Pay and tax
Self-Employment Tax Calculator
Self-employment tax (Social Security and Medicare for the self-employed) and federal income tax on 1099 or business income for 2026, and the quarterly estimated payments to make.
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Self-employment tax and quarterly payments by net income (single, no other wages)
| Net income | SE tax | Income tax | Each quarter |
|---|---|---|---|
| $20,000 | $2,826 | $249 | $769 |
| $40,000 | $5,652 | $2,281 | $1,983 |
| $60,000 | $8,478 | $4,511 | $3,247 |
| $100,000 | $14,130 | $11,616 | $6,436 |
| $150,000 | $21,194 | $22,191 | $10,846 |
| $250,000 | $29,851 | $46,572 | $19,106 |
How this calculator works
Self-employment tax is 15.3% (12.4% Social Security and 2.9% Medicare) on 92.35% of net earnings. Social Security applies only up to the $184,500 wage base for 2026, less any W-2 wages; 0.9% more Medicare applies above $200,000 ($250,000 joint). Half of the tax is deductible.
Income tax uses the 2026 brackets and standard deduction on net income less the deductible half.
Questions people ask
How much is self-employment tax?
15.3% of 92.35% of net earnings, about 14.1% of net income: on $60,000, $8,478.
Do I have to pay quarterly taxes?
If you expect to owe $1,000 or more when you file, generally yes. Paying at least 100% of last year's tax (110% if your income was over $150,000) in four installments avoids the underpayment penalty.
What is deductible for 1099 workers?
Ordinary and necessary business expenses, half of self-employment tax, health insurance premiums if you qualify, retirement contributions such as a SEP-IRA or solo 401(k), and often the qualified business income deduction.
At what income do I pay self-employment tax?
When net self-employment earnings are $400 or more in a year.
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Sources
Updated by the RateHerald team. The maths is tested against worked examples; report a problem.