1099 Self-Employment Tax Calculator (2026)

If you work as an independent contractor, freelancer, gig worker, or sole proprietor in the United States, you receive Form 1099-NEC or 1099-K instead of a standard W-2. Unlike W-2 employees whose payroll taxes are automatically withheld each pay period, self-employed taxpayers are responsible for paying both the employer and employee portions of FICA taxes—known collectively as the Self-Employment (SE) Tax.

For Tax Year 2026, the self-employment tax rate remains 15.3%, comprising 12.4% for Social Security (OASDI) and 2.9% for Medicare. Social Security applies to net self-employment earnings up to the official 2026 wage base of $184,500, while Medicare is uncapped. Under IRS regulations, you calculate SE tax on 92.35% of your net business profit (gross revenue minus ordinary and necessary business expenses). Furthermore, you receive an above-the-line deduction for 50% of your self-employment tax when computing federal adjusted gross income (AGI).

Because the US tax system operates on a pay-as-you-go basis, self-employed individuals expecting to owe $1,000 or more in federal taxes must make quarterly estimated tax payments using Form 1040-ES (due April 15, June 15, September 15, and January 15). Use this calculator to estimate your exact quarterly vouchers, annual federal and state tax liabilities, and optimize deductible write-offs across all 50 states.