Call or text +1 (832) 240-0830
Book Free Consultation
Home
Services
QuickBooks Bookkeeping Xero Accounting Services Monthly Bookkeeping Catch-Up Bookkeeping USA Tax Preparation Payroll Management Bookkeeping by Industry → View All Services →
Service Areas
Texas California Florida New York Houston, TX View All 50 States →
Pricing About Blog Contact Call or text +1 (832) 240-0830 Book Free Consultation
Free Tool · Updated for 2026

Free Self-Employment Tax & Quarterly Estimated Tax Calculator

Estimate your 2026 self-employment tax (Social Security and Medicare) and a quarterly estimated tax payment from your net business profit. Built for freelancers, sole proprietors, 1099 contractors and single-member LLCs. This is an estimate, not tax advice.

Private by design. Your numbers never leave your browser, nothing is uploaded or stored.

$184,500 is the 2026 Social Security wage base. Use your expected effective (average) income tax rates, not your top bracket. Enter 0 for state tax if your state has no income tax.

Estimated quarterly payment
$0
per quarter
Self-employment tax$0
Federal income tax (est.)$0
State income tax (est.)$0
Total for the year$0
Net earnings subject to SE tax (92.35%)$0
Social Security portion (12.4%)$0
Medicare portion (2.9%)$0
Additional Medicare Tax (0.9%)$0
Deduction for half of SE tax$0

How it works

How self-employment tax is calculated

Self-employment tax is the Social Security and Medicare tax that sole proprietors, freelancers and partners pay on their business profit, because no employer is withholding it for them. The calculation has four steps:

  1. Net earnings from self-employment are 92.35% of your net profit. The other 7.65% mirrors the employer share an employee never pays tax on.
  2. Social Security tax is 12.4% of those net earnings, up to the Social Security wage base ($184,500 for 2026). W-2 wages you earn elsewhere use up part of that base first.
  3. Medicare tax is 2.9% of all net earnings, with no cap. An extra 0.9% Additional Medicare Tax applies once combined wages and self-employment earnings pass $200,000 (single), $250,000 (married filing jointly) or $125,000 (married filing separately).
  4. Half of your self-employment tax (not counting the 0.9% Additional Medicare Tax) is deductible when figuring your income tax.

Income tax is estimated here with the rates you enter, applied to profit after the half-SE-tax deduction. Real income tax depends on your deductions, credits, other income and filing status, so treat this as a planning number to set money aside, then confirm with your tax preparer.

Deadlines

When quarterly estimated taxes are due

Federal estimated tax for a calendar year is generally paid in four installments: April 15, June 15, September 15 and January 15 of the following year. When a date falls on a weekend or legal holiday, the deadline moves to the next business day. Most states with an income tax follow a similar schedule. Read our guide to quarterly estimated taxes for how to set money aside so a payment never catches you off guard.

More free tools

Keep going

Mileage Deduction CalculatorExpense AnalyzerBank Statement to P&LInvoice GeneratorBudget CalculatorAll Free ToolsTax Preparation SupportBookkeeping for Freelancers

Want accurate numbers behind every estimate?

Quarterly estimates are only as good as your books. We keep your income and expenses categorized and reconciled every month, so your estimated payments are based on real profit, not guesses.

Book Free Consultation See Monthly Bookkeeping

FAQ

Self-employment tax questions

What is the self-employment tax rate for 2026?+
The combined rate is 15.3%: 12.4% for Social Security on net earnings up to the $184,500 wage base, and 2.9% for Medicare on all net earnings. An additional 0.9% Medicare tax applies above $200,000 for single filers ($250,000 married filing jointly).
Who has to pay self-employment tax?+
Generally anyone with net earnings from self-employment of $400 or more, including sole proprietors, independent contractors paid on a 1099, single-member LLC owners and general partners.
Do I have to make quarterly estimated tax payments?+
Usually yes, if you expect to owe $1,000 or more in federal tax for the year after withholding and credits. Paying enough on time helps you avoid the IRS underpayment penalty.
Is self-employment tax deductible?+
Half of your self-employment tax is deductible as an adjustment to income on your federal return. It lowers your income tax, but not the self-employment tax itself.

Self-employed and tired of guessing?

Book a free consultation and we will keep your books current so your quarterly payments and year-end return are based on accurate numbers.

Book Free Consultation Call +1 (832) 240-0830