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Self-employment tax calculator — 15.3% on freelance income (2026)
A US client withholds nothing from a contractor's fee, so the tax is yours to set aside. Enter your net profit to see the self-employment tax: 12.4% Social Security and 2.9% Medicare on 92.35% of profit, with Social Security stopping at $184,500 in 2026.
A US client paying you as an independent contractor withholds no tax from the fee. You pay self-employment tax — Social Security and Medicare for the self-employed — on your net profit for the year, besides income tax.
Self-employment tax for 2026
Enter your net profit — income less business expenses — to see the tax.
Quick questions
How much self-employment tax do I pay in 2026?
15.3% on 92.35% of your net profit: 12.4% Social Security, on net earnings up to $184,500, and 2.9% Medicare. Nothing is due if your net earnings are under $400.
Do clients withhold taxes from a 1099 contractor's pay?
Normally no. Backup withholding of 24% applies only if you give no correct taxpayer number. From 2026 a client files Form 1099-NEC when it pays you $2,000 or more in the year.
Can I deduct half of my self-employment tax?
Yes. Half of it is deducted when you work out your adjusted gross income.
Do I need to make quarterly estimated tax payments?
If you expect to owe $1,000 or more, the IRS expects quarterly estimated payments. Income tax comes on top of self-employment tax and depends on your deductions, filing status and state.