Self-Employment Tax Calculator
Calculate 2026 self-employment tax (Social Security and Medicare) on freelance or business profit.
About the Self-Employment Tax Calculator
Self-employed people pay both halves of FICA: 12.4% Social Security on net earnings up to the 2026 wage base of $184,500 (shared with any W-2 wages) and 2.9% Medicare on all of it. Net earnings are 92.35% of profit. You can deduct half the tax when working out income tax.
The formula
SE tax = 0.9235 × profit × (12.4% up to the wage base + 2.9%)
Worked example
Example: Self-employment tax = $11,727.53
- Inputs: Net self-employment profit: $83,000; W-2 wages this year (if any): $0; Filing status: Single.
- Formula: SE tax = 0.9235 × profit × (12.4% up to the wage base + 2.9%)
- Result: Self-employment tax = $11,727.53
- Social Security (12.4%): $9,504.66
- Medicare (2.9%): $2,222.86
- Deductible half: $5,863.76
Questions people ask
Do I pay this on top of income tax?
Yes. SE tax is separate from income tax; both are paid through estimated payments or your return.
What's the Additional Medicare Tax?
0.9% on earnings above $200,000 single / $250,000 joint.