How the self-employed tax math works

1. Net earnings — 1099 income minus business expenses. Only the net amount is taxed.
2. SE tax — 15.3% on 92.35% of net earnings (the 7.65% "employer half" deduction is built in). The 12.4% Social Security part stops at the annual wage base — enter W-2 wages if you have them; Medicare's 2.9% never stops.
3. Federal income tax — your net earnings, minus half the SE tax and the standard deduction, taxed at the 2026 single-filer brackets.
4. Quarterlies — the total, split in four, due April 15, June 15, September 15 and January 15.

Why use SelfEmpTaxCalc?

• Both taxes, one view — most calculators show SE tax or income tax; you owe both.
• Wage-base aware — the Social Security cap is applied properly when you also have W-2 income.
• Private — your income figures never leave your browser. There is no account and no upload.

FAQ

Why 92.35%?

Self-employed people pay both the employee and employer halves of FICA. To keep it fair, the IRS lets you deduct the "employer half" — net earnings are multiplied by 92.35% before applying the 15.3%, and half the SE tax is then deducted from income tax.

Which expenses count?

Ordinary and necessary business costs: software, equipment, home-office share, mileage, professional services. Keep receipts — this calculator just takes your total.

Are state taxes included?

Not in the free estimate — state rules vary too much. Pro adds a simple flat state-rate input if you want a rougher-but-fuller number.

Is this accurate for high earners?

The 15.3% stops applying to income above the Social Security wage base once combined wages + SE income pass it (Medicare's 2.9% continues, plus 0.9% above $200k — not modeled here). Enter W-2 wages so the cap is respected.