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Self-Employment Tax Estimator

Estimate the Social Security and Medicare tax you owe on freelance profit for 2026, with every step of the calculation shown so you can check it against Schedule SE.

United States · tax year 2026 · built by Aftab Ahmad · figures checked September 25, 2026 and monitored weekly against IRS sources

Your numbers

Income minus business expenses for the year (Schedule C, line 31). Combine all your businesses.

Wages subject to Social Security (Form W-2, boxes 3 and 7). They use up the Social Security cap first.

Only affects the Additional Medicare Tax threshold.

Estimated self-employment tax for 2026$11,303.6414.13% of your profit · you can deduct $5,651.82 (half) when working out income tax

How the estimate is calculated
1. Net earnings from self-employment$80,000 × 92.35%$73,880.00
2. Earnings subject to Social Securitylesser of line 1 and $184,500 cap$73,880.00
3. Social Security partline 2 × 12.4%$9,161.12
4. Medicare partline 1 × 2.9% (no cap)$2,142.52
5. Self-employment taxline 3 + line 4$11,303.64
6. Deductible halfline 5 ÷ 2$5,651.82

No Additional Medicare Tax at this income: your wages plus net earnings are below the $200,000 threshold for your filing status.

The formula

  1. Net profit$80,000income minus business expenses
  2. × 92.35% = net earnings$73,880under $400 means no SE tax
    1. Social Security: × 12.4%$9,161.12only up to the $184,500 cap (2026), less any W-2 wages
    2. Medicare: × 2.9%$2,142.52on all net earnings, no cap
  4. Self-employment tax$11,303.64about 14.13% of profit
  5. Half is deductible$5,651.82lowers taxable income for income tax
How self-employment tax is calculated on Schedule SE, using the $80,000 worked example and 2026 rates. Above $200,000 of income ($250,000 married filing jointly), a separate 0.9% Additional Medicare Tax may also apply.
  1. Net earnings = net profit × 92.35%. If this is under $400, there is no self-employment tax.
  2. Social Security part = 12.4% × the smaller of net earnings and the $184,500 wage base, reduced by any W-2 Social Security wages.
  3. Medicare part = 2.9% × all net earnings (no cap).
  4. Self-employment tax = Social Security part + Medicare part. Half of it is deductible when working out income tax.
  5. Additional Medicare Tax (separate, Form 8959) = 0.9% of wages plus net earnings above $200,000 (single, head of household, qualifying surviving spouse), $250,000 (married filing jointly) or $125,000 (married filing separately).

The full explanation, with worked examples at $80,000 and $200,000 that this calculator reproduces to the cent, is in our guide Self-Employment Tax Explained.

Assumptions and limits

  • For US citizens and residents with self-employment income in tax year 2026. Figures change every year.
  • Uses the regular Schedule SE method. It does not cover the optional methods for low or farm income, church employee income, or exemptions such as some ministers and members of certain religious groups.
  • It estimates self-employment tax only. Income tax, state tax and the effect of the deductible half on your income tax are not included.
  • If you have more than one business, combine the net profit (a loss in one reduces profit in another). A spouse's self-employment income is calculated separately.
  • Numbers you type stay in your browser. Nothing is sent to us or stored.

An estimate for education and planning, not tax advice. Confirm your figures with Schedule SE and its instructions, or with a CPA or enrolled agent. This tool has not been reviewed by a licensed tax professional.

Sources

  1. IRS: Topic no. 554, Self-employment tax — 15.3% rate, 92.35% of net earnings, $400 filing threshold
  2. IRS: Self-employment tax (Social Security and Medicare taxes) — 12.4% Social Security and 2.9% Medicare, deduction for half
  3. IRS: About Schedule SE (Form 1040) — the form and instructions this estimate follows
  4. SSA: Contribution and benefit base — $184,500 Social Security wage base for 2026
  5. IRS: Topic no. 751, Social Security and Medicare withholding rates — the same 2026 wage base, as published by the IRS
  6. IRS: Questions and answers for the Additional Medicare Tax — 0.9% above $200,000 / $250,000 / $125,000

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