Self-employment tax calculator for 1099 workers (2026)
This self-employment tax calculator estimates what a US freelancer, independent contractor or gig worker owes the IRS for tax year 2026. Enter your 1099 income and business expenses, add business miles and a home office if you have them, and it works out your net profit, the self-employment tax (Social Security and Medicare), federal income tax after the standard deduction and the qualified business income deduction, and the four quarterly estimated tax payments.
It also handles the things that trip up people with mixed income: W-2 wages that use up the Social Security wage base, the 0.9% Additional Medicare tax, married filing jointly with a spouse’s salary, and the safe-harbour rules that decide how much you must pay each quarter. Every figure comes from IRS publications for 2026, listed below.
Federal tax only: state and local income taxes are not included. This is an estimate for planning, not tax advice.
How to use the Self-Employment Tax Calculator (1099)
- Choose your filing status and enter your 2026 1099 / self-employment income and business expenses.
- Add business miles for January–June and July–December (the IRS rate changed on July 1) and your home office area if you use the simplified method.
- Open Other income, adjustments and deductions for W-2 wages, health insurance, retirement contributions, itemized deductions and credits.
- Under Payments and last year’s tax, enter withholding, estimated tax already paid and your 2025 total tax.
- Read the total, the Schedule SE and income tax breakdowns and the amount due on each 1040-ES date.
Self-Employment Tax Calculator (1099) features
Schedule SE, line by line
92.35% of net profit, 12.4% Social Security up to the $184,500 wage base (less W-2 wages), 2.9% Medicare, and the deductible half.
Income tax with 2026 brackets
Rev. Proc. 2025-32 rate tables and standard deductions for all four filing statuses, with each bracket shown.
QBI deduction
The 20% qualified business income deduction with the 2026 thresholds, phase-in range and new $400 minimum, for a sole proprietor without employees.
1099 deductions
Business expenses, the 2026 standard mileage rates (72.5¢ then 76¢) and the $5-a-square-foot home office.
Quarterly payments
The required annual payment (90% of this year, or 100%/110% of last year) split over the four due dates.
How self-employment tax is calculated
Self-employment tax is 15.3%: 12.4% for Social Security and 2.9% for Medicare, charged on 92.35% of your net profit. The 92.35% stands in for the employer half that an employee never sees. Social Security applies only up to the 2026 wage base of $184,500, reduced by any W-2 wages; Medicare has no cap, and earnings above $200,000 ($250,000 joint, $125,000 separate) pay another 0.9%. No SE tax is due if net earnings are under $400.
Worked example: $85,000 of 1099 income, $9,000 of expenses and 2,400 business miles ($1,782) leave a profit of $74,218. Net earnings are $68,540; SE tax is $10,487, and half of it ($5,243) is deducted from income. After the $16,100 standard deduction and a $10,575 QBI deduction, taxable income is $42,300 and income tax is $4,828 — about $15,315 in all, or 18% of the 1099 income.
2026 federal figures used
Figures checked on irs.gov in October 2026. The IRS had not yet published 2027 brackets.
| Item | 2026 figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Social Security wage base | $184,500 | IRS Topic 751 |
| SE tax rate | 15.3% on 92.35% of net earnings | IRS Topic 554 |
| Additional Medicare tax | 0.9% over $200k / $250k joint / $125k separate | IRS Topic 560 |
| Standard deduction | $16,100 single · $32,200 joint · $24,150 head of household | Rev. Proc. 2025-32 |
| 10% bracket ends (single / joint) | $12,400 / $24,800 | Rev. Proc. 2025-32 |
| 37% bracket starts (single / joint) | $640,600 / $768,700 | Rev. Proc. 2025-32 |
| QBI threshold (single / joint) | $201,750 / $403,500, phase-in $75,000 / $150,000 | Rev. Proc. 2025-32 |
| Business mileage | 72.5¢ Jan–Jun, 76¢ from Jul 1 | IRS standard mileage rates |
| Estimated tax due dates | Apr 15, Jun 15, Sep 15 2026, Jan 15 2027 | Publication 505 |
What this calculator leaves out
- State and local income tax, and self-employment taxes some cities charge.
- Capital gains and qualified dividend rates (other income is taxed at ordinary rates), net investment income tax and the alternative minimum tax.
- Refundable credits such as the earned income credit, and the limits on retirement contributions and itemized deductions.
- The QBI wage-and-property limits: above the threshold it assumes you have no employees and no qualified property.
- The phase-out of the senior deduction — enter your own figure under “Other deductions after AGI”.
Related tools
Work out an hourly rate that covers these taxes with the freelance rate calculator, bill clients with the invoice generator and log billable time with the hours calculator.
Self-Employment Tax Calculator (1099) FAQ
How much should I set aside for 1099 taxes?
Many freelancers set aside 25–30%, but it depends on your profit and bracket. The “set aside” figure here divides your estimated federal tax by your 1099 income — 18% in the default example. Add your state’s tax on top.
What is the self-employment tax rate for 2026?
15.3% (12.4% Social Security + 2.9% Medicare) on 92.35% of net earnings. Social Security stops at the $184,500 wage base; earnings above $200,000 ($250,000 joint) add 0.9% Additional Medicare tax.
How do I calculate quarterly estimated taxes?
Estimate your 2026 tax, take the smaller of 90% of it or 100% of your 2025 tax (110% if your 2025 AGI was over $150,000), subtract withholding and divide by four. Pay by April 15, June 15, September 15 and January 15.
Can I deduct half of my self-employment tax?
Yes. Half of the SE tax is an adjustment to income, which lowers your income tax but not the SE tax itself.
Does this 1099 tax calculator include deductions?
Yes: business expenses, mileage, the home office, health insurance, retirement contributions, the standard or itemized deduction and the QBI deduction.
Is this tax advice?
No. It is an estimate based on published IRS figures. Your return may differ; check the IRS instructions or a tax professional.