Self-Employment Tax Calculator

2026 · 92.35% rule · SS wage base $184,500 · 50% SE deduction · QBI deduction · Quarterly estimates

Business Income
Net self-employment profit
$
Gross revenue minus business expenses
Other wages (W-2, etc.)
$
Affects SS wage base & Medicare thresholds
Filing status
Deductions to Reduce Tax
Solo 401k / SEP-IRA contribution
$
Solo 401k: up to $70,000 in 2026 (employer + employee)
Traditional IRA contribution
$
Up to $7,500 (2026) / $8,600 if 50+
How SE Tax Is Calculated (2026)
Step 1Net profit × 92.35%
$78,498
IRS only taxes 92.35% — not 100% — to account for the employer deduction
Step 2Social Security 12.4% (up to $184,500)
$9,734
2026 SS wage base: $184,500 — SS tax stops here
Step 3Medicare 2.9% (all income)
$2,276
No cap on Medicare — applies to every dollar of SE income
Step 4Total SE tax (SS + Medicare)
$12,010
This is what you actually owe as the 'self-employment tax'
Step 5Above-the-line deduction (50% of SE tax)
−$6,005
The IRS lets you deduct half your SE tax from your personal income — reducing your AGI
Your 2026 Tax Breakdown
Total tax
$17,800
Net after tax
$67,200
SE tax (SS + Medicare)$12,010
Federal income tax (est.)$5,790
QBI deduction (20%)−$12,579
Effective total rate20.94%
Key Insights
✅ SE tax deductible from AGI$6,005
📊 QBI deduction (20% of profit)$12,579
📅 Quarterly estimated payment$4,450
💰 Marginal income tax rate22.00%
2026 Quarterly Due Dates
Q1 (Jan–Mar)
Due: Apr 15, 2026
$4,450
Q2 (Apr–May)
Due: Jun 16, 2026
$4,450
Q3 (Jun–Aug)
Due: Sep 15, 2026
$4,450
Q4 (Sep–Dec)
Due: Jan 15, 2027
$4,450
Solo 401k tip: As a self-employed person you can contribute up to $70,000 in 2026 as both employer AND employee. This dramatically reduces your taxable income.