Self-Employment Tax Calculator
If you drive, deliver, or freelance, the IRS treats you as both the worker and the employer — which means you owe self-employment tax on top of income tax. This is the 15.3% that surprises most gig workers in their first year. Enter your net profit below and see exactly what you’ll owe for 2026, plus the part you get to deduct.
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Self-employment tax is your Social Security and Medicare contribution as a 1099 worker. When you had a W-2 job, your employer quietly paid half of this for you and withheld the rest from your paychecks. Now that you’re independent, you pay both halves yourself — and nobody withholds it, so you have to set it aside on your own. This calculator shows the full bill and the deductible half, using the 2026 federal figures.
It runs entirely in your browser. Nothing you type is sent anywhere or saved.
GigWorkerTools · Self-employment tax
What you’ll owe in self-employment tax for 2026
Doing this by hand? Self-employed tax software finds write-offs and files Schedule SE for you.
See tax software →What self-employment tax actually is
Self-employment tax funds Social Security and Medicare — the same programs a W-2 employee pays into through FICA withholding. The total rate is 15.3%: 12.4% for Social Security and 2.9% for Medicare. As an employee you’d split this 50/50 with your employer. As a gig worker you’re both, so you pay the whole 15.3% yourself. It applies to 92.35% of your net profit, not the full amount — that small reduction accounts for the employer-half deduction built into the formula.
The Social Security cap — and why it matters
The 12.4% Social Security portion only applies up to a yearly limit. For 2026 that limit is $184,500. Earn more than that from self-employment and the Social Security piece stops, though the 2.9% Medicare portion keeps going on every dollar with no cap. If you also have a W-2 job, the wages already taxed there count toward that $184,500 ceiling — which is why this calculator asks for your W-2 wages. It prevents double-counting and gives you a more accurate number.
The deduction most gig workers miss
Here’s the part that softens the blow: you get to deduct half of your self-employment tax from your income before income tax is calculated. It’s an above-the-line deduction, meaning you get it whether or not you itemize. This calculator shows that deductible half so you can carry it into your income tax planning. It doesn’t reduce the self-employment tax itself — it reduces the income tax you pay on top of it.
High earners: the extra 0.9%
If your income climbs above $200,000 (single) or $250,000 (married filing jointly), an Additional Medicare Tax of 0.9% applies to the amount over that threshold. Most gig workers never hit this, but the calculator handles it automatically if you do — you’ll see an extra line appear when your numbers cross the line.
How to actually pay it
Self-employment tax isn’t billed separately — it’s calculated on Schedule SE and rolled into your total tax bill when you file. But because nothing is withheld, the IRS expects you to pay as you go through quarterly estimated payments. If you’re not already setting money aside each week, that’s the real fix. Our Quarterly Tax Estimator shows how much to send in and when.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q — Who has to pay self-employment tax? Anyone with $400 or more in net self-employment profit in a year. That includes rideshare, delivery, and freelance income reported on a 1099 — even if it’s a side gig on top of a regular job.
Q — Is self-employment tax the same as income tax? No — they’re separate, and you pay both. Self-employment tax (15.3%) covers Social Security and Medicare. Income tax is calculated separately on your profit at your regular bracket. That’s why the combined bill catches people off guard.
Q — How can I lower my self-employment tax? The main lever is deductions. Self-employment tax is calculated on your net profit, so every legitimate business expense — mileage, phone, supplies, platform fees — lowers the profit it’s based on. See what your miles are worth with our Mileage Deduction Calculator .
Q — Why is the tax based on 92.35% of my profit, not 100%? The formula reduces your profit by 7.65% first to mirror the employer-side FICA deduction a company would normally take. It’s built into Schedule SE, and this calculator applies it for you.
Q — Are these numbers exact? They’re a solid estimate using 2026 federal figures. They don’t include state taxes or every personal detail, so for anything you’re relying on, confirm with a CPA. See our Disclaimer .
Q — Does this calculator store my information? No. Every calculation happens in your browser. The numbers you enter are never sent to us or saved. See our Privacy Policy
RELATED CALCULATORS
Gig Driver Take-Home Pay Calculator — what you really earn after costs.
Gig Worker Quarterly Tax Calculator — how much to set aside each quarter.
Mileage Deduction Calculator — the deduction that lowers this bill.