US Freelance Tax Calculator (Self-Employment Tax, 2026)
Work out federal self-employment tax on your freelance profit, plus a rough income-tax set-aside, and see what to put away each quarter.
- Per quarter
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- Share of your profit
- Self-employment tax
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- Social Security part
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- Medicare part
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- Deductible half of SE tax
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- Estimated income tax
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US only. Excludes the 0.9% Additional Medicare Tax above $200,000 for single filers, and state rules. Amounts are in US dollars, whatever currency you pick above.
How self-employment tax works
How much is self-employment tax in 2026?
Self-employment tax is 15.3% of 92.35% of your net profit from self-employment: 12.4% Social Security up to the $184,500 wage base, plus 2.9% Medicare with no cap. You owe no self-employment tax if your net earnings are under $400.
When are 2026 estimated tax payments due?
For the 2026 calendar year: April 15, June 15 and September 15, 2026, then January 15, 2027. A payment is on time if it is made by the next business day when the date falls on a weekend or holiday.
Is this tax advice?
No. It is an estimate for planning. It ignores the standard deduction, credits and state rules, so use it as a set-aside guide, not a return — an accountant can tell you what you really owe.
Sources
- IRS – Topic no. 554, Self-employment tax
- Social Security Administration – Contribution and Benefit Base
- IRS – Estimated taxes (Form 1040-ES)
Rates for 2026, last checked 2026-09.
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