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Self-employment tax calculator
Estimate self-employment tax and income tax on 1099 income, your quarterly payments and their due dates, and compare it with the same pay as an employee.
Private: this runs entirely in your browser. Nothing you enter or upload is sent to us.
How to use it
- Enter your expected net profit (income minus business expenses).
- Add any W-2 wages you also earn.
- Pick your filing status.
- See self-employment tax, income tax and the four quarterly payments.
About this tool
Self-employment tax is 15.3% (12.4% Social Security and 2.9% Medicare) on 92.35% of net earnings. The Social Security part stops at the 2026 wage base of $184,500, counting any W-2 wages first. Half of the self-employment tax is deducted before income tax.
Quarterly estimated payments for tax year 2026 are due April 15, 2026, June 15, 2026, September 15, 2026 and January 15, 2027. Figures are estimates for planning, not tax, legal or financial advice.
Questions
Is the 1099 vs W-2 comparison exact?
It compares the taxes only. Employees often also get benefits and an employer share of payroll taxes, which is why contractor rates are usually higher.
Is my information sent anywhere?
No. The calculation runs in your browser and nothing you type is sent to us or stored on a server.