651.82 is deductible. Enter your figures for an estimate.
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Facts checked October 2026.
What you'll get.
A real example of what this tool produces. Run it above with your own inputs.
Self-employment tax is how freelancers, independent contractors and sole proprietors in the United States pay into Social Security and Medicare. Employees split these taxes with their employer; if you work for yourself you pay both halves, 15.3 percent in total, on your net earnings. It is separate from, and on top of, federal income tax.
This calculator follows the steps on IRS Schedule SE. It multiplies your net earnings by 92.35 percent, applies 12.4 percent Social Security tax up to the year's wage base (reduced by any W-2 wages you also earned), applies 2.9 percent Medicare tax to the whole amount, and adds the 0.9 percent Additional Medicare Tax above the threshold for your filing status. It also shows the half you can deduct when working out your adjusted gross income.
Self-employment tax rates and wage base, as of November 2026
| Tax year | Social Security wage base | Social Security rate | Medicare rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $176,100 | 12.4% | 2.9% |
| 2026 | $184,500 | 12.4% | 2.9% |
| 2027 | $192,300 | 12.4% | 2.9% |
The Additional Medicare Tax is 0.9 percent on self-employment income above $250,000 (married filing jointly), $125,000 (married filing separately) or $200,000 (all other filers). You generally owe self-employment tax if your net earnings from self-employment are $400 or more. Sources: IRS, Self-employment tax (Social Security and Medicare taxes), IRS Topic 554, IRS Topic 560 and the SSA contribution and benefit base. Every figure is editable under "Rates used" in the calculator.
The formula
Taxable net earnings = net self-employment earnings × 92.35%.
Social Security = 12.4% × the smaller of taxable net earnings and (wage base − W-2 wages). Medicare = 2.9% × taxable net earnings. Self-employment tax = Social Security + Medicare.
Deduction = half of the self-employment tax. Additional Medicare Tax = 0.9% × taxable net earnings above (threshold − W-2 wages); it is not part of the deductible half. If taxable net earnings are under $400, the calculator shows no tax due.
How to use the self-employment tax calculator
Choose the tax year. The Social Security wage base for that year is filled in.
Choose your filing status, which sets the Additional Medicare Tax threshold.
Enter your net self-employment earnings: business income minus business expenses, the net profit figure from Schedule C.
If you also had a job, enter your W-2 wages for the year. They count toward the wage base and the Additional Medicare threshold.
Open Rates used only if a rate has changed or you want to test a different figure.
Read the tax, the deductible half and the per-quarter amount.
Tips for better results
- Net earnings means after business expenses. Every legitimate expense you record lowers both self-employment tax and income tax.
- Set aside money as you are paid. A common habit is to move a fixed share of every payment into a separate tax account.
- The deductible half reduces your income tax, not your self-employment tax. It is claimed as an adjustment to income.
- If you and a spouse both have self-employment income, each of you works out self-employment tax separately.
- Price your work with this tax in mind. The hourly rate calculator starts from the income you need and works back to a rate.
Example
A real-world walkthrough
A freelance copywriter filing as single earns $80,000 in net profit in 2026 and has no other job. Taxable net earnings are $80,000 × 92.35% = $73,880.00. Social Security tax is 12.4% of that, $9,161.12, and Medicare tax is 2.9%, $2,142.52. Her self-employment tax is $11,303.64, or $2,825.91 a quarter, and she can deduct half, $5,651.82, as an adjustment to income.
A consultant with $250,000 of net earnings in 2026 has taxable net earnings of $230,875.00. Social Security tax applies only up to the $184,500 wage base: $22,878.00. Medicare is 2.9% of $230,875, $6,695.38, giving self-employment tax of $29,573.38. Because $230,875 is $30,875 over the $200,000 threshold for a single filer, Additional Medicare Tax of $277.88 is also due.
Frequently asked questions
What is the self-employment tax rate?
The self-employment tax rate is 15.3 percent: 12.4 percent for Social Security and 2.9 percent for Medicare. It applies to 92.35 percent of your net earnings from self-employment. The Social Security part stops once your combined wages and net earnings reach the wage base, which is $184,500 for 2026, as of November 2026.
How do I calculate self-employment tax?
Multiply your net self-employment earnings by 92.35 percent. Multiply the result by 12.4 percent (up to the wage base) for Social Security and by 2.9 percent for Medicare, then add the two. On $80,000 of net earnings: $73,880 × 12.4% = $9,161.12, plus $73,880 × 2.9% = $2,142.52, for a total of $11,303.64.
Why is only 92.35% of my net earnings taxed?
The IRS states that the amount subject to self-employment tax is generally 92.35 percent of net earnings. The reduction of 7.65 percent mirrors the employer half of Social Security and Medicare tax, which an employee does not pay tax on, so the self-employed are put on a similar footing.
What is the Social Security wage base?
It is the maximum amount of earnings subject to the 12.4 percent Social Security tax in a year. According to the Social Security Administration it is $176,100 for 2025, $184,500 for 2026 and $192,300 for 2027. Wages from a job count first, so if your W-2 wages already reach the base, you owe only the Medicare part on your self-employment income.
Can I deduct self-employment tax?
You can deduct the employer-equivalent portion, which is one half of your self-employment tax, when figuring your adjusted gross income. It lowers your income tax but not the self-employment tax itself. The Additional Medicare Tax is not included in that half.
Who has to pay self-employment tax?
Generally anyone with net earnings from self-employment of $400 or more in the year, including freelancers, independent contractors and sole proprietors, even if they also have a job or already receive Social Security benefits. This calculator gives an estimate; the IRS instructions for Schedule SE cover the exceptions.
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