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Self-employed? Estimate your self-employment tax in a minute.
Estimate your 2026 SECA tax — Social Security and Medicare — on freelance, gig, or 1099 income. Enter your net profit and see the breakdown instantly.
≈ $730.03 / month set aside · ≈ $2,190.08 per quarterly payment
Estimate only — excludes federal income tax, state tax, and credits. Sample shown with an example net profit of $62,000. Not tax advice — see the disclaimer below.
How self-employment tax works
Self-employment tax (SECA) is how freelancers, contractors, and other self-employed people pay into Social Security and Medicare — the equivalent of the payroll taxes that get split between an employee and an employer. Because you are effectively both, you pay the combined 15.3% rate (see the IRS self-employment tax guide):
- 12.4% Social Security, on net earnings up to the 2026 wage base of $184,500
- 2.9% Medicare, on all net earnings — no cap
- 0.9% additional Medicare tax on income above $200,000 (single) or $250,000 (married filing jointly)
The tax applies to 92.35% of your net Schedule C profit, and you can generally deduct half of what you pay when calculating adjusted gross income.
Frequently asked questions
What is the self-employment tax rate in 2026?
For 2026, the combined self-employment tax rate is 15.3%: 12.4% for Social Security on net earnings up to $184,500, plus 2.9% for Medicare with no income cap. An additional 0.9% Medicare tax applies to income above $200,000 ($250,000 for married filing jointly). Rates are set by statute, but the Social Security wage base changes most years (the SSA publishes each year's figure) — this calculator uses the 2026 figure.
How is self-employment tax calculated?
Self-employment tax is computed on 92.35% of your net Schedule C profit (this accounts for the employer-equivalent half). The result is taxed at 12.4% up to the Social Security wage base and 2.9% for Medicare with no cap. Half of the total is typically deducted when calculating adjusted gross income.
Who has to pay self-employment tax?
Generally, if your net earnings from self-employment (freelancing, gig work, sole proprietorship, independent contracting) are $400 or more for the year, you file Schedule SE and owe self-employment tax. It is separate from federal income tax.
Is this calculator free and private?
Yes — it is free to use and runs entirely in your browser. Your numbers are never uploaded to a server. Saved inputs (if you choose to save) stay on your own device.
What does the calculator cover — and what not?
It estimates federal self-employment tax only: Social Security (12.4%), Medicare (2.9%), the additional 0.9% Medicare tax, and the deductible half. It does not estimate federal income tax, state income tax, credits, or other deductions, and it cannot know your full situation. Treat it as a planning aid, not a filing figure.
Do I need to pay quarterly?
Most self-employed people do if they expect to owe $1,000 or more at filing time. The calculator shows an approximate per-quarter split of the SE tax, but whether you must make estimated payments depends on your full-year picture — see IRS Form 1040-ES.
Does this replace Schedule SE or tax software?
No. This tool gives a quick estimate only and is not tax advice. It does not file returns or cover credits, deductions beyond the SE tax half, or state taxes. Always verify with IRS publications or a qualified tax professional.
Official sources
Verify everything against the primary sources: