Self-Employment Tax Calculator 2026
Enter your net self-employment profit to estimate your 2026 SE tax and its deduction.
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Self-Employment Tax Calculator 2026 by TheCalcTools
How the Self-Employment Tax Calculator 2026 works
Self-employed people pay both the employee and employer halves of Social Security and Medicare. The tax applies to 92.35% of net profit, which mirrors the employer’s half being deductible.
Social Security (12.4%) stops at the 2026 wage base of $184,500, shared with any W-2 wages. Medicare (2.9%) has no cap. No SE tax is due if net earnings are under $400.
Half of the SE tax is deducted when working out your income tax. The 0.9% Additional Medicare Tax above the threshold is reported separately and is not part of the deductible half.
The formula
Worked example
Using the default values shown in the calculator:
| Net profit from self-employment (Schedule C) | $60000 |
|---|---|
| W-2 wages also earned this year | $0 |
| Filing status | Single |
- Net earnings: $60,000 × 0.9235 = $55,410.00.
- Social Security $6,870.84 + Medicare $1,606.89 = $8,477.73.
- Half, $4,238.86, is deductible from income.
Result:
| Self-employment tax | $8,477.73 |
|---|---|
| Deductible half (reduces income tax) | $4,238.86 |
| Net earnings subject to SE tax | $55,410.00 |
| Social Security part (12.4%) | $6,870.84 |
| Medicare part (2.9%) | $1,606.89 |
| Additional Medicare Tax (paid on Form 8959) | $0.00 |
| Quarterly estimated SE tax | $2,119.43 |
Frequently asked questions
Why 92.35%?
It equals 100% minus 7.65%, the employer-equivalent share. It puts self-employed people on a similar footing to employees, whose employer’s half is not counted as their income.
Do I also pay income tax?
Yes. SE tax is in addition to income tax. Use the federal income tax calculator with your profit minus half the SE tax.
Sources and further reading
- IRS: Self-employment tax (Social Security and Medicare taxes)
- SSA: Contribution and benefit base
- IRS: Schedule SE (Form 1040)
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This calculator gives estimates for information only. It is not tax or legal advice. Tax rules change and depend on your circumstances, so check current rules or ask a qualified professional. See our disclaimer.