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Estimates only — not tax advice

This calculator uses 2026 federal tax brackets and SE tax rates. It does not account for state taxes, the QBI deduction, retirement contributions, health insurance deductions, S-Corp structures, or your specific deductions. Use it for planning and ballpark estimates. Work with a CPA for your actual tax liability.

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Self-Employment Tax Calculator 2026

Federal estimates for sole proprietors and single-member LLCs

Expected Annual Gross Revenue

Total revenue before business expenses. Use your best estimate for the full year.

Estimated Business Expenses

15%

As a % of gross revenue. Typical range: 10–20% for service businesses. Higher for agencies with subcontractors (30–50%).

Filing Status

Other Household Income (optional)

Spouse W-2 income, rental income, etc. Affects your tax bracket. Leave blank if none.

Estimated Annual Tax Liability

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Federal only · Before deductions and credits

Quarterly Payment

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Safe harbor estimate

SE Tax

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15.3% on 92.35% of net

Income Tax

—

Federal, after SE deduction

Net Take-Home

—

After taxes, before state

Gross Revenue

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Business Expenses

—

Net Self-Employment Profit

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SE Tax (15.3% × 92.35%)

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SE Tax Deduction (50% of SE tax)

−

Standard Deduction Applied

−

Federal Taxable Income

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Federal Income Tax

—

Total Federal Tax

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Recommended set-aside: — of every payment

Tax set-aside

Operating expenses

Take-home

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Open a free Relay account, create a dedicated Tax sub-account, and set a percentage-based auto-transfer rule. Every client payment automatically splits: ~30% to taxes, the rest to operating. You never manually move money again. Open Relay free →

Disclaimer: This calculator provides estimates based on 2026 federal tax rates for sole proprietors. It does not account for state income taxes, the Qualified Business Income (QBI/Section 199A) deduction, retirement contributions (SEP-IRA, Solo 401k), self-employed health insurance deduction, S-Corp elections, alternative minimum tax, or other individual circumstances that could significantly change your liability. Use these estimates for planning purposes only. Consult a CPA or tax professional for your actual tax situation.

What to do with these numbers

1️⃣

Set up your tax account

Open a dedicated account and start transferring the set-aside percentage on every payment.

Profit First setup guide →

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Mark your quarterly deadlines

2026: Apr 15, Jun 16, Sep 15, Jan 15 2027. Set calendar reminders 2 weeks before each.

Full quarterly guide →

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Track income in real time

Know your actual net profit before each deadline. FreshBooks or QuickBooks synced to your bank.

Compare accounting software →

Frequently asked questions

Does this calculator account for state taxes?

No — it estimates federal taxes only. Add your state's effective income tax rate to the set-aside percentage. For most states, this means adding 3–7% to the recommended federal set-aside.

What if I have an S-Corp?

This calculator assumes sole proprietor / single-member LLC. S-Corps pay a salary subject to payroll tax plus distributions that avoid SE tax — a significantly different structure. Ask your CPA to run the S-Corp numbers once your net profit exceeds $80,000.

The quarterly amount seems high. Am I doing something wrong?

The calculation is probably correct — self-employment tax genuinely is higher than what W-2 employees experience. The 15.3% SE tax alone is significant, and it's on top of income tax. The safe harbor method (quarterly = prior year tax ÷ 4) may give you a lower payment if your income is growing; ask your CPA which approach makes sense for your situation.

Can I deduct retirement contributions to lower my tax?

Yes, significantly. A SEP-IRA allows contributions up to 25% of net self-employment income (max ~$69,000 for 2024). Solo 401(k)s have similar limits. These contributions reduce your taxable income dollar-for-dollar and can lower your effective tax rate by several percentage points at higher income levels.